Commercial radio powers ahead in Sony Awards list. (News).

Emap-owned Kiss 100 and Capital's Xfm are powering commercial radio to one of its best music showings yet at the Sony Radio Awards.

The two London stations claim three nods apiece in this year's six music categories, as ILR lifts its total presence in the same sections from 10 mentions in 2002 to 13 this time.

"For commercial radio to improve its share of nominations in music is extraordinary, considering the last 12 months have been among the worst in advertising in the past 10 years and in the face of competition from the BBC and its poll tax," says Emap Performance chief executive Tim Schoonmaker.

His company heads the commercial radio table with six music nominations and nine across all categories at the Radio Academy event.

In the key breakfast music award section only Radio Two's Wake Up To Wogan, which won the award last year, prevents a complete commercial radio domination.

Xfm programme controller Andrew Phillips says the station is "honoured and privileged" to have received a series of nominations. "I'm so pleased for the station because we've always kept our faith in the specialist sector, in developing talent and we've got something back for it," he adds.

But against an improved commercial radio showing this year, BBC station Radio Two continues to set the pace after grabbing six music nominations, although this is slightly down on last year. It is also shortlisted for UK station of the year, which it has won three out of the last four years. Competition here comes from Radio Four and Classic FM.