Brit awards 2012: the nominees

Leading the Brits nominations with nods in four categories – British male solo, British breakthrough act, British single, British album of the year – is Ed Sheeran, here performing on stage at a Little Noise Session in London in November 2011. Photograph: Hayley Madden/Redferns

The bestselling artist of the year, Adele, is nominated in the categories for best female solo artist, British single and Mastercard British album of year. Here she is performing at The Tabernacle, in London on 24 January 2011. Photograph: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

New mother Beyonce battles Bjork, Feist, Lady Gaga and Rihanna in the category for international female solo artist. Here she is at Glastonbury. Photograph: Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Coldplay are among the contenders for British group and Mastercard British album of the year. Here in concert at the iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse, London, 22 July 2011. Photograph: Brian Rasic/Rex Features

Critics' favourite PJ Harvey is battling Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Florence & the Machine to win the Mastercard British album of the year award. Here she is at the Main Square Festival in Arras, France, 3 July 2011. Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

25 October 2011: Florence Welch, of Florence & the Machine, performs at the Hackney Empire Photograph: Ian West/PA

Nominated in three categories - British female solo artist, British breakthrough act, British single - is Jessie J. Here she's on stage at the Scala, London, 25 October 2011. Photograph: Andy Sheppard/Getty Images

Also nominated in the British female solo artist category: Kate Bush ... Photograph: PR

Aloe Blacc is nominated in the international male solo artist and international breakthrough categories. Here he's on stage at the Big Chill festival in August 2011. Photograph: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

Bruno Mars takes on Aloe Blacc, Bon Iver, David Guetta and Ryan Adams in the international male solo category. Here he is performing at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast in November 2011. Photograph: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Battling it out against Bruno Mars et al to win the international male solo artist award: Bon Iver, here on stage at the Manchester Apollo on 25 October 2011. Photograph: Ben Statham/Redferns/Getty

Competing against Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Jessie J and the Vaccines in the British breakthrough act category: it's Anna Calvi, here performing at the Paleo Festival, Switzerland. Photograph: Elma Okic/Rex Features

Winner of the Critics' Choice award, in association with War Child, and picked by a panel of music critics in the media: it's Emeli Sande, here on stage at KOKO in London in November 2011. Photograph: Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty Images

Winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Music award: looking lively, it's Blur ... Photograph: Brian Rasic / Rex Features