It's the moment when Delta Goodrem will need to prove she's ready to tackle America. The singer faces one of her biggest professional tests when she meets Sony's US chiefs in New York today.
Not only will she perform in front of every major US executive, Goodrem will be introduced to Sony's leading marketing and sales representatives in a bid to shape her image for the American market.
The 19-year-old singer will be accompanied to the New York showcase by Sony Australia CEO Denis Handlin, who passionately believes the singer has what it takes to be an international superstar.
Although Goodrem's status is assured in Australia, where her Innocent Eyes album was a smash-hit seller, the event is likely to be slightly nerve-racking for her. Not only does it represent the gateway to one of her biggest goals - cracking the American charts - it is also the meeting she was supposed to attend last year before being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.
Goodrem was due to fly out to New York in the week she was diagnosed. It has taken her almost 12 months to get back to that point after enduring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so it will be a very special day for her and mum Lea, who is acting as her manager.
The singer is expected to perform at least three songs during her showcase, most likely her biggest Australian hits including Lost Without You and Born To Try. The Sony think tank will then discuss the best way to approach the release of Goodrem's album in the US, including a possible line-up of songs. (It may be a combination of new tracks combined with her biggest chart successes here.)
The singer has hinted she is prepared to relocate to the US to pursue her music career there, if necessary.
Australian News: Delta Goodrem Is Moving To The US
December 12, 2004, 2:52:26 DELTA Goodrem has announced that she is leaving Australia to live in the US and at the same time hit out at ex-boyfriend, Mark Philippoussis, and former manager, Glenn Wheatley.
Talking to The Sunday Telegraph, the pop star has also revealed that she's is now ready to put her former love behind her and ‘move on’ which has developed into a bid to make it in the lucrative US music market
She intends to move to the US early next year after a tough year in which she broke up with tennis star Philippoussis, split with Wheatley and successfully battled cancer.
Labeling 2004 a messy year she is looking forward to 2005, a new year, a new goal she says she feels wonderful once again after the lows of 2004.
Ms Goodrem did not miss the opportunity to hit out at Philippoussis, who ended the couple's 10-month relationship in October, and at Wheatley, with whom she parted company in March.
Commenting on what she saw as ‘a lot of betrayal’ which has become a growing experience, learning from that, and from a lot of different things that happened - all the situations, the betrayals, the story of the management.
With a new lease of life Delta told the newspaper how she feels very free now, and her heart's gone back into her work, and being a 20-year-old."
Goodrem said she would move to New York or Los Angeles early next year as part of a bid to conquer the world's richest, and toughest, music market, feeling that she will have a better chance of succeeding if she is US based.
Goodrem's mother and manager, Lea, will accompany her, and their plans include a new album, appearances on the Jay Leno and David Letterman, shows as well as a possible appearance at the Grammys, Golden Globes and Oscars
FOR Delta Goodrem next stop might be Germany but she already has America on her mind. Goodrem will release an album including songs from Innocent Eyes and Mistaken Identity.
The reigning Queen of Australian pop is building a team around her for her US campaign.
"It will definitely be a challenge getting back into the swing of things," Goodrem said. "It will be really wonderful to just start up again and just be a new artist."
Some have claimed Mistaken Identity is a flop but Goodrem won't have any of that.
"People don't realise that Innocent Eyes hadn't sold that many as Mistaken Identity had at the same time," she said. "I'm really not worried."
Goodrem has a busy promotional schedule in Melbourne, with her boyfriend Brian McFadden, who's in the same record company.
McFadden and Goodrem have spent some quality time together but are still very tired.
Carefree
GOODREM revealed to The Eye that she plans to sing her first ever single, I Don't Care, on her national tour.
The single was never a huge hit, and back then Goodrem had a different direction.
She said that fans were constantly coming up to her at promotions in shops with copies of the hard-to-find single they have bought on eBay.
Brian McFadden is fleeing to America to start a new life with girlfriend Delta Goodrum.
Brian has reportedly just signed the deeds for a flat in New York, where he hopes to escape their recent troubles.
A friend of Brian's told The Sun newspaper: "Brian decided the only way he could put all his troubles behind him was to make a clean break abroad. New York is somewhere they feel they could wipe the slate clean."
The pair have had a difficult time since their relationship went public following Brian's split from wife Kerry Katona.
The couple have experienced a public backlash against their relationship, seeing both Brain and Delta's careers take a nosedive.
However, Delta is hoping the move will kick start her career in the US, following on from her number one hits in the UK and back home in Australia.
Her album is being released in the US later in the year.
I think they do need a fresh start, but what's wrong with Australia? We have really taken to Brian, he seems a nice enough bloke, he seems to be looking after "our" Delta and his songs are doing OK in the charts over here. I guess for their careers, USA is a better place to live, but honestly I can't see Brian making it big in the US, I can see Delta doing it, but I don't think Brian is right for the US market.
Ebay here I come 