A group of virtual unknowns championed on Twitter by Stephen Fry will battle it out with chart star Lily Allen for a top UK songwriting award, it was announced today.

Chrysalis today said a string of upcoming releases from artists David Gray, Gnarls Barkley and Feeder would help offset a “weak” first half for the music group.

Media group Chrysalis suggested today it may have turned the corner after a tough year saw it slump nearly £30m (€44.6m) into the red.

UK media group Chrysalis today said listeners defected from its radio arm in the final quarter of 2004, but claimed the worst of a downturn in advertising was over.