Irish boyband Westlife were nominated in the Best Pop Act category for this year's Brit awards, but U2 failed to receive any nominations in a list of contenders topped by Gorillaz.
Gorillaz – a "virtual" band featuring Blur's Damon Albarn and hip-hop producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura – won six nominations, including British Group, Best Album and Best British Newcomer; they are the second act ever to receive this number of nominations.
Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and Dido are each named in four categories for this year's awards.
Kylie, who is up against Westlife, Blue, S Club 7 and Hear'Say for Best Pop Act, was also nominated for Best International Female Solo Artist and in the new category of Best International Album.
Robbie is up against Sir Elton John, Craig David, Ian Brown and Aphex Twin for Best British Male Solo Artist, although his album, 'Swing When You're Winning' failed to receive any nominations.
The woman who had the biggest-selling album of 2001 in the UK, Dido, will face Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, Geri Halliwell, Sade and Sophie Ellis Bextor in the Best British Female Solo Artist category.
In the Best British Group category, Gorillaz are up against Radiohead, Stereophonics, Travis and Jamiroquai, and against Travis, Dido, Radiohead and Craig David for Best British Album.
New York rockers The Strokes have been nominated in three of the five international categories.
Ireland's U2 won two awards at last year's ceremony, including a lifetime achievement award. They were recently named front-runners for this year's Grammy Awards but clearly failed to impress the Brits' judges this year.
The prize-giving ceremony will take place on 20 February.
