SHORT TAKES : Brown, New Kids Top Nominees

Pop singer Bobby Brown and teen phenomenon New Kids on the Block dominate the nominations for the fourth annual Boston Music Awards. Brown and New Kids on the Block received six nominations apiece Thursday for the regional music awards, which will be presented April 19 at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

Boston native Brown, 20, ex-lead singer of New Edition, was nominated for act of the year, outstanding male vocalist, pop/rock album, pop/rock single, video and R&B; act.

New Kids on the Block, who hail from Boston’s Dorchester section, were nominated for act of the year, outstanding pop/rock album, single, band, video and R&B; act. Maurice Starr, the producer who created the band, received nominations for outstanding songwriter and producer.

The hard rock band Aerosmith received five group nominations and various members received five more individual nominations. Whisky-voiced singer-guitarist Bonnie Raitt, who shook up the music industry by winning four Grammy Awards last month, was nominated for five Boston awards: act of the year and outstanding female vocalist, pop/rock album, single and video.