Coldplay, Radiohead Up for Brit Awards

ByABC News
January 18, 2001, 2:13 PM

January 15 -- British quartet Coldplay, whose album Parachutes debuted at No. 1 on the British charts when it was released there last summer, walked away with three Brit Award (the U.K. equivalent to the Grammys) nods when the nominations were announced today. The band will be up for Best British Group, Best British Album, and Best British Newcomer at this year's ceremony, which takes place Monday, Feb. 26, in London.

Another fresh face on the U.K. scene, Craig David, turned out to be the top nominee, bringing in four nods (Best British Album, Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Newcomer, and Best British Dance Act). David's album, Born to Do It, has yet to be released Stateside, though it's due in May on Atlantic Records.

Several artists earned two nominations apiece, including Radiohead, Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray, and Robbie Williams. Badly Drawn Boy, who won the prestigious Mercury Prize in September (beating, among others, Coldplay), will battle for Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Newcomer. Radiohead's latest album, Kid A, which was hit-or-miss with the critics, has proved itself to be an award contender; it is also up for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album at this year's Grammys.

This year's ceremony will also honor U2 with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. The Irish quartet, which will launch a massive North American tour in March in support of its new album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, will perform live at the event.

Unlike the Grammys, which has an unwieldy 98 categories, the Brits keep it short and sweet with a comparatively paltry 12 categories. They make up for it with the Best British Newcomer category, however, which this year finds no less than 20 artists vying for the title.

A handful of American artists made the grade in the Brits' International categories. Santana last year's big Grammy winner is up for Best International Group. Eminem, Wyclef Jean, Ricky Martin and Sisqo will compete for Best International Male Solo Artist, while Madonna, Pink, Jill Scott, and Britney Spears will duke it out for Best International Female Solo Artist. Jill Scott, who is nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy, is also in the running for Best International Newcomer, along with Pink and Kelis.