Airtel Ghana and TRACE have launched  season 2 of their hit pan-African music contest, Airtel Trace Music Star (ATMS) in a grand ceremony at the exquisite Plot 7 lounge in Osu, Accra.

The launch which comprised of a press launch followed by a star studded after-party was well attended by top Ghanaian Artistes and influential people in the music and art industries including Airtel brand ambassadors and acting duo Ahuofe Patri and Kalybos, as well as Bice Osei-Kuffour,  president of MUSIGA, who was the special guest of honour.

The grand prize for Airtel Trace Music Star Season II comprises a mentorship programme with multi-award winning American singer-songwriter Keri Hilson in Atlanta. The winner will not only star in their own music video alongside Keri Hilson; he/she will get an opportunity to record a duet with the songstress, as well as receive a singing contract with a major music label and get worldwide media exposure through various TRACE platforms.

During the launch, music and entertainment mogul Reggie Rockson of VVIP Fame and songstress Becca were unveiled as judges for ATMS season 2. The duo expressed their excitement to be part of the biggest music talent search and competition in Africa.

Rosy Fynn, Marketing Director

Speaking at the launch, Rosy Fynn, Marketing Director at Airtel Ghana said “Airtel Trace Music Star is arguably the biggest and most exciting music talent search competition in Africa. This competition is unique in the sense that it provides the platform for every Ghanaian, on Airtel, who has a voice and a passion for music to actualize their dreams. It is a competition for every budding musician out there looking for an opportunity to rise to stardom without the hassle of going through unending auditions and nervous stage moments.

Ghana’s winner from season 1 of ATMS perform for the crowd

To enter, all you need to do is to call the Airtel short code 533, record your song, submit it and stand the chance of winning a life changing contract with a record label, a mentorship programme with multi-award winning American singer-songwriter Keri Hilson in Atlanta and worldwide media exposure through various TRACE’s platforms.

Once entries are submitted, these are vetted by our team of distinguished judges with a focus on originality, voice quality amongst others. Contestants who make it will be notified and progressed to the next stage of the competition. Finalists over the period will contest in the national finale where the winner walks away with GHC 50,000 prize money and an all-expenses paid trip to Lagos for the Pan African finale”.

According to Rosy Fynn, friends and family members are not left out of the excitement, they have the opportunity to power their contestants to victory by voting for them.  “So whether you’re a contestant or an acquaintance of a contestant, you all stand a chance of winning exciting prizes. Surely for those not yet on the Smartphone Network, you have yet another reason to Make your Change to the Airtel Network,” she added.

MUSIGA President, Bice Osei-Kuffour (Obour) commended Airtel Ghana for launching the innovative competition that is set to discover the “next biggest music star” not only in Ghana but across Africa. He pledged Musiga’s support for the competition.

With 2.3 million calls made in its previous season, ATMS is the biggest music competition to ever take place in Africa. The number of contestants surpassed European and American talent shows such as “The Voice” and “Idols”. The mobile phone based ATMS talent search contest won the “Best Pan-African Initiative” accolade at the prestigious AfricaCom Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.

This year’s Airtel TRACE Music Star competition will be activated in Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia as the newest African territory to enter the competition from February 1, 2016. The best singing talent in each territory will be identified, rewarded and compete for the title of best African music talent.