Gareth set to earn £4m

Pop Idol winner Will Young releases his debut single today as industry experts predict future earnings of £5 million.

However, despite effectively losing in the final, runner-up Gareth Gates could earn as much as £4 million from sales, touring, merchandising and endorsement deals within 12 months.

Gareth's debut single, a cover of Unchained Melody, is to be released on 18 March, three weeks after Young's double Aside Anything is Possible/Evergreen.

The single and album releases are being deliberately staggered by the pair's label - BMG/S Records - so that they can exploit the teenage fan base.

It is predicted that Unchained Melody will sell up to 700,000 copies, earning Gareth £175,000. Two more successful single releases in his first year would bring him £525,000.

Gareth will also make £1 for every album sold, and if his debut does half as well as Hear'Say's did, he can expect to earn £450,000. He is also bound to embark on a UK tour that is likely to gross about £7 million, earning him £650,000.

Gareth's image is a lot younger than Will's, as are his fans, making him the ideal candidate for merchandising. Items from dolls to mugs will earn him a projected £1.5 million in his first year, while endorsements from hair products to clothes could bring a further £1 million.