BMG signs up Ira Losco

Ira Losco has climbed the first rung of her career ladder to international success by signing up to the giant record label BMG.

Ms Losco signed to Seven Days Music, licensed to BMG, making this the first signing for a local artist to a major label.

She landed this record deal after Bridge Productions successfully negotiated a deal with Jack White, who has a track record of over 500 million album sales and 300 gold/platinum awards.

BMG are responsible for artists such as Pink, Dido, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keyes, Natalie Imbruglia, Faithless, Whitney Houston, Marilyn Manson and Eros Ramazzotti.

Ms Losco, who placed second in the 2002 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, has gone on to develop her musical career as a singer and songwriter under the direction of Howard Keith and Paul Zammit Cutajar of Bridge Productions.

The deal, which coincides with the launch of her new album Someone Else, will serve as a springboard for her on the international scene.

"The news of this deal is exciting and daunting at the same time. I have worked very hard in the eventuality this will happen and now it's here. In a way I don't think it has sunk in yet," she said when contacted.

Ms Losco, 22, has been working full-time to exploit her talent as a singer and to develop her song writing skills. A happy person with a dark soul, the new album is a reflection of experiences.

"The new deal will mean I have to work harder but I enjoy it and I'm ambitious and the pressure is a driving force for me," she enthused.

Her latest singles Love Me or Hate Me, Who I Am and recently Someone Else rode high in the local charts for many weeks. They also showed a potential that attracted attention from different quarters in Europe.

"Although various offers were made over the past months, we were waiting for the right kind of deal to materialise, " Mr Zammit Cutajar said.

"Hard work, commitment, dedication, long hours and a positive belief in Ira produced the desired results," he added.

News of the deal has already hit the headlines in Germany with many saying that: "A successful future is predicted for singer/songwriter, Ira Losco".

An extensive marketing and promotion campaign is planned for the singer, together with the production of a high standard video which is destined to hit popular television stations like MTV and VIVA.

"A record deal is only a beginning, an opportunity to take the artist to another level and to new territories. These are exciting and challenging times for Ira and we are confident she will win the hearts of many fans in Europe" Mr Zammit Cutajar said.

Her new album Someone Else, which is set to be released on Wednesday, has been recorded, mixed and mastered by Howard Keith at Farmhouse Studios, in Siggiewi.

The eagerly awaited album features songs written by both local and international songwriters.

Ms Losco will have an extensive and busy schedule with concerts and radio tours abroad. "I'm so excited. It has always been my ambition to live my music," she said.