17777

Little Mix, Skepta and Rihanna are out in front in the nominations for the 2017 BRIT Awards, with three nods apiece ahead of this year's ceremony.

Skepta, who scooped the 2016 Mercury Music Prize with fourth album Konnichiwa, is up for British Male Solo Artist – up against the likes of David Bowie and Craig David – and British Breakthrough Artist.

Konnichiwa itself is up for the big one, Album of the Year. It'll need to see off The 1975's I Like It When You Sleep…, Bowie's Blackstar, Kano's Made in the Manor and Michael Kiwanuka's Love & Hate.

MORE: The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2016

Little Mix, who scored their first Number 1 album with fourth release Glory Days, spending a fifth week at the top this week, claim three nominations too. Lead single Shoutout To My Ex is recognised in the British Single and British Video categories, and the ladies score their first ever nod in the British Group category.

Meanwhile, Rihanna could also be walking away with a clutch of trophies – she's got three nominations this year. Her collaboration with Calvin Harris, This Is What You Came For, gains a nod in both the British Single and British Video category.

Rihanna also makes an appearance in what could be the hardest-to-call International Female category in years. She's up against Sia, Christine and the Queens and, interestingly, sisters Beyoncé and Solange – a win for either of those two could make Knowles' family gatherings a bit more interesting, eh?

MORE: The Official Top 40 biggest songs of 2016

Other notable nominees include the late icon David Bowie who, along with his nod for Blackstar, is a potential British Male Solo Artist winner. Drake scores two nominations, one for International Male Solo Artist – against Bon Iver, Bruno Mars, Leonard Cohen and The Weeknd – and the other in International Group, for his work with Future.

One award has already been announced: Rag'n'Bone Man was named Critics' Choice late last year.

The 2017 BRIT Awards take place on Wednesday 22 February at London's O2 Arena and will include performances by Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Robbie Williams, Little Mix, Emeli Sande and The 1975.

The BRIT Awards 2017 album is released on Friday February 17 and includes some of the biggest songs released over the past year, including tracks by The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Zara Larsson, Little Mix, Sia, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, and Christine and the Queens along with Critics’ Choice winner Rag'n'Bone Man.

See the full list of nominees for the 2017 BRIT Awards below:

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST

Craig David

David Bowie

Kano

Michael Kiwanuka

Skepta

BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Anohni

Ellie Goulding

Emeli Sandé

Lianne La Havas

Nao

BRITISH GROUP

The 1975

Bastille

Biffy Clyro

Little Mix

Radiohead

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT

Anne-Marie

Blossoms

Rag’n’Bone Man

Skepta

Stormzy

BRITs GLOBAL SUCCESS AWARD

Identified by the global sales success of British Acts of

their latest project/album. Sales achieved in the period 1st

January 2016 to 31st December 2016 will be counted.

BRITISH SINGLE

Alan Walker – Faded

Calum Scott – Dancing On My Own

Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For

Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye

Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend

James Arthur – Say You Won't Let Go

Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car

Little Mix – Shout Out To My Ex

Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like

Zayn – Pillowtalk

MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It

David Bowie – Blackstar

Kano – Made In the Manor

Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate

Skepta – Konnichiwa

BRITISH ARTIST VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Adele – Send My Love (To Your New Lover) (VOTED OUT)

Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For (VOTED OUT)

Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye (VOTED OUT)

Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend

James Arthur – Say You Won't Let Go

Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car (VOTED OUT)

Little Mix feat. Sean Paul – Hair

One Direction – History

Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like (VOTED OUT)

Zayn – Pillowtalk

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST

Bon Iver

Bruno Mars

Drake

Leonard Cohen

The Weeknd

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Beyoncé

Christine and the Queens

Rihanna

Sia

Solange

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

A Tribe Called Quest

Drake & Future

Kings of Leon

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Twenty One Pilots

Take a look at highlights from previous BRIT Awards ceremonies in our gallery: