Coldplay’s skyward trajectory continued last night when the band were nominated for seven Grammy Awards.

Officially named the planet's best-selling act at the World Music Awards last month, the group are now in line to pick up the prestigious Record of the Year and Song of the Year gongs, for the hit single Viva La Vida, and Album of the Year for their chart-topping release Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Only American hip-hop star Lil Wayne bagged more nominations, receiving eight nods off the back of his best-selling album The Carter III.

Despite the chart-topping rapper’s brilliant show, it was a night for the Brits as the newcomer Adele was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance while her single Chasing Pavements was nominated for Record of the Year.

X Factor contestant turned music heavyweight Leona Lewis also received a nod in the Record of the Year category for the tear-jerker ballad and worldwide hit Bleeding Love. Simon Cowell’s prodigy is also up for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, but will have to compete with Welsh sensation Duffy for the gong.

The nominees enjoyed new glory this year as the Grammy nods were announced at a star-studded concert broadcast live on US TV, with performances by Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and Foo Fighters.

Radiohead’s groundbreaking release In Rainbows is up for album of the year, despite predictions the album would spell the end of the recording industry when the band allowed fans to pay whatever they saw fit via the internet. But when released into stores, the group proved naysayers wrong, going on to sell so many copies that the album hit No 1 on the charts.

Robert Plant’s refusal to reunite with Led Zeppelin in favour of furthering his partnership with American blues musician Alison Krauss paid off last night when the pair were nominated for both Album of the Year, for Raising Sand, and Record of the Year, for Please Read The Letter.

Estelle’s American Boy is up for Song of the Year while MIA is nominated for Record of the Year for Paper Planes and Hot Chip compete for Best Dance Recording, for Ready For The Floor. National treasure Paul McCartney could add to his swathe of gongs with nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.

A British clean sweep of the awards is not a certainty though as heavyweight American acts picked up a raft of nominations. Hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z, Kanye West and Ne-Yo each bageed six nominations, while Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland are up for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for the hit 4 Minutes. They face robust competition in the form of Rhianna and Maroon 5 as well as American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

Rock veterans Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young are competition for Paul McCartney in the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category, while the clean-cut Jonas Brothers will be competition for Adele for Best New Artist.

The Grammy Awards will be held on February 8.

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