http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/a...ps_Gareth_Gates


Record label drops Gareth Gates


As if he hadn't already realised, Gareth Gates' time in the music spotlight is now very much over after being dropped by his record company.

The baby-faced singer, runner-up on the 2002 Pop Idol show, was signed by Sony BMG soon after losing out to still-going-strong Will Young four years ago.

But Gates, 21, has been told his appeal has dried up and that he can no longer compete against fresher talent such as last year's X Factor winner Shayne Ward.

Ward is now flying the flag for Sony, and is doing really rather well, meaning poor old Gareth has been shoved out like a dog after Christmas.

Sony has not commented on whether Gates sleeping with glamour model Jordan when she was heavily pregnant had anything to do with his sacking.

It's not all bad for the youngster however, as he leaves the firm with three number one singles and a number two album to his name.

And this is far better than what was achieved by several other winners of the TV talent show genre such as 2003 Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus, 2004 X Factor victor Steve Brookstein and former Fame Academy winners David Sneddon and Alex Park. Who you may ask? Exactly.