By Liam Sellick

This year the BRIT Awards, sponsored by MasterCard, is in it’s 31^st year. The venue for the event has been changed from Earl’s Court and will be held at the 02 Arena in London, hosted by James Corden. There are some live performances on the night from nominees Rihanna, Take That, Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons. Plan B will perform on the night too. Take That will perform their new single ‘Kids’. The actual award itself has been restyled by Vivienne Westwood and the industry-dominated 1,000-strong voting panel now includes last year’s winning artists for the first time. Looking at the categories, they vary from Hip Hop, Pop and Rock. Some of the other confirmed performers are Tinie Tempah, Adele and Cee Lo Green. You can catch the event on ITV1 on Tuesday 15^th February 2011 at 8pm.

Here is a full list of the nominees and my predictions

British Male Solo Artist: Mark Ronson; Paul Weller; Plan B; Robert Plant; Tinie Tempah.
For British Male Solo Artist, I think it is between Mark Ronson, Plan B or Tinie Tempah.  If I stick my neck out I’ll go for Plan B.

British Female Solo Artist: Cheryl Cole; Ellie Goulding; Laura Marling; Paloma Faith; Rumer.
Rumer has had success with her album ‘Seasons Of My Soul’ and Ellie Goulding has released ‘Bright Lights’, but I think the winner of this category will be Cheryl Cole.

British Breakthrough Act: Ellie Goulding; Mumford and Sons; Rumer; Tinie Tempah; The xx.
This is a tough category as all of the acts have had a successful year and any of them could win on the night. If I was forced to pick, I would have to go for Tinie Tempah because of the success that he has had with ‘Pass Out, ‘Written In The Stars’ and his album ‘Disc-Overy’.  

British Group: Biffy Clyro; Gorillaz; Mumford And Sons; Take That; The XX.
I think That That will win because of the return of Robbie Williams and the success of their album ‘Progress’.

British Single: Alexandra Burke ft Pitbull – All Night Long; Cheryl Cole – Parachute; Florence And The Machine – You’ve Got The Love; Matt Cardle – When We Collide; Olly Murs – Please Don’t Let Me Go; Plan B – She Said; Scouting For Girls – This Ain’t A Love Song; Taio Cruz – Dynamite; Tinie Tempah – Pass Out; The Wanted – All Time Low.
I think this is a tough category as there are some recognisable artists that could win but overall, I would have to go for Tinie Tempah’s ‘Pass Out’.

MasterCard British Album of the Year: Mumford And Sons – Sigh No More; Plan B – The Defamation Of Strickland Banks; Take That – Progress; Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy; The XX – XX.
Plan B’s ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ has had huge success since it was released, but seen as Take That’s ‘Progress’ was the first in 15 years for them as a five-piece I would say they have a big chance.  But you can’t rule out The XX, following their Mercury Music prize win they have had a huge 2010.

International Male Solo Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Cee Lo Green; David Guetta; Eminem; Kanye West.
I think Cee Lo Green will win this category because of the success he has had with ‘Forget You’.

International Female Solo Artist: Alicia Keys; Katy Perry; Kylie Minogue; Rihanna; Robyn.
Alicia Keys has had a good year. She has had success with her album ‘The Element of Freedom’ and her singles ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything’ and ‘Empire State Of Mind (Part II Broken Down)’. Katy Perry has had a number one single with ‘California Gurls’ and a number one album with ‘Teenage Dream’ but she did win this in 2008. Rihanna has been very successful over the last year. She has released her fifth studio album ‘Loud’. She has had a number one single with ‘Only Girl (In The World)’. This is between Katy and Rihanna. Rihanna to win in seen as Katy won it in 2008.

International Breakthrough Act: Bruno Mars; Glee Cast; Justin Bieber; The National; The Temper Trap.
This is between Bruno Mars, Glee Cast and Justin Bieber. Bruno Mars had had two number one singles with ‘Just The Way You Are’ and ‘Grenade’ and a number one album with ‘Doo-Wops and Hooligans’.

International Group: Arcade Fire; Black Eyed Peas; Kings Of Leon; The Script; Vampire Weekend.
Black Eyed Peas or Kings of Leon for this one.

International Album: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs; Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer; Eminem – Recovery; Katy Perry – Teenage Dream; Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown.
I would have to say this goes to Katy Perry because she has had more success with ‘Teenage Dream’.

British Producer – Ethan Johns; John Leckie; Markus Dravs; Mike Pela; Stuart Price.
For this category, I would go for Stuart Price. He has produced Kylie’s album and the new Take That album.

Critics’ Choice: Jessie J
This is a great choice, she is a great up and coming artist who I think is going to be big this year. Everybody is talking about her following her two hit singles ‘Do It Like A Dude’ and ‘Price Tag’.