British male solo artist:
* Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records/Warner Music) *
James Blake (Polydor/Universal Music)
James Morrison (Island/Universal Music)
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (Sour Mash)
Professor Green (Virgin/EMI Music)
There really isn't any other option here for me! Everybody else has done well but Ed Sheeran has had the most phenomenal year!
British female solo artist
* Adele (XL Recordings/XL Beggars) *
Florence + the Machine (Island/Universal Music)
Jessie J (Island/Lava/Universal Music)
Kate Bush (Fish People/EMI Music)
Laura Marling (Virgin/EMI Music)
Hard decision. Adele has obviously had a fantastic year, 21 came out in January and since then she's been touring and attracting some amazing crowds - don't forget her Royal Albert Hall show that got televised as well. Having said that I genuinely think Florence is doing well at the moment - she's had a Live Lounge Special feature on Radio 1 and Ceremonials is an awesome sounding album.
Laura Marling as well is not one to be overlooked- I heartily believe this is the year for folk music and for Laura to claim this award would illustrate just how much of a folk explosion we've got on our hands currently. And Jessie J - near the top of the chart now and every time you look at the Top 40 she's there somewhere, so she must be doing something right.
British breakthrough act
(Top five selected by Voting Academy. Category promoted by BBC Radio 1.)
Anna Calvi (Domino Records)
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records/Warner Music)
Emeli Sandé (Virgin/EMI Music)
* Jessie J (Island/Lava/Universal Music) *
The Vaccines (Columbia/Sony Music)
Well, if I didn't pick Jessie for best female, she can have british breakthrough. It could well be Ed Sheeran, mind...
British group
(Top five selected by Voting Academy. Category promoted by BBC Radio 2.)
Arctic Monkeys (Domino Records)
Chase & Status (Mercury/Universal Music)
* Coldplay (Parlophone/EMI Music) *
Elbow (Polydor/Universal Music)
Kasabian (Columbia/Sony Music)
I think the only real challenger to Coldplay here is Elbow, who have once again enjoyed a good year of live performances but Coldplay have provided the full package - an amazing album and some sensational live shows.
British single
(Top 10 British singles based on commercial radio airplay and sales in the calendar year are automatically nominated. Promoted by Capital FM and iTunes, listeners and users will vote for their favourite single of the year.)
Adele Someone Like You (XL Recordings/XL Beggars)
Ed Sheeran The A Team (Atlantic Records/Warner Music)
* Example Changed The Way You Kissed Me (Ministry Of Sound) *
Jessie J Ft B.o.B. Price Tag (Island/Lava/Universal Music)
JLS ft Dev She Makes Me Wanna (Epic/Sony Music)
Military Wives/Gareth Malone Wherever You Are (Decca/Universal Music)
Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks Heart Skips A Beat (Epic/Sony Music)
One Direction What Makes You Beautiful (Syco Music/Sony Music)
Pixie Lott All About Tonight (Mercury/Universal Music)
The Wanted Glad You Came (Global Talent/Island/Universal Music)
Considering this was the tune of the summer and continues to be hammered in all the clubs, it would be silly to overlook Example here! Are we all a bit bored of Someone Like You now... or will that swoop in to claim the award? Don't rule out Ed Sheeran either.
Mastercard British album of the year
(Supported by the Sun Bizarre column and ITV1's Daybreak.)
Adele 21 (XL Recordings/Beggars)
* Coldplay Mylo Xyloto (Parlophone/EMI Music) *
Ed Sheeran + (Atlantic Records/Warner Music)
Florence + the Machine Ceremonials (Island/Universal Music)
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Island/Universal Music)
This was one of the hardest awards to call. In these categories, Adele is always the curveball, she could pretty much win anything. Similarly, I can't get over just how strong Ed Sheeran's year has been but his album wasn't all that. The singles were great but + is really a medley of mediocrity - don't get me wrong, it's a pretty good listen, but it won't set the world on fire like Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, which is a powerful blend of indie soft rock from not just a band but a true british institution.
Ceremonials from Florence also entered my mind as well... as did Mercury Prize winner PJ Harvey.. but at the Brits I don't think it will hold up.
International male solo artist
Aloe Blacc (Epic/Sony Music)
* Bon Iver (4AD/XL Beggars) *
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records/Warner Music)
David Guetta (Positiva/Virgin/EMI Music)
Ryan Adams (Columbia/Sony Music)
Have I chosen this with my heart or my head? We'll see. David Guetta is the obvious choice. But Bon Iver is the right choice. And again, this is the year for folk music!
International female solo artist
* Beyoncé (Columbia/Sony Music) *
Björk (One Little Indian)
Feist (Polydor/Universal Music)
Lady Gaga (Polydor/Universal Music)
Rihanna (Mercury/Universal Music)
Rihanna's done well this year - especially in the summer. She's constantly out there with new material, but through continued releases (some of which are awful) it dilutes the good stuff she's done. Beyonce has played the game well - she's stuck around in the charts and continued to freshen things up at the right moment. Couple a brilliant album and her Glasto performance.... winner winner chicken dinner.
International group
Fleet Foxes (Bella Union)
Foo Fighters (RCA/Sony Music)
Jay-Z/Kanye West (Mercury/Universal Music)
Lady Antebellum (Capitol/EMI Music)
* Maroon 5 (Polydor/Universal Music) *
Tricky, nobody here has particularly hit the headlines with their album apart from maybe Maroon 5. Fleet Foxes did an awesome record, but it's not the most well known piece of music so will it receive the acclaim?
International breakthrough act
Aloe Blacc (Epic/Sony Music)
Bon Iver (4AD/XL Beggars)
Foster The People (Columbia/Sony Music)
Lana Del Rey (Polydor/Universal Music)
* Nicki Minaj (Island/Universal Music) *
I'd pick Bon Iver again but I don't think he's really broken through. He's been around for ages- perhaps not in the mainstream (he can thank that Birdy kid for covering Skinny Love, actually, don't thank her) but he's an established artist nonetheless. In which case, Nicki Minaj has well and truly captured our attention this year, after coming from seemingly nowhere!
Outstanding contribution to music award
Blur (EMI Music)
Critics' choice
In association with War Child. Identified by a panel made up of media music critics.
1st: Emeli Sandé (Virgin/EMI Music)
2nd: Maverick Sabre (Mercury/Universal Music)
3rd: Michael Kiwanuka (Polydor/Universal Music)
British producer
* Paul Epworth *
Flood
Ethan Johns
