Brit Awards 2021: Female artists dominate nominations

K-pop supergroup BTS have received their first Brit Award nomination

Female British stars Dua Lipa (pictured), Arlo Parks and Celeste lead the competition for the Brit Awards with a trio of nominations apiece for the UK music prizes. AP Photo

Female artists dominated nominations for the 2021 Brit Awards announced on Wednesday, with four women shortlisted for the event's coveted Album of the Year category.

For the first time, the best album at UK pop's biggest annual event has four women nominated on a five-act shortlist, a contrast to 2020 when the category was criticised for a lack of female artists.

English singer and songwriter Dua Lipa, 25, is the artist to beat in the best album category after taking home a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for her record, Future Nostalgia.

She has received two other nominations for Best Female Solo Artist and Best British Single for her hit Physical.

The full list of Album of the Year nominees includes Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams; Celeste, Not Your Muse; Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia; J Hus, Big Conspiracy; and Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?.

Emerging singer and poet Arlo Parks, soul singer Celeste, rap duo Young T & Bugsey and DJ and producer Joel Corry have all received three total nominations across different categories.

Pop stars Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift have been nominated in the International Female Solo Artist category.

Bruce Springsteen has been nominated in the International Male Solo Artist list alongside Childish Gambino, The Weeknd, Tame Impala and Burna Boy.

K-pop supergroup BTS received their first Brit Award nomination for International Group and homegrown star Harry Styles bagged a nomination for his single Watermelon Sugar.

The winners of the 2021 awards will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 11 at London's The O2 Arena, though it is not clear what form the ceremony will take because of coronavirus restrictions.

Under a current government roadmap for easing coronavirus rules, live music venues will not be allowed to open their doors until Monday, May 17.

The annual ceremony, which normally takes place in February, was postponed by three months because of safety and logistical concerns because of the pandemic.

Full list of Brit Awards 2021 nominees:

Album of the Year:

Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams

Celeste, Not Your Muse

Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia

J Hus, Big Conspiracy

Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?

Female Solo Artist of the Year:

Arlo Parks

Celeste

Dua Lipa

Jessie Ware

Lianne La Havas

Male Solo Artist of the Year:

AJ Tracey

Headie One

J Hus

Joel Corry

Yungblud

British artist Yungblud is nominated for Male Solo Artist of the Year. Getty Images

British Group of the Year:

Bicep

Biffy Clyro

Little Mix

The 1975

Young T & Bugsey

British Single of the Year:

220 Kid & Gracey, Don't Need Love

Aitch & AJ Tracey featuring Tay Keith, Rain

Dua Lipa, Physical

Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar

Headie One featuring AJ Tracey & Stormzy, Ain't It Different

Joel Corry featuring MNEK, Head & Heart

Nathan Dawe featuring KSI, Lighter

Regard & Raye, Secrets

S1MBA feat. DTG, Rover

Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One, Don't Rush

Harry Styles has been nominated for a Brit Award for his single 'Watermelon Sugar'. AP Photo

Breakthrough Artist of the Year:

Arlo Parks

Bicep

Celeste

Joel Corry

Young T & Bugsey

Brits Rising Star:

Griff Warner (Winner)

Pa Salieu

Rina Sawayama

Taylor Swift is nominated for the 2021 Brit Awards' International Female Solo Artist of the Year award. Reuters

International Female Solo Artist of the Year:

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Cardi B

Miley Cyrus

Taylor Swift

International Male Solo Artist of the Year:

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy

Childish Gambino

Tame Impala

The Weeknd

FILE PHOTO: Members of K-pop boy band BTS pose for photographs during a news conference promoting their new album "BE(Deluxe Edition)" in Seoul, South Korea, November 20, 2020. REUTERS/Heo Ran/File Photo

International Group of the Year:

BTS

Fontaines DC

Foo Fighters

Haim

Run The Jewels