Sam Smith & Ed Sheeran will lead the way at 2015 BRIT Awards

Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and George Ezra will be the ones to beat at the 2015 BRIT Awards after landing a string of top nominations.

Soul sensation Smith leads the way with five nods and will face off with four-time nominees Sheeran and Ezra for the coveted titles of British Male Solo Artist, British Album and British Single.

Smith and Ezra are also shortlisted for the British Breakthrough award, competing against FKA Twigs, CHVRCHES and Royal Blood.

Meanwhile, John Legend has landed a mention for International Male Solo Artist on the same day he scored an Oscar nod for his Selma song Glory.

He will go up against the likes of Jack White and Beck, while the female equivalent will be a fight between artists including Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Sia.

The Black Keys, 5 Seconds of Summer and the Foo Fighters are up for International Group.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at London's O2 Arena on 25 February (15) and feature headlining performances from Smith, Sheeran and Swift.

The full list of nominations is:

MasterCard British Album:

Alt-J - This Is All Yours

Ed Sheeran - X

George Ezra - Wanted On Voyage

Royal Blood - Royal Blood

Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour

British Male Solo Artist:

Ed Sheeran

Damon Albarn

George Ezra

Paolo Nutini

Sam Smith

British Female Solo Artist:

FKA Twigs

Ella Henderson

Jessie Ware

Lily Allen

Paloma Faith

British Group:

Alt-J

Clean Bandit

Coldplay

One Direction

Royal Blood

British Breakthrough:

CHVRCHES

FKA Twigs

George Ezra

Royal Blood

Sam Smith

British Single:

Calvin Harris - Summer

George Ezra - Budapest

Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Route 94 featuring Jess Glynne - My Love

Sam Smith - Stay With Me

Sigma - Nobody to Love

Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne - Rather Be

Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones - I Got U

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud

Ella Henderson - Ghost

British Producer:

Goldfrapp

Will Gregory

Flood

Jake Gosling

Paul Epworth

British Video:

Calvin Harris - Summer

Charli XCX - Boom Clap

Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones - I Got U

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud

Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

One Direction - You And I

Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down

Route 94 featuring Jess Glynne - My Love

Sam Smith - Stay With Me

Sigma - Nobody To Love

International Male Solo Artist:

Beck

Hozier

Jack White

John Legend

Pharrell

International Female Solo Artist:

Beyonce

Lana Del Rey

Sia

St. Vincent

Taylor Swift

International Group:

5 Seconds of Summer

The Black Keys

First Aid Kit

Foo Fighters

The War On Drugs.