(PR) The UK's recorded music association, The BPI, today unveiled the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. Pioneering British Dance duo, Pet Shop Boys, will be awarded with the revered trophy at The BRIT Awards on Wednesday 18 February.A packed audience at Earls Court plus millions of viewers watching live on ITV1 will witness an iconic performance from the Pet Shop Boys when they take to The BRITs stage.
Ged Doherty, Chairman of The BRITs Committee said, "Since their first BRIT Award over 20 years ago, Neil and Chris have produced a fantastic body of work with songs that truly were the soundtrack to a whole generation's lives. The Pet Shop Boys have since become one of the most influential groups of the modern era and are deserving recipients of the award."
Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have sold 50 million records since they signed to Parlophone in 1985 with four No 1 singles, 22 top 10 hits and a staggering 39 top 30 singles making them one of the most successful pop duos ever.
In 1986 their first hit single, the anthemic "West End Girls", topped the charts all over the world and the following year their single "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" relaunched the career of Dusty Springfield. Pet Shop Boys have also worked as producers or remixers with artists including Robbie Williams, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, Madonna, Kylie, Yoko Ono, The Killers and, as part of the group Electronic with Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner.
This is a welcome return to The BRITs for the Pet Shop Boys who were awarded their first BRIT in 1987 winning Best British Single for 'West End Girls'. The duo went on to pick up the coveted Best British Group Award in 1988 and performed their hit single Go West with the accompaniment of a 200 piece Welsh male choir in 1994 while being lowered onto the stage by two huge cranes.
Pet Shop Boys will receive the prestigious award, a gift from the Council of the BPI, and perform live at The BRITs 2009. Previous recipients of the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award include Paul McCartney, Oasis, U2, Paul Weller, Tom Jones, Sting. David Bowie, Eurythmics, The Beatles and The Who.