The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Online

Beyonce is leading the field in the nominations for the 52nd Grammy Awards with 10 nominations, followed by country star Taylor Swift, with eight.

The pair go up against Black Eyed Peas - who got six nominations - Lady Gaga and Dave Matthews Band for best album. R&B singer Maxwell and rapper Kanye West also earned six nominations each.

Britons Depeche Mode got two, while The Tings Tings are up for best new act. This year's song of the year winners Coldplay were given a best video nod.

The major categories were revealed during a televised concert in Los Angeles, hosted by rap star LL Cool J. Nominees for the rest of the 109 awards were announced later.

Winners will be announced on 31 January at the city's Staples Center.

Beyonce is nominated for song of the year for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and record of the year for Halo - both taken from album I Am… Sasha Fierce. Swfit will also go up against Beyonce for song and record of the year for You Belong With Me, from her second album Fearless.

The 19-year-old country star is the biggest-selling artist in the US this year, excluding the late Michael Jackson.