Airtel TRACE Music Star Returns With Keri Hilson

Following the success story of its maiden edition, the Airtel Trace Music Star, a pan-African talent search competition, is back in the country for a second season, with renowned American vocalist and songwriter, Keri Hilson, to serve as judge/mentor. Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, and its partner, TRACE TV announced the kick-off season two at a media briefing held recently inLagos to herald the music talent hunt.

Speaking at the event, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Ahmad Mokhles, noted that company was pleased to partner with TRACE to bring excitement, joy and laughter to millions of Nigerians, through TRACE platform and also empower talented Nigerians and African youths with a credible ladder to stardom.

Indeed, Airtel is passionate about creating platforms that delight, excite, entertain, engage and empower talented youth as well as telecoms consumers across the country. TRACE demonstrates our commitment to our vision of connecting talented Nigerian youths to their dreams. The sponsorship of TRACE is yet another eloquent testimony of Airtel’s commitment to empowering young, talented Nigerians. As Nigeria’s smartphone network of choice, we are always excited to enter partnerships that connect the Nigerian youth to their dreams and we are very excited about the opportunities that TRACE presents, ” he said.

Managing Director, Trace Music Star, Nigeria and Anglo-African countries, Sam Onyemelukwe, noted that the contest recorded 2.3 million calls in Season 1 and the season would definitely be bigger.

“The mobile phone based method of entering into the competition, the power of technology, enables many  Nigerians to participate in the show, thereby eliminating barriers of distances, cost and stress of travelling in order to enter for the contest,” he explained.

Now in its second season, this year’s Airtel TRACE Music Star competition will see Niger join Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, 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 put in competition to run for the title of best African music talent.

To participate, contestants will need to dial 5678 from their mobile phones, record their songs to stand a chance to become the next big music star in Africa. According to organisers, the grand finale will be held in Lagos, Nigeria in June this year.

The grand prize comprises a mentorship program 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 Knock You Down songstress, as well as receive a signed contract with a major music label and worldwide media exposure through various TRACE’s platforms.