Brits to mark its global stars.

A trio of UK-signed acts who collectively sold 16m albums across the world in 2001 are set to head the nominations list at tonight's (Monday) Brit Awards launch.

Dido, Gorillaz and Kylie Minogue are all expected to scoop multiple nominations at the event at London's Abbey Road Studios after a year in which they were at the forefront of UK-originated music conquering sales charts around the globe.

"The list of nominations underlines the way British music has grown internationally," says Brit Awards committee chair Tony Wadsworth. "Many of the acts nominated in the British categories have also sold many millions around the world. The year 2001 was the year the British music industry proved the doom merchants wrong."

A clutch of appearances on the shortlist for Parlophone's Gorillaz sets up the prospect of Damon Albarn matching his personal awards haul when Blur captured four prizes in 1995. Albarn, whose awards seven years ago included best group and best album for Parklife, is understood to be appearing in the same two key shortlist categories again this year with the virtual band who won two MTV Europe Awards in November. Fellow Parlophone act Kylie Minogue, who has yet to win a Brit despite a hit career stretching over 14 years, is expected to grab a trio of nominations within the international categories.

A remarkable 12 months for BMG's Dido, in which she ...