POPSTARS the rivals has been running for weeks and the final groups of 10 boys and 10 girls have been chosen, so we will have yet another manufactured band.

Not too long ago I remember a group of two boys and three girls who were selected from millions and were predicted to be the biggest stars on the planet. Now 12 months on they have split up and no-one even recognises their name. Of course I am talking about Popstars' very own Hearsay.

After big publicity the band lost member Kym, and have flopped since. Hearsay are not the only designer stars to be released into the music world. Pop Idol winner Will Young and runner-up Gareth Gates have been topping the charts since the two were voted into a place in pop history due to their overwhelming popularity. But how long will their fame last? Will they still be around this time next year with all the competition from the new up and coming manufactured stars?

I doubt it, seeing as Gareth has been dumped by his sponsors Pepsi and Will Young is already becoming Will Old. The question is when will designer bands be recognised as a big mistake for the music industry?