Pop, in its manufactured and unashamedly melodic forms, led the field in the Brit Awards nominations as a struggling record industry bowed to commercial realities.

Take That, Leona Lewis and Mika, million-selling stars who sing songs the milkman can whistle, each received four nods for the music industry’s big night.

An event traditionally dominated by “credible” rock bands, acknowledged that reality show-created stars and “manufactured” groups kept the industry afloat during a disastrous sales slump.

Take That, the reformed Nineties boyband, finally enjoyed critical recognition. Their Beautiful World comeback album, recorded without Robbie Williams, has sold 2 million copies. Gary Barlow, Take That’s driving force, is now recognised as an accomplished songwriter.

The success of Lewis, winner of the 2006 ITV X Factor series, suggests the Simon Cowell show can produce lasting talent. Her debut album, Spirit, sold 1.5 million copies inside two months.

Cowell told an aspiring Lebanese-born singer Mika not to bother writing songs. That rejection inspired Mika, 24, to write Grace Kelly, his No 1 single.

The former Royal College of Music student’s 70s-styled album Life In Cartoon Motion sold 1.2 million copies. Lewis, Mika and Mark Ronson’s hits revived the singles market, which recorded a 30 per cent surge, as track downloads became more popular. The television-created Girls Aloud were also rewarded with a Best Group nomination.

But CD album sales slumped and while rockers Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and Editors received nominations, their follow-up albums failed to match sales expectations.

A surprise was the arrival of Natasha Khan, 28, who records as Bat For Lashes, in the British Female and Breakthrough categories. Born to an English mother and Pakistani father, the dreamy songs on her Mercury Prize nominated album Fur And Gold, were likened to Kate Bush.

Kate Nash, whose NME-friendly vernacular songs followed Lily Allen’s path to the charts, is also recognised. But breakthrough Scottish singer Amy Macdonald, No 1 this week, was snubbed, along with Kate Melua.

Radiohead, who shocked the music industry by releasing their In Rainbows albums as an “honesty box” download, were disqualified. Industry body BPI said Radiohead’s downloads did not meet chart requirments, so the band was not eligible for the awards. The band’s strategy has been vindicated. The album was downloaded an estimated 1.8 million times and has since topped the UK and US charts as a physical release.

Amy Winehouse, the year’s best-selling artist, does not qualify because she won in 2007 for her Back To Black album. But her collaboration with Ronson, Valerie, is up for Best Single.

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