Ed Sheeran leads nominations for Brit Awards The 20-year-old star - who has three top five hits to his name - tops the shortlists ahead of Adele and Jessie J, both up for three prizes. Florence + The Machine and Coldplay are each up for a pair of prizes at the event, to be held at London's O2 Arena on February 21. Hotly tipped Emeli Sande has already won one trophy ahead of this year's show - the Critics' Choice Award - and stands to win another as best British breakthrough act, competing against Jessie J, Sheeran, Anna Calvi and The Vaccines. Sheeran has landed plenty of critical acclaim and airplay in the past year with singles such as The A Team and Lego House, as well as topping the album chart with his debut, called +. He goes up against Noel Gallagher, James Blake, James Morrison and Professor Green for the best British male title and is one of ten acts in contention for best British single. Best British album - which has now become the centrepiece of the Brits - will be fought over between Sheeran's +, 21 by Adele, Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay, Ceremonials by Florence and the Mercury Prize-winning Let England Shake by PJ Harvey. The best British female category features Adele, Florence, Jessie J, Laura Marling and Kate Bush. Bush, 53, figures in the shortlist for the first time in six years, on the back of her 50 Words For Snow album which came out in November. She has been nominated for the best female prize a total of seven times but last won it 25 years ago. Coldplay are up for the best British group title - a category they have previously won three times - and face Elbow, Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and Chase & Status. Other acts with two nominations are Bon Iver and Aloe Blacc, who both figure in the international categories. Coldplay are the only group with more than one nomination. Nominations for the awards - officially called the The Brit Awards 2012 with MasterCard - were announced at an event at London's Savoy Hotel this evening. The shortlisted acts will be competing for a trophy designed by pop artist Sir Peter Blake, renowned as the man behind the sleeve for The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The event - to be broadcast live on ITV1 - will also feature performances from Adele, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Sheeran, Florence, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Rihanna. Blur have already been named the winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Music award for this year. Gennaro Castaldo, of music retailer HMV, said: "It's probably fair to say there are no real surprises among the nominations, with a wide range of artists and musical styles represented to reflect a vibrant UK music scene. Adele, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay were always likely to pick up a handful each given their huge success this year, and they can now be expected to go on and win in at least one of their shortlisted categories. He said most nominees will expect some sort of sales uplift on the back of their inclusion. It's hard to imagine who in the UK doesn't have a copy of Adele's album, but undoubtedly she'll enjoy another run at the top of the charts after this. Full list of Brit Award nominees: Here are the nominations for the Brit Awards 2012 with MasterCard. British male solo artist: Ed Sheeran James Blake James Morrison Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Professor Green British female solo artist: Adele Florence + The Machine Jessie J Kate Bush Laura Marling British breakthrough act: Anna Calvi Emeli Sande The Vaccines British group: Arctic Monkeys Chase & Status Coldplay Elbow Kasabian British single: Adele - Someone Like You Ed Sheeran - The A Team Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me Jessie J ft BOB - Price Tag JLS ft Dev - She Makes Me Wanna Military Wives/Gareth Malone - Wherever You Are Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips A Beat One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful Pixie Lott - All About Tonight The Wanted - Glad You Came MasterCard British album of the year: Adele - 21 Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto Ed Sheeran - + Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials PJ Harvey - Let England Shake International male solo artist: Aloe Blacc Bon Iver Bruno Mars David Guetta Ryan Adams International female solo artist: Beyonce Bjork Feist Lady Gaga Rihanna International group: Fleet Foxes Foo Fighters Jay Z/Kanye West Lady Antebellum Maroon 5 International breakthrough act: Foster The People Lana Del Rey Nicki Minaj Outstanding contribution to music award: Blur Critics' choice: British producer: Paul Epworth Ethan Johns