Women dominate this year’s Brit Awards shortlist, with female solo artists Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie both earning four nominations.
For the second year running, pop star Lipa leads, collecting two nominations for British single and two for British artist video of the year – where she will have to fend off competition from girl group Little Mix.
Her track IDGAF and her collaboration with Scottish chart-topping DJ Calvin Harris, One Kiss, appear on both shortlists.
Last year Lipa secured five Brit nominations – one more than Ed Sheeran received that year following the release of his third album Divide.
Anne-Marie, who shot to fame after featuring on Clean Bandit’s Rockabye alongside Sean Paul, is also handed four nods, including one for British female solo artist.
Jess Glynne, who last year broke the record for most number one singles by a British female solo artist, receives two nominations including one for British female solo artist.
Last year’s critics’ choice award winner, Jorja Smith, returns to claim an impressive three nods for British album, British female solo artist and British breakthrough act.
Increased diversity at the Brits comes two years after the awards body said it would take “a fresh look at the metrics” following criticism for a 2016 shortlist which featured not one black or ethnic minority artist.
In the British single category, Lipa’s IDGAF will compete with Glynne’s I’ll Be There and Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato’s Solo.
The race to claim the British album gong will see Smith’s Lost & Found, The 1975’s A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and George Ezra’s UK number one album Staying At Tamara’s go head to head.
Drake and Eminem are both nominated for international male, as is American jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, a surprise entry.
An especially strong international women’s category sees Ariana Grande, Cardi B and Camila Cabello compete for the prize.
In the international group category, established names like Beyonce and Jay-Z (The Carters) and Nile Rodgers & Chic face competition from up-and-comers 21 Pilots.
Despite increased representation, grime and UK hip hop feature less prominently this year, with only south London rapper Giggs and afroswing artist Ramz receiving nods.
And despite a year in the spotlight following the release of her autobiography My Thoughts Exactly and her fourth album No Shame, Lily Allen receives only a single nomination for British female solo artist – as she did in 2015 following the release of her third album Sheezus.
The Brit Awards will take place on February 20 at London’s O2 Arena at 8pm.
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