MTN Nigeria has unveiled Next Afrobeats Star, a new reality TV show designed to discover, nurture, and elevate the next generation of Nigerian musical talent.
The show was announced on Saturday during a press conference held in Lagos.
At the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, MTN’s chief marketing officer, highlighted that the initiative goes beyond entertainment but is a movement to inspire and empower Nigerians from all walks of life.
She added that the initiative aims to spotlight talent nationwide, promote cultural pride, and position Nigeria for global influence by nurturing creativity and opportunity.
“We are not just launching a show, we are igniting dreams that will resonate from Lagos to Jos and across Nigeria’s farthest reaches. At MTN, progress is our purpose,” she said.
“We want every Nigerian, no matter their background or location, to have a chance to shine. This show will reach every corner of Nigeria, from vibrant cities to remote villages, because talent knows no limits, and neither should opportunity
“This vision goes beyond economics; it is about cultural pride and global influence. It is about fostering an environment where creativity thrives and Nigeria’s unique heritage is celebrated.”
Prizes and judging panel
The winner of Next Afrobeats Star will secure a $100,000 record deal, while the remaining top four finalists will receive deals ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 to kickstart their music careers.
The show will feature a star-studded panel of renowned Afrobeats producers and music industry experts, including:
- Sarz
- Puffy Tee
- Andre Vibez
- P.Prime
These judges will also serve as mentors, guiding contestants through the competition.
How to participate?
- Aspiring artistes can enter the competition by texting NAS to 13013 using an MTN line, visit mtn.ng/NAS now to register, or visit https://nextafrobeatsstar.com to get a download link to the official instrumental(s).
- Record your verse on the beat and upload it to the NAS website to complete your entry.
- Each text to 13013 costs ₦300.
- You may send multiple entries by texting again and uploading a different track.
Competition format
- Entry phase – Upload your track via the NAS website.
- Live auditions – 48 contestants are selected.
- Versus round – Contestants are paired to face off in a performance battle.
- Original song challenge – 24 artists create and perform original songs.
- Final 12 – Judges select the top 12 who move on to the live show.
Who can participate?
- It’s open to solo Afrobeats artistes.
Submissions run from August 2 to August 30.
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