Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis, Franz Ferdinand vie for NME awards

Rising British band the Kaiser Chiefs led the pack with a record six nominations for the upcoming New Music Express Awards, but it's a tight race with Oasis, Franz Ferdinand and newcomer Arctic Monkeys close behind.

The Kaiser Chiefs, who took to the Philadelphia stage for last year's Live 8 concert, are the only band ever to receive six nominations in the 50-year history of the influential music magazine's awards.

The Leeds band, formed in 2003, will compete in the categories of best British band, best live band, best album, best track, best video and best music DVD.

Scottish favourite Franz Ferdinand is also a major competitor, having scored five NME nominations out of the release of its sophomore album You Could Have It So Much Better: British band, live band, album, track and video.

Last year, veteran rock group Oasis made what was considered a strong comeback with the album Don't Believe The Truth. The group, fronted by the notorious Gallagher brothers Noel and Liam, also racked up five nominations: British band, live band, album, track and video.

Closely following suit is new band Arctic Monkeys — labelmates of Franz Ferdinand. The Monkeys' debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not sold nearly 120,000 copies in the U.K. within 24 hours of its release on Monday. If this sales pace continues, the album may become the country's fastest-selling debut ever.

The group, whose members hail from northern England, quickly built up a following after its track I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor became a hit in 2005.

Arctic Monkeys has won four NME nominations: best new band, British band, live band and track.

A full list of NME nominees is available on the music magazine's website.

The NME Award-winners will be unveiled on Feb. 23 at a London ceremony, which will also include a tribute to former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, set to receive the Godlike Genius Award.