As American recording artists prepare for next month's Grammy Awards, their British counterparts are readying themselves for their equivalent, the Brit Awards, the nominations for which were announced late Monday.

The electronica duo known as the Chemical Brothers led all Brit Awards nominees with four, earning a nod for Best Dance Act, Best Album (for "Surrender"), Best Single ("Hey Boy Hey Girl"), and Best Video ("Let Forever Be").

The Chemical Brothers were followed by a pair of dance acts, Fatboy Slim and Basement Jaxx, and the Scottish rockers in Travis, all of whom received three nominations for the 2000 Brit Awards, being held on March 3 at Earls Court in London.

In the international categories, usually driven by high-selling U.S. artists, teen singer Britney Spears will square off against multi-threat star Jennifer Lopez and R&B vocalist Macy Gray for both Best International Female and Best International Newcomer.

Other Americans looking to make an impact on the 2000 Brit Awards include Eminem, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Will Smith, Semisonic, and Moby. And in one of the more interesting (and diverse) contests, the Beastie Boys, Cardigans, Mercury Rev, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and TLC are the bands vying for Best International Group.

Organizers are still hammering details for the staging of the 2000 Brit Awards, but have already announced that Macy Gray and Basement Jaxx would both perform. The surviving members of Queen are also expected to collaborate with the Irish boy band, Five, on a live version of "We Will Rock You."

As we previously reported (see "Spice Girls Recognized For Lifetime Achievement"), the Spice Girls will receive a special Brit Award at this year's ceremony honoring the group's Outstanding Contribution To The British Music Industry.

In the U.S., the Grammy Awards are scheduled to be handed out on February 23 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Complete list of nominees for the 2000 Brit Awards:

Best Female:
  • Melanie C
  • Gabrielle
  • Geri Halliwell
  • Beverley Knight
  • Beth Orton
Best Male:
  • David Bowie
  • Ian Brown
  • Tom Jones
  • Van Morrison
  • Sting
Best Group:
  • Blur
  • Gomez
  • Stereophonics
  • Texas
  • Travis
Best Album:
  • "Liquid Skin" - Gomez
  • "Performance and Cocktails" - Stereophonics
  • "Remedy" - Basement Jaxx
  • "Surrender" - Chemical Brothers
  • "The Man Who" - Travis
Best Dance Act:
  • Chemical Brothers
  • Basement Jaxx
  • Fatboy Slim
  • Jamiroquai
  • Leftfield
Best Pop Act:
  • Five
  • Geri Halliwell
  • Ann Lee
  • Martine McCutcheon
  • S Club 7
  • Steps
Best Single:
  • "Hey Boy Hey Girl" - Chemical Brothers
  • "Moving" - Supergrass
  • "Praise You" - Fatboy Slim
  • "Red Alert" - Basement Jaxx
  • "She's The One - Robbie Williams
  • "Sing It Back" - Moloko
  • "Sweet Like Chocolate" - Shank & Bigfoot
  • "Tender" - Blur
  • "Why Does It Always Rain On Me" - Travis
  • "You Stole The Sun From My Heart" - Manic Street Preachers
Best Video:
  • "Let Forever Be" - Chemical Brothers
  • "Praise You" - Fatboy Slim
  • "Pumping On Your Stereo" - Supergrass
  • "She's The One" - Robbie Williams
  • "Windowlicker" - Aphex Twin
Best Newcomer:
  • Beta Band
  • Charlotte Church
  • Death In Vegas
  • Fierce
  • Gay Dad
  • Glamma Kid
  • Groove Armada
  • Honeyz
  • Jamelia
  • Kele Le Roc
  • Ann Lee
  • Martine McCutcheon
  • Phats & Small
  • Adam Rickitt
  • S Club 7
  • Shanks & Bigfoot
  • Spacedust
  • U.N.K.L.E.
  • Wamdue Project
  • Wiseguys
Best International Female:
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Macy Gray
  • Whitney Houston
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Britney Spears
Best International Male:
  • Beck
  • Eminem
  • Ricky Martin
  • Moby
  • Will Smith
Best International Group:
  • Beastie Boys
  • Cardigans
  • Mercury Rev
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • TLC
Best International Newcomer:
  • Eminem
  • Macy Gray
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Semisonic
  • Britney Spears
Best Soundtrack:
  • "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"
  • "Fight Club"
  • "Matrix"
  • "Notting Hill"
  • "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace"

-- David Basham

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