LONDON: Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Liam Payne and Stormzy are among the nominees for this year’s Brit Awards, Britain’s most prestigious pop music prizes.
Sheeran is in the running in four categories – British male solo artist, best video and single for “Shape of You”, and best album.
Singer Dua Lipa received the most nominations. Her single “New Rules” was a break out hit last year and she is nominated in five categories including best album, best female artist and best single.
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And former One Direction star Payne was nominated for best single and video for “Strip That Down”, which has now been a hit in Britain, Australia and United States.
“The song’s done extremely well, I am extremely happy with the success so far… We just reached a billion streams. I have never written down that number, I have never had the need,” Payne said backstage at an event to announce the nominees in London.
“It’s amazing. You look at it and you’re like, wow, it’s one-sixth of the world’s population, incredible.”
Dua Lipa will compete for best female artist against the likes of Jessie Ware and 2015 winner Paloma Faith.
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East London rapper J Hus and platinum-selling songwriter Rag‘n‘Bone Man have three nominations apiece, including for best album, while Stormzy’s “Gang Signs and Prayer” is also nominated.
