Martin

Martin claimed victory in the debut season of Denmark's edition of the globally renowned talent competition The X Factor, instantly establishing himself as a teenage pop sensation who captured the country's attention at just fifteen years old. Born Martin Hoberg Hedegaard on October 9, 1992, in Ørum, Denmark, he has long pointed to Michael Jackson and Queen among his foremost musical inspirations. Throughout the 2007-2008 run of the program—the first time it aired on Danish television—he delivered performances of tracks such as Seal's "Kiss from a Rose," Michael Jackson's "Rock with You," and Queen's "Somebody to Love." On March 28, 2008, he overcame runner-up Laura Arensbak Kjaergaard in the season's climactic final and received the official X Factor title. A recording deal with major label Sony BMG soon followed, leading to the release of his first full-length solo album, Show the World, in 2008; the project included six songwriting and production partnerships with Danish hitmakers Remee and Thomas Troelsen. Issued mere months after the competition concluded, the album ascended to the top of the Danish charts in its opening week and yielded two number-one singles in "The 1" and "Show the World." Amid this rapid rise, Martin launched a nationwide concert tour across Denmark.