BRITS to go live on YouTube

This year's BRIT Awards ceremony is to be broadcast live worldwide via YouTube for the first time on the BRITs YouTube channel. Viewers globally will also be able to influence the new Best British Video Award. A shortlist for that will be announced - with votes accepted via Twitter during the broadcast and the winner announced towards the end. The awards can be seen live on terrestrial TV  - ITV - in the UK - where the stream will not be active. Acts including Arctic Monkeys, Pharrell Williams Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Bastille, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding, Lorde and Disclosure are on the bill for the event, which will take place on 19 February, hosted by James Cordon for the fifth and final time this year at London's O2 Arena. Disclosure and Bastille lead the nominations for this year's awards, having both been named in four categories each.

BRIT Awards 2014 nominations revealed

Bastille and electro brothers Disclosure lead the way at the Brit Awards with four nominations each and Ellie Goulding also picked up three nods at Thursday's nominations event - for best British female and twice for best single. She is nominated for her songs Burn, and I Need Your Love. Electronic music is also represented by drum and bass quartet Rudimental, who equal Goulding with three nods. David Bowie pocks up two nomination including best album alongside records by Arctic Monkeys, Bastille, Disclosure and Rudimental.

Best Producer

Ethan Johns / Flood & Alan Moulder / Paul Epworth

British Breakthrough Act

Bastille / Disclosure / Laura Mvula / London Grammar / Tom Odell

British Female Solo Artist

Birdy / Ellie Goulding / Jessie J / Laura Marling /Laura Mvula

Arctic Monkeys

British Group

Arctic Monkeys / Bastille / Disclosure / One Direction / Rudimental

British Male Solo Artist

David Bowie / Jake Bugg / James Blake / John Newman / Tom Odell

British Single (based on sales)

Bastille / Calvin Harris / Disclosure / Ellie Goulding / John Newman / Naughty Boy / Olly Murs / One Direction / Passenger / Rudimental

Critics' Choice Award

Chlöe Howl / Ella Eyre / and won by Sam Smith 

International Female Solo Artist

Janelle Monáe / Katy Perry / Lady Gaga / Lorde / Pink

International Group

Arcade Fire / Daft Punk / Haim / Kings Of Leon / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

International Male Solo Artist

Bruno Mars / Drake/ Eminem / John Grant / Justin Timberlake

MasterCard British Album of the Year

Arctic Monkeys / Bastille / David Bowie / Disclosure / Rudimental

Sam Smith has also been chosen as the BBC's Sound Of 2014.  The complete Sound Of 2014 top five is as follows:

1. Sam Smith
2. Ella Eyre
3. Banks
4. Sampha
5. George Ezra