Queen of balladry and low-key Nicki Minaj stan Adele has, of course, received the most nominations for the 2016 Brits, the U.K.’s biggest annual music awards. She’s up for four trophies, which is the maximum amount she qualifies for: British female solo artist, British artist video, British single of the year for “Hello" and British album of the year for 25. Given that she just spent seven weeks at the top of the U.K. album charts, and the Brits voters tend to value commercial success as much as critical acclaim, it's not a stretch to imagine her scooping them all.
Among the other U.K. artists recognised this year are Aphex Twin, Jamie xx, Amy Winehouse, Years & Years and Florence + The Machine. In general, though, it’s a year of few surprises, and perhaps the most striking inclusions in the list of nominees are two acts who have touched an emotional chord in the past 12 months: the International Group category includes Eagles of Death Metal, which seems like timely recognition of their moving words and actions in the wake of last November’s Paris attacks; also, Amy Winehouse receives her second posthumous nomination for British Female, this year due to the Amy OST.
In the global categories, we’ve got Björk, Courtney Barnett and Lana Del Rey nominated for International Female, and Drake, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber up for International Male.
The BRITs are on February 24, with confirmed live performers including Adele, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd. Read the full list of nominations below.
British male solo artist
Aphex Twin
Calvin Harris
James Bay
Jamie xx
Mark Ronson
British female solo artist
Adele
Amy Winehouse
Florence + the Machine
Jess Glynne
Laura Marling
British group
Blur
Coldplay
Foals
One Direction
Years & Years
British breakthrough act
Catfish and the Bottlemen
James Bay
Jess Glynne
Wolf Alice
Years & Years
British album of the year
Adele – 25
Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams
Florence + the Machine – How Big How Blue How Beautiful
James Bay – Chaos and the Calm
Jamie xx – In Colour
British producer of the year
Charlie Andrew
Mark Ronson
Mike Crossey
Tom Dalgety
British artist video of the year
Adele – "Hello"
Calvin Harris and Disciples – "How Deep Is Your Love"
Ed Sheeran – "Photograph"
Jessie J – "Flashlight"
Little Mix – "Black Magic"
Naughty Boy f. Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin – "Runnin’ (Lose it All)"
One Direction – "Drag Me Down"
Sam Smith – "Writing’s on the Wall"
Years & Years – "King"
British single of the year
Adele – "Hello"
Calvin Harris and Disciples – "How Deep Is Your Love "
Ed Sheeran and Rudimental – "Bloodstream"
Ellie Goulding – "Love Me Like You Do"
James Bay – "Hold Back the River"
Jess Glynne – "Hold My Hand"
Little Mix – "Black Magic"
Olly Murs f. Demi Lovato – "Up"
Philip George – "Wish You Were Mine"
Years & Years – "King"
International male solo artist
Drake
Father John Misty
Justin Bieber
Kendrick Lamar
The Weeknd
International female solo artist
Ariana Grande
Björk
Courtney Barnett
Lana Del Rey
Meghan Trainor
International group
Alabama Shakes
Eagles of Death Metal
Major Lazer
Tame Impala
U2
