Editor Paul Rees says of this year's Q Awards, which take place in London on 30 Oct, "we rather fancy it will be the year's essential music ceremony", and do you know what, I think he might be right. I mean, just look at the line up. Yahoo Music, O2, Sony Ericsson, Play.com, Napster, Marshall Amplification, Island Records, Creative Zen, Carling, Espirit Med wines, Appletons spirits - hey, you don't get that level of "key music-related brands and strategic partners" at any old awards ceremony.
It's all very exciting. Look, Event Producer, Jacqui Pinto thinks so too. "This is a huge year for Q", she says, "the magazine continues to dominate on the news stand and the Awards looks set to top the £3.5million worth of media it delivered in the last two years", and, of course, "it's fantastic that these music-related companies will be stage centre with us" because, after all, "it's a great reflection of how the industry is changing and how it is embracing new technology alongside traditional routes to market". Yep, all of that. And we haven't even mentioned "Jonathan Ross" or the "a-list celebrities" yet. Nor official water sponsor Belu. Yep, they've secured Belu. It's a real coup. Like Paul said, this year's "essential music ceremony".
Just to put a dampener on the whole thing, we should warn you some music awards may also be presented. But we won't waste your time with any of that nonsense. Oh, go on then, the Arctic Monkeys and Muse dominate the shortlists, getting four and three nominations respectively. They are both up for Best Album and Best Live Act. In the former against Kasabian, Keane, Razorlight and Snow Patrol, and in the latter against Oasis, Razorlight and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
There's a full list of nominations at the bottom of today's Daily. They're no bottle of Belu, but if you like lists, you'll be happy.