So, let's start with the fun stuff shall we? The nominations for the 2008 Brit Awards were announced at a bash at the Roundhouse over there in Camden last night, with Kelly Osbourne and that Reggie Yates fella leading the proceedings.
Nominations wise, and perhaps no surprise that it was a good night for Mika and Leona Lewis, and also for old timers Take That. Each get four nominations a piece - Mika for Best Male, Best Breakthrough, Best Album for 'Life In Cartoon Motion' and Best Single for 'Grace Kelly'; Leona Lewis for Best Female, Best Breakthrough, Best Album for 'Spirit' and Best Single for 'Bleeding Love'; and the Take That guys for Best Group, Best Live Act, Best Album for 'Beautiful World' and Best Single for 'Shine'.
As previously reported, Paul McCartney will get the lifetime's achievement gong this time round, so no surprises he is booked to play at the actual awards on 20 Feb. Also on the bill will be Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie Minogue, Mark Ronson, Leona Lewis, Mika and that Rihanna chick.
Ahead of the official nominations being released, SonyBMG top man Ged Doherty, though wearing his hat as Chairman of the BRITs Committee, told CMU: "One of the best ways in which the British music industry will meet the challenges it currently faces is with the continued development of great new British acts. The 2008 BRITs nominee list is certainly proof it is delivering these acts - there is some amazing talent here".
Meanwhile Geoff Taylor of the UK record label trade body the BPI, who are behind the annual award's bash, of course, said: "To receive a BRIT nomination means that the BRIT Academy, more than 1000 experts from across the breadth of the media and music business, have recognised you as one of the best artists of the last year. Nominees recognise this as a huge accolade. Creatively, British music is in a rich vein of form as reflected in these nominations. Because of the outstanding talent in each category, I think people will be hard-pressed to pick who will win a BRIT on the night. All we can guarantee is that it will be a must-watch show on the 20th of February".
The official nominations bash was preceded by a gathering of members of the Brits Academy - the people that vote. That soiree was an attempt to show the range of people who actually vote in the British record industry's annual awards bash, ie that it's not just a carve up by top record label bosses, and the majority of the voters come from other parts of the music business and the media, rather than the record labels who stand to win.
The full list of nominees is at the bottom's of today's CMU Daily. You'll get press info, should you need it, from LD Publicity, or Scream Promotions if you're one of those TV/radio types. Anything else I should mention? Oh yes, the Brits is sponsored by Mastercard and raises money for the British Record Industry Trust. Wouldn't want Guy Hands thinking this is another cash guzzling extravagance bank rolled by the record companies.