Will Martin is expected to rival Hayley Westenra. Photo / Richard Robinson
You may not have heard of him yet, but Will Martin is a superstar in the making. The North Shore 22-year-old has landed the most lucrative contract offered to a New Zealand musician - worth almost $3 million.
Martin has signed a five-album deal with Universal Music Group
with his first "popera" - or classical crossover - album due out in October.
UMG expects the album to sell 2 million copies and Martin to rival the popularity of his new labelmate, Hayley Westenra.
Martin was "discovered" singing on a cruise liner last September by rival record label EMI, which 24 hours later offered him a $1.9 million contract. However, UMG topped the offer and Martin signed, earning New Zealand's richest recording contract.
