Lily leads the way at the Brits

Lily Allen is leading the way in the nominations for this year's Brit Awards with four nominations.

The 21-year-old singer, who shot to fame through the success of her MySpace website, has been nominated for Best British Female solo artists, Best Breakthrough Act, while her debut album 'Alright Still' has been nominated in the Best British Album category and the single 'Smile is nominated in the Best British Single category.

Lily will compete against Amy Winehouse, Jamelia, Nerina Pallot and Corinne Bailey Rae in the Best British Female solo artist category.

Bailey Rae has also been nominated for Best British Breakthrough Act and for Best British Single for her hit 'Put Your Records On'.

Winehouse is also nominated for Best British Album for 'Back to Black', joining the likes of Lily Allen, the Arctic Monkeys with their debut 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', Snow Patrol's 'Eyes Open' and Muse's 'Black Holes & Revelations'.

Muse, Snow Patrol and the Arctic Monkeys will also compete for Best British Group, alongside Razorlight and Kasabian.

Muse and Kasabian are also in the running for Best British Live Act, alongside George Michael, the Guillemots and Robbie Williams, who gains his sole Brit nomination in this category.

Williams' former band-mates Take That will celebrate their successful comeback this year with a nomination for Best British Single for 'Patience', competing alongside Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Will Young, Sandi Thom, Razorlight, The Kooks, James Morrison, The Feeling and 'X-Factor' winner Leona Lewis.

The Kooks and James Morrison are also nominated in the Best British Breakthrough Act category, alongside Bailey Rae, Allen, and the Fratellis.

Former Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who both released solo albums last year, lead the way in the Best British Male Solo Artist category, joining Lemar, Paulo Nutini and James Morrison.

In the international categories, Gnarls Barkley leads the way with three nominations - for Best International Group, Best International Album and Best International Breakthrough Act.

Bob Dylan and Justin Timberlake each get two nominations. Both are nominated in the Best International Male Solo Artist category, while Dylan's 'Modern Times' and Timberlake's 'Futuresex/LoveSounds' are nominated in the Best International Album category.

Scissor Sisters also receive two nominations, being nominated for Best International Group, while their second album 'Ta-Dah' is nominated for Best International Album.

Beck, Damien Rice and Jack Johnson complete the nominations for Best International Male Solo Artist, while The Flaming Lips, The Killers and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers round out the nominations for Best International Group.

The Killers also receive a nomination in the Best International Album category for their second album 'Sam's Town'.

Orson, the Raconteurs, Ray Lamontagne and Wolfmother join Gnarls Barkley in the nominations for Best International Breakthrough Act.

Beyonce leads the nominations for Best International Female Solo Artist, alongside Cat Power, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado and Pink.

Oasis are set to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.

The Brit Awards 2007 will be held at Earl's Court in London on February 14. Russell Brand will host the awards, which will be broadcast live for the first time since 1989, when Mick Fleetwood and Samantha Fox presented the show.

Snow Patrol, Scissor Sisters, Take That and Oasis will be among the acts performing live.

(KMcA)