Gabriella Cilmi has just signed a deal with Universal Republic in the United States with her attack on the world’s biggest market scheduled for early 2009.

“Gabriella Cilmi is an incredible new artist on the verge of success at the highest level. She’s soon to become a member of the great Australian acts that have broken on a global scale and have made an impact on pop culture,” Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Republic Records said.

“We are thrilled to be working with Gabriella and having the opportunity to participate in her career.”

To top things off, her album, Lessons to be Learned, has just hit the platinum sales mark in Australia (70,000) and second single, Don’t Want to Go to Bed Now, has just been released.

2008 has certainly been a stellar year for Cilmi internationally with her first single, Sweet About Me, entering the top 10 in over 10 countries including UK (6), Germany (2), Holland (3), Austria (3), Switzerland (3), Croatia (1), Norway (7), New Zealand (6) and Italy (9).

In the UK Sweet About Me has sold over 200,000 copies (Gold) and Lessons to Be Learned has sold over 200,000 copies (Silver). Cilmi has also performed at some of the world’s most high profile festivals including T in the Park, V Festival and Glastonbury.

In Australia, Sweet About Me has been one of the biggest hits of the year and by achieving the number one single spot Cilmi became the youngest solo artist ever to top the Motorola ARIA chart.

“It spins me out that I get to be in places on the other side of the world and hear people singing back my songs...pretty crazy indeed.” Cilmi said from London today.