Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, veteran British broadcaster Michael Parkinson and Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills are among the music industry names on Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list.
The list, based on recommendations from the U.K. government, was published Dec 29. Minogue, who recovered from breast cancer to relaunch her career in 2007 with her 10th album “X” (Parlophone) becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the annual list, for “services to music.”
Parkinson (72) is named as a Knight Bachelor for services to broadcasting. He began his television career in the 1960s, after working as a journalist on local and national newspapers. After two years presenting film review programme “Cinema” on commercial network ITV, he was launched as a chat show host by the BBC in 1971.
The hugely successful “Parkinson” show ran until 1984. After several years hosting other ITV shows, he returned to the chat show format and the BBC in 1998, before moving back to ITV in 2004. In recent years, “Parkinson” became a key show for breaking middle-of-the-road/AC acts in the United Kingdom, most notably Jamie Cullum and Michael Buble. Parkinson also hosted a weekly music show on BBC Radio 2 from 1996-2007. He retired from full-time broadcasting in December 2007.
U.K. indie label veteran Mills, who founded London-based Beggars Banquet as a record store in 1974 then launched it as a record label in 1977, is named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the music industry. He is currently chairman of European independent labels body Impala.
Concert promoter Graham Pullen, director of special projects at Live Nation in the United Kingdom, has been given the Member of the Royal Victorian Order medal for his work producing and staging charity concerts. The honor, created in 1876 by Queen Victoria, is given for services to the Queen.
Pullen has produced/staged such London events as Party in the Park and Fashion Rocks for the Prince’s Trust charity and the 2001 South Africa Freedom Day concert in the capital’s Trafalgar Square. He also produced the July 1 2007 Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium.
In a statement, Pullen said: “It is fantastic to even be considered for any form of honor but one as unique as this makes it very special for, not only myself, but all those people who’ve worked with me on these fantastic events.”
Other music names honored include Nicholas Kenyon, former controller of classical network BBC Radio 3, now managing director of London-based music and performing arts venue the Barbican Centre, who is knighted for services to classical music, and Jethro Tull founder/vocalist Ian Anderson, who receives an MBE for services to music.
Veteran jazz pianist Stan Tracey is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to jazz music, while an OBE for services to music goes to Soul II Soul founder Jazzie B under his real name of Trevor Beresford Romeo.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown presents the names on the list to the Queen, based on committee recommendations. This year’s list contained 972 names, mainly honored for voluntary/charity work or contributions to public services.
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