DJs, presenters and producers from both BBC and commercial stations will gather in central London for the prizes on Wednesday night.

BBC Radio 1's breakfast show host Zoe Ball leads the nominations.

The TV-presenter-turned DJ faces Classic FM's Sarah Lucas and Adam Cole from Manchester station Galaxy 102 in the battle for best breakfast show.

Former Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof is a surprise nomination. He is shortlisted for best drivetime show for his six-month stint on London station Xfm.

Geldof's choice a hit

Bob Geldof: His stint at Xfm found favour with judges

He took over the slot when Capital Radio bought the station last year, and employed his Planet 24 company to produce programming for it.

However, while his own personal choice of music found favour with the Sony judges, his appointment sparked controversy. Music paper NME called him "the world's worst DJ" after he erroneously announced the death of veteran rocker Ian Dury on air.

Geldof - who recently sold Planet 24 to media conglomerate Carlton - faces competition from Classic FM's Jamie Crick and Simon James of Leeds station 96.3 Aire FM.

Other award categories are dominated by BBC programmes and personalities. Radio 1's alternative music champion John Peel is nominated for a Talk/ News Broadcaster award for his work on Radio 4, which broadcasts his Saturday morning Home Truths programme.

Nomination for BBC News Online

John Peel: Alternative music icon - but nominated for his Radio 4 show

Home Truths is also nominated in the Best Magazine category, as well as for Best Weekend Talk/News - as is BBC News Online's multimedia phone-in show Newstalk.

Now renamed Talking Point ON AIR, the programme gives listeners and online users worldwide the chance to debate the issues of the day and quiz correspondents and experts.

BBC News Online readers can also see the programme, hosted by presenters Robin Lustig and Diana Madill, being broadcast from the studio.

Satirist Chris Morris is nominated for the comedy award for Radio 1's late-night Blue Jam, a mixture of sketches and ambient music.

Best music personality will be fought out by Radio 1 dance DJ Pete Tong and Radio 2's Mark Lamarr and Bob Harris.

Radio 2 itself is nominated for national station of the year, alongside Radio 1. Radio 2 has recently shed its image as a solely easy-listening network with the appointment of DJs like Lamarr. Classic FM - which won the award last year - is the third nominee.

BBC breakfast talk battle

Mark Radcliffe: His afternoon show has been nominated

The BBC's London station GLR gets recognition for its breakfast show, presented by Jeremy Nicholas and Claire McDonnell. It faces Radio 5 Live's Julian Worricker and Victoria Derbyshire in the battle for the Best Breakfast Talk/News Award. Talk Radio's former breakfast show - fronted by one of the awards' presenters, Kirsty Young - is also nominated.

Former Radio 1 breakfast host Mark Radcliffe is nominated for the Daytime Music Award, facing BBC Radio Wales' Roy Noble and Steve Penk from Capital FM in London.

TV presenters Richard Whiteley and Dale Winton were on the 85-strong panel of judges, as was Undertones singer-turned Radio Authority member Feargal Sharkey.

There is a shortlist of 81 nominees in 27 categories, recognising a diverse range of programmes, presenters and stations.

Hosted by Paul Gambaccini and Kirsty Young, the awards will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel.