??? ADELE, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey will battle it out to win best album at next month’s Ivor Novello awards. ??? It is the first time the album shortlist has been exclusively female. ??? Two of Adele’s tracks, “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You,” are also nominated for most performed work, alongside Take That’s “The Flood.” ??? “Rolling in the Deep” is also up for best song musically and lyrically. The annual awards will be presented in London on May 17. ??? They celebrate British and Irish songwriting and composing and are voted for by songwriters. ??? While all the albums shortlisted are performed by women, producer Paul Epworth is nominated alongside Adele for “21“ as he co-wrote some of the key songs. ??? PJ Harvey is listed for her Mercury Prize-winning record “Let England Shake,” a concept album about Britain at war. ??? Kate Bush’s album “50 Words for Snow” is also written on a theme, comprising a suite of seven songs “set against a backdrop of falling snow.” ??? This year’s nominees for best contemporary song are Nero’s “Promises,” Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” and James Blake’s “The Wilhelm Scream.” ??? Justin Parker, who helped Del Rey write “Video Games,” agreed the music business “seems very female-orientated” at the moment. ??? “It’s been like that for a few years,” he said. “But it’s great to have really classic songwriting represented, like Adele.” ??? ther nominees for best song musically and lyrically are Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Out” and Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team.” ???? Best original film score contenders are “Life in a Day,” “The First Grader” and “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” which was written by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. ??? “The Shadow Line,” “Page Eight” and “Leonardo” are all in competition for best television soundtrack. ??? Adele’s second album “21” has won numerous awards in what has been a stellar year for the north Londoner. ??? The record recently overtook Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms” on the list of best-selling U.K. albums. ??? “The LP” has now sold more than 4.14 million copies in the singer’s home country, making it the sixth biggest-selling album of all time. ??? Her awards haul includes two Brit awards and six Grammy awards. ??? Last year, rapper-turned-singer Plan B won three prizes at the Ivor Novellos, including best songwriter — presented by Sir Elton John — and best album. ??? Special awards went to Muse, Steve Winwood, Free founder Paul Rodgers and musical legend Stephen Sondheim. ??? Previous winners include Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Radiohead. (SD-Agencies) | 