Singer Charlotte Church has agreed a £2m deal with an investment company to finance the recording of her next album, it has been confirmed.

Specialist music investment company Power Amp Music, which launched in 2008, will bankroll the recording and marketing of the star's next album.

Church said the deal gives her more "control and ownership" over what happens in her career.

Power Amp also funded Madness' 2009 album The Liberty Of Norton Folgate.

'Clear vision'

Church said she was "delighted" to sign the deal, adding: "This is a wonderful time to be a recording artist."

"It provides me with a financial commitment equivalent to that of a major record company."

Power Amp Power founder Tom Bywater said: ""Charlotte had a clear vision of what she wanted to do and we have provided the funding for her to achieve those ambitions while allowing her to retain full creative control and copyright ownership."

Church rose to fame aged 12 as a classical crossover singer, scoring a smash hit with her debut album Voice of an Angel.

After three more classical albums, she moved into pop in 2005 with Tissues and Issues, which went to number five in the UK album chart.

In 2006, she launched a TV career fronting her own Channel 4 chat show.

In recent years Church has focused on bringing up her two young children with rugby player partner Gavin Henson.

Last month it was announced she would be making a return to TV as part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new talent search programme, Over The Rainbow.

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