MUSIC WEEK AWARDS: Not short on success.

The MW Awards judges whittle down a record number of entries for 16 categories to this final shortlist for our April 3 event

Universal is the clear frontrunner in the lead-up to the Music Week Awards after achieving 13 nominations in eight judged categories.

The nominations were officially unveiled at the Music Week Awards 2008 Shortlist Party which saw more than 300 music industry representatives descend on Studio Valbonne in London's Soho to hear who would make the cut.

Among the majors Sony BMG walked away with six nominations and EMI five, while the efforts of independent labels including XL and Union Square were recognised with nominations for Artist Marketing Campaign of the Year and Catalogue Marketing Campaign of the Year respectively.

Following a record number of entries, the nominations for the 16 judged categories were decided upon during three long, hard days of deliberation and debate at the Hoxten Hotel in east London and the headquarters of Music Week Awards' aftershow party sponsor Capital Radio.

Among the most popular categories were the newly-introduced Music and Brand Partnership of the Year and Digital Achievement of the Year awards, introduced to reflect the growing importance of both sectors in the ever-changing business of music.

Additionally the MW Awards has increased its focus on radio with both a National Radio Station of the Year and Regional Radio Station of the Year category being included for the first time this year.