The Official U.K. Charts Company have revoked Dido's Brit Award nomination for Best Newcomer, because the singer, who was nominated for a Brit last year, didn't meet the new artist eligibility requirements.

According to a statement from the Brit Awards, "Under the eligibility rules for the Brit Awards 2002, [Dido] should have not appeared as a contender and therefore it has been decided by the Executive Producer that from today Dido will be withdrawn from this category and replaced by the next eligible artist, Tom McRae."

Dido was unfazed by the news, calling the incident "quite funny" in an interview with the BBC's Radio 1. She's nominated for three other 2002 Brit Awards: Best British Album (for No Angel), Best British Video (for "Thank You") and Best British Female Solo Artist.

Although the revoked nomination is a new phenomenon, puzzling new artist nominations are certainly not. The Grammy Awards have a history of nominating artists with multiple albums to their credits for Best New Artist, including Susan Tedeschi, David Gray, who is nominated this year, and last year's winner, Shelby Lynne.

The Brit Awards are scheduled for February 20th at Earl's Court in London.

ANDREW DANSBY
(January 17, 2002)