MUSIC
Kylie Minogue will receive the Brits Global Icon award at this year’s ceremony on March 2, “in recognition of her career spanning across five decades as one of the world’s most successful and iconic music stars,” the organizers said.
The Brits Icon is the highest accolade given by the Brit Awards, with previous winners including Elton John, Robbie Williams, David Bowie and Taylor Swift.
Minogue, who is also nominated for international artist of the year, is confirmed to perform on the night, joining the previously announced Dua Lipa and Raye. She is the only female artist to score a No. 1 album in five consecutive decades in the U.K.. In 2023, she released her No. 1 studio album, “Tension,” preceded by hit single “Padam Padam,” which won a Grammy earlier this month.
“I am beyond thrilled to be honored with the Global Icon Award and to be joining a roll call of such incredible artists. The U.K. has always been a home from home so the Brits have a very special place in my heart. I have some amazing memories from the awards over the years and I can’t wait to be back on the Brits stage,” Minogue said.
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Meanwhile, Romania’s annual Untold music festival will have its first international version in Dubai Feb. 15-18. Leading Indian rapperBadshahhas been added to the event’s lineup of international artists including Armin van Buuren, Bebe Rexha, Don Diablo, Ellie Goulding, Hardwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Tiësto, G-Eazy, PSY, Hardwell, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Paul Kalkbrenner, Timmy Trumpet, Mahmut Orhan, Luciano, Sven Väth, Dubfire, Kasia, Arapu, Cezar, PAAX (Tulum), Nicole Moudaber, Shimza, House Of Yanos, Persic, Andy C, Chase & Status, Masego and Freddie Gibbs.
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Elsewhere, Warner Music India has appointed Vaibhav Nagpal as the head of partner relations and music acquisition, reporting into Jay Mehta, MD for India and South Asia. Nagpal joins from Hungama Digital Media Entertainment and has 14 years of experience in the digital media entertainment industry, with a focus on partnerships, acquisition and music distribution.
SALES DOWN UNDER
U.K.-based TV distributor DCD Rights has sold 300 hours of premium programming in scripted and unscripted genres to Australian and New Zealand broadcasters and streamers. Australia’s Nine Networkhas picked up the second series of“The Travelling Auctioneers,” Australianpay-TV operator Foxtel Grouphas acquired more than 160 hours of programming including,“James Martin’s Spanish Adventure,” “Emergency: First Time Medics,” “Penn & Teller: Fool Us Series 7”and“Bridezillas Series 13.” Australian free-to-air channelSBShas secured the first window for“Prue Leith: My Cotswold Kitchen,” to run on SBS Food. Foxtel will take the second window.
Acorn TV, which streams British programming throughout Australia and New Zealand, has bought 59 hours of iconic Scottish detective drama“Taggart,” specifically series 10-18 and 23-27; with national broadcaster TVNZ acquiring non-fiction titles“Secret Nazi bases Series 3,” “Secrets of the London Underground Series 2 and 3”and“The Travelling Auctioneers Series 2.”
