Bay singer signs record deal with music giant Sony

SONY'S NEW STAR: Bay of Plenty born Ria Hall has signed to Sony.

Western Bay singer Ria Hall has signed to international music label Sony.

The signing to the music juggernaut is a huge milestone for the 31-year-old They Come Marching singer Hall, who revealed the news on her Facebook page.

Hall posted: "After having sung professionally since I was 17 with the best singers in the business, having my heart torn out of my chest with people saying I'd never make it, doing four-hour gigs for $100 bucks, travelling the length of the country in a bomb to play at countless seedy pubs for rubbish pay, leaving full-time employment to pursue this dream of mine - I've achieved a major milestone ... Tonight, I signed with SONY."

Hall thanked everyone who had supported her, especially family, and her cousin and fellow musician Stan Walker who she sang with on Like it's Over, which topped New Zealand charts earlier this year.

Last year, Hall won self-managed Artist of the Year at the 2013 Music Managers' Awards in Auckland.

Hall was recognised for an "outstanding effort balancing the fine line between being creative and business-minded in her musical career".

Hall told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend the signing was really exciting and felt pretty surreal.

"I've been working really hard for such a long time and for it to finally be a reality is a bit overwhelming."

Hall said signing to Sony meant she would have opportunities to expand, and potentially tour and release music overseas.

She said she was working as a presenter of a show, which was yet to air on Maori TV, but was also looking forward to getting back in the recording studio.

The signing comes as New Zealand Music Month comes to an end.

Hall, who grew up in Maungatapu, previously told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend that singing with fellow Bay-born Stan Walker at Beyonce's New Zealand concerts had been the highlight of her career so far.

Ria Hall is in Tauranga tonight at Classic Flyers for Fashion for Families Charity Some door sales are still available. From 6pm, with other singers Jessie and Georgina Matthews.