As predicted by hotpress.com in May, 16-year-old Dubliner Laura Isibor has signed a worldwide record/publishing deal with Jive Records and Zomba Music Publishing.

Says Jive's American-based supremo Steve Lunt: "Within 48 hours of hearing Laura's four-song demo, I was on a plane to Dublin. I had to see for myself exactly who owned this incredible voice and who wrote these melodically soulful songs. Laura sat down at the piano and blew me away – she sings with the feel of an old school soul singer from the '60s."

Appearing on the radar for the first time in 2003 when she won the 2FM Jacob's Song Contest, Isibor is co-managed by Edison Waters and Ian Redmond.

"When trying to build awareness of a new artist you need more than someone who can just reach out to the record community," says the former. "What's required is a professional team with the same belief, determination and passion that you have in your artist."

There's no doubting Jive/Zomba's ability to break acts with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Eamon, R. Kelly, Mobb Depp and new US sensation Petey Pablo all on their roster.

Wasting no time, Isibor is in New York working on her debut album with Maxwell, Sade and Sweetback twiddler Stuart Matthewman producing.