Arctic Monkeys score seven nominations

The Arctic Monkeys look set to dominate this year's NME awards, in sharp contrast with the TV stars and pop singers who dominated the nominations list for the more mainstream Brit awards. The Sheffield band, who last year followed their record-breaking debut with a well-received second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, and a headline slot at Glastonbury, notched up a record seven nominations for next month's NMEs. The band will be up for best British band, best live band, best album and best track, among others. Frontman Alex Turner (left) is also a 'best dressed' contender.
 
Meanwhile critically acclaimed singer Amy Winehouse - currently in rehab for drug problems - was largely frozen out of the awards. Winehouse has been nominated for 'villain of the year' alongside Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his predecessor Tony Blair and US President George Bush. The singer, whose trademark look is a black beehive, is also up the ‘worst dressed’ title along with Pete Doherty (who, oddly, is also in the ‘best dressed’ category). On the plus side, Winehouse was also nominated for 'best solo artist' and 'best music DVD'.
 
NME readers - who vote for the awards - took the opportunity to get revenge on the plethora of pop artists and reality show winners who dominated the Brit awards at the expense of more interesting indie acts. Both Mika and Leona Lewis, up for Brits, have been nominated for 'worst album', along with James Blunt, Britney Spears and the Hoosiers. ·