2012 nominees: International Female Solo Artist

A mix of pop superstars and music mavericks, this year's International Female Solo Artist nominees is a mixed bunch to say the least - from an artist who released an album through iPhone apps to this year's Queen of Glastonbury. It's an impressive list indeed.

The nominees for International Female Solo Artist are:

Beyonce
Bjork
Feist
Lady Gaga
Rihanna

Being stood up to your knees in mud can hamper your booty shaking, but thousands of festival goers watched Beyonce close Glastonbury Festival in June 2011, just one highlight of her incredible year. Beyonce's fourth album 4 has sold over a million copies in the US alone and topped charts across the globe when it was released in June 2011. Beyonce previously won the International Female award in 2004.

From her 1993 release Debut to 2011 album Biophillia, every Bjork record has pushed boundaries, her most recent effort created for consumption through a series of iPhone apps. Despite waving goodbye to the mainstream at the turn of the century, Bjork remains force in music to this day. She previously won the International Female award in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

Perhaps best known in the UK for her track '1,2,3,4' appearing on an iPhone advert in 2007, Leslie Feist is widely held as one of Canada's finest musicians, having released four critically acclaimed albums, including her 2011 record, Metals. Feist was previously nominated for International Female Artist at The BRITs 2008.

Lady Gaga is as famous for her taste in hats as she is pop music - and fortunately she excels in both departments. Her second album, Born This Way was a rollercoaster ride from seventies-rock influenced pop through to year 3000 electronica and spawned worldwide smash hits including the title track and the inescapable 'Edge of Glory'.

Balancing controversy with pop brilliance has always been a risky business, but if there's one star to have mastered the art, it's Rihanna. In 2011 the Barbadian pop sensation caused fury among the easily offended with her saucy videos and her singles raced to the top of the charts worldwide. 'We Found Love' was one of the biggest club anthems of the past year, and as we enter 2012, she shows no sign of slowing.