John Newman is in the running for a prestigious songwriting award for his debut single Love Me Again.

The singer is up against critical favourites London Grammar and indie rockers Palma Violets for the best song musically and lyrically at this year's Ivor Novello awards, with the bands nominated for their tracks Strong and Best Of Friends respectively.

Last year's Mercury Award winner James Blake is nominated for the best contemporary song for Retrograde in a shortlist that includes Kemosabe by Everything Everything and Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith.

The annual awards, presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), are highly prized because they are voted for by songwriters and composers.

BASCA Chairman Simon Darlow said: "The Ivors nominations clearly reflect the health of British songwriting and composing, highlighting the wealth of creative talent the UK possesses. BASCA is delighted that The Ivors continue to be the award songwriters and composers want to win, and I congratulate everyone represented here today."

The nominations for most performed work are shared between Emeli Sande for Clown, Let Her Go by Passenger and Troublemaker by Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida.

Nominations for the album award go to Arctic Monkeys for AM, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds for Push The Sky Away and Laura Mvula's Sing To The Moon.

The awards, including a string of honorary gongs, will be presented at a ceremony in London's Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane on Thursday May 22.

The nominations for this year's Ivor Novello Awards are:

:: Best Song Musically and Lyrically

Best of Friends by Palma Violets

Love Me Again by John Newman

Strong by London Grammar

:: Best Contemporary Song

Kemosabe by Everything Everything

Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith

Retrograde by James Blake

:: PRS for Music Most Performed Work

Clown by Emeli Sande

Let Her Go by Passenger

Troublemaker by Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida

:: Album Award

AM by Arctic Monkeys

Push the Sky Away by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula

:: Best Original Film Score

Captain Phillips by Henry Jackman

Gravity by Steven Price

The Epic of Everest by Simon Fisher Turner

:: Best Television Soundtrack

Mr Selfridge by Charlie Mole

Ripper Street by Dominik Scherrer

The Thirteenth Tale by Benjamin Wallfisch