Tonight's Brit Award nominations have been announced, and the lion's share of the nominations go to newcomer Duffy and indie mainstay Coldplay - with the pair of them going head-to-head in the 'Best Single' and 'Best Album' categories with Duffy's 'Mercy' and 'Rockferry' doing battle with 'Viva La Vida' and 'Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends' respectively.

2008 Mercury award-winners Elbow are nominated for three awards, including the reason for their Mercury award: the sublime 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. Also up for a hat-trick are Adele and Scouting for Girls (both of which include 'Best Breakthrough Act' - a category Duffy is also nominated for).

AC/DC get two nominations - one for their 2008 album 'Black Ice' and also the 'International Group' category - a category that Kings of Leon are competing for. They also have two nominations, as do Fleet Foxes, Girls Aloud, Kings of Leon, MGMT, Radiohead, The Killers and The Ting Tings.

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke receives her first award nomination in the shape of 'Best Single' for her cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'.

The 'Best British Producer' category sees ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler go up against veteran producers Brian Eno and Steve Mac (Steven McCutcheon). In 2008, Bernard Butler produced Duffy's debut album 'Rockferry', Brian Eno produced Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends' - both up for awards in their own right.

The awards ceremony takes place on 18th February at Earls Court.

Tickets are on pre-sale now (on sale proper: Saturday 24th January at 10AM), and the entire event will be broadcast live on ITV at 8PM.