Kylie Minogue is joining Jay-Z's posse. The 44-year-old pop singer has announced she is joining the rapper's Roc Nation management roster, alongside Rihanna, MIA and the Ting Tings.
"We would like to welcome Aussie singer, recording artist, songwriter, actress and designer Kylie Minogue to the Roc Nation family!" the company said. Minogue is Roc Nation's second signing in a matter of days: they also recently revealed a deal with the producer/rapper Timbaland.
Speaking to Billboard, Minogue's US publicist confirmed that this is purely a management contract; the singer is still signed to Parlophone Records, with whom she "soon" expects to release a new single. Minogue's 12th studio album has been in development for at least a year, following the worldwide tour for 2010's Aphrodite.
By signing with Roc Nation, Minogue is thought to be trying again to crack the vast US market. Although she is a huge star in the UK and Australia, she remains on the American B-list, overshadowed by acts such as Madonna and Cher. There, Minogue has only ever had one top five album, and her last hit single was Can't Get You Out of My Head, released 12 years ago.
Founded in 2008, Roc Nation is at once a management firm, record label and music publishing company. It has been credited with creating stars such as Rita Ora and J Cole, and previously worked with UK acts such as Sugababes and Tinchy Stryder.
