Eminem in NME spotlight

Eminem: NME awards favourite

Rapper Eminem has six nominations in this year's NME awards - two more than his nearest British rivals.

The controversial performer, who has been nominated for four Grammys in the US, has been attacked by critics who claim his lyrics are sexist and homophobic.

But he leads the nominations in the NME awards, which will be voted for by readers of the music weekly and its sister website.

He is nominated for best album for The Marshall Mathers EP, best single for Stan, best solo artist, best hip-hop artist, hero of the year and villain of the year.

Radiohead, Oasis and Coldplay trail in his wake, with nominations in four categories.

Liam Gallagher: hero or villain?

Despite Oasis having a troubled 2000, both Liam and Noel Gallagher are nominated for hero of the year, while Liam is nominated for villain.

Oasis are also in the best band line-up, while their stadium shows are shortlisted for event of the year.

Oxford-based Radiohead, whose album Kid A is nominated for a Grammy, are up for best album, best band, and hero of the year for singer Thom Yorke. Their concerts are also nominated for event of the year.

Coldplay, whose album Parachutes was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, are in the running for best album, best band, best new artist and best single for Yellow.

The other best band nominees are U2 and Primal Scream, whose Xtrmntr is also up for best album, together with Badly Drawn Boy's Hour Of The Bewilderbeast.

The award ceremony will take place on 6 February at a venue in Shoreditch, east London.

The NME awards date back to 1953, although they have not been handed out every year.

Last year Blur took three prizes, following the release of their album 13.

This year they are nominated for the single Music Is My Radar.