Australian music industry personality and icon Molly Meldrum and legendary TV show Countdown will be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame at this year’s ceremony.
Meldrum, who has previously inducted Kylie Minogue (pictured below left, pic by Dave Anderson), john Paul Young and Normie Rowe, will receive the honour himself in 2014 after a lifetime of service to pop music in the country. He is the first non-musician to ever receive the honour and will now sit alongside the likes of Midnight Oil, INXS, AC/DC and Slim Dusty.
“To be recognised by my peers and to be the first person who isn't a musician inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame is such an honour,” Meldrum said.
“To think for over four decades I have had the luxury of working in an industry that I absolutely love and am so passionate about and then to be recognised for it makes me reflect on what an amazing life I live. From the early days of Countdown with Michael Shrimpton and Robbie Weekes where it all began and still to this day, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me share my undying love of this crazy, wonderful and never dull Australian music industry, long may it reign.”
Alongside Meldrum Countdown – the show that made him a household name – will also receive the honour.
Sony’s long-serving CEO, and ARIA Chairman, Denis Handlin said, “Molly’s instinct for what the public would love to hear and see is unrivalled and the Countdown years, which started 40 years ago, made an immeasurable contribution to the Australian music landscape, not just in the big cities but in every corner of the country.
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“It was truly must see TV and when Molly said do yourself a favour on Countdown on Sunday night, the orders from the record stores across the nation on Monday morning were amazing.”
Close friend Minogue added, “Molly, I wiped away your tears when you inducted me into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2011, and I wish you'd been there to wipe away my tears when I heard that you will be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame this year! I can't think of another person who deserves this honour more than you.
“Was it really 40 years ago that Countdown launched?! It became such a tradition for families across Australia to huddle by the TV to watch you interview our idols and to see our favourite bands perform on the show.”
Meldrum recovered from a light-threatening fall in December 2011 to take up a role at Foxtel’s Max channel. Max will also screen the ‘authorised’ biography of Meldrum this December. The induction will take place at the 2014 ARIA Awards event Wednesday 26 November at Sydney’s The Star. It will be screened on TEN.
Meanwhile the ABC have confirmed an air date for their Countdown documentary today.
It’s been a groundbreaking year for the Hall Of Fame, in July Rolf Harris became the first ever inductee to be stripped of his honour following his high profile conviction in the UK.
