OK, so we’re heading for virtual actors and actresses, virtual doctors and virtual pets. How’s about virtual singers? Presenting the Yamaha Vocaloid synthetic vocalist program. Three versions coming next year – Leon (male), Lola (female) and Miriam (voice modelled on Miriam Stockley). Think this is a joke? Listen to the demos.

‘VOCALOID allows song writers to generate superb authentic-sounding singing on their PCs by simply inputting the words and notes of their compositions. The software synthesizes the sound from “vocal libraries” of recordings of actual singers…and retains the vocal qualities of the original singing voices to reproduce real-sounding vocals.’

The end of the pop business?