JOSEPH MCMANNERS - SONY GIVES 12-YEAR-OLD $3.6 MILLION DEAL

Record giants Sony have awarded a 12-year-old boy a staggering $3.6 million (GBP2 million) four-album deal - 20 times more than CHARLOTTE CHURCH was offered when she was his age.

JOSEPH McMANNERS, of Kent, England, is tipped to be the next singing phenomenon to hit the charts with his upcoming album DREAMS.

And although he has never had a music lesson, McManners has wowed Sony with his impressive voice and songwriting prowess.

He says, "I'd be crazy not to take advantage of an opportunity like this.

"But I don't think about the money, I just sing."