Ian Ross Perrygrove (born 28 March 1963) better known as Ian "Dicko" Dickson or simply "Dicko" is an English Australian television and radio presenter, television producer, music journalist and former record company executive and talent scout. He has been a talent judge on Australian Idol, The Next Great American Band and more recently Australia's Got Talent. He previously spent over twenty years working in the record industry in both the U.K. and Australia, for labels including Creation Records, Sony, A&M and BMG and for music acts including Celine Dion, Ozzy Osbourne, Primal Scream and Pearl Jam. Early life and education Dickson is the grandson of former professional footballer Ian Dickson from Dumfries. As well as playing for hometown club Queen of the South, Dickson the footballer also played for Middlesbrough and for Aston Villa; while playing for the last he set roots in Birmingham, his grandson's home town. Dickson graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in politics in 1985. He met his wife, Melanie Bell, in Bristol around the same time. His first job in the music industry was as Press and Promotions Manager for Creation Records, and he managed bands including The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Felt, Weather Prophets, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis. He also wrote freelance reviews and features as a music journalist for Melody Maker and Record Mirror. Career 1989–2004: Recording industry In 1989, Dickson joined Sony Music UK (then CBS Records) as a press officer, managing Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Midnight Oil, Warrant and Michael Bolton. In 1990, he moved to the Epic Records label as a marketing executive working with Pearl Jam, Ozzy Osbourne, Living Colour, Screaming Trees and Celine Dion. He became Director of International for Sony UK in 1993, overseeing global strategies for all Epic and S2 label artists, including Jamiroquai, Des'ree, Reef, Manic Street Preachers and Basia. He moved to A&M Records UK in 1994 as Director of International, looking after acts such as Chris De Burgh, Therapy, Del Amitri, The Bluetones and the Mowax label, including DJ Shadow, Money Mark and U.N.C.L.E. In 2001, he moved to Sydney to take up the position of General Manager of Marketing for Sony BMG Australia, and remained in the role until August 2004. 2003–2004: Australian Idol In 2003, Dickson took up his best-known role—as the "nasty" judge on Australian Idol in the first and second seasons—alongside fellow