Emerging Talent lines up for Brits boost.

The surge of new UK talent emerging in 2000 will be officially recognised in tonight's (Monday) Brits nominations with breakthrough acts poised to dominate the domestic categories.

Wildstar's Craig David -- who is now lined up to perform at the February 26 spectacular -- looks on course to figure in four of the shortlists after a year that saw his debut album going five-times platinum in the UK and becoming a Top 10 hit across Europe and in Australia. Alongside David, who last week signed a US licensing deal with Atlantic Records (see below), Parlophone's Coldplay are expected to figure in three sections being announced at London's 10 Covent Garden. Multiple showings are. almost certain from East West's David Gray and Serious/Universal Island's Sonique.

Brits committee chairman Tony Wadsworth believes the timing is perfect to launch the Brits, given the revival of UK music both domestically and abroad. "One of the key aims of the Brits is to bang the drum for British Music and there couldn't be a better time after the industry's best year yet for UK album sales and in a week when 11 of the Billboard Top 100 albums are British and UK-signed," he says.

The US Billboard 200 albums chart this week sees Arista's Dido breaking into the Top 10 for the first Coldplay: Brits nomination hopes time, David Gray -- handled by RCA in the States -- making his Top 40 debut and Coldplay registering for the first occasion in the top half of the chart. Two other UK acts are in the Top 10 -- EMI's The Beatles at number one and Epic's Sade at eight -- while Parlophone's Radiohead are now reclimbing the chart on the back of their Kid A being shortlisted last week for Grammy album of the year.

Following their Grammy nominations, Radiohead are among several established UK acts expected to figure more than once in tonight's Brits shortlist. EMI:Chrysalis' Robbie Williams is also predicted ...