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Excitement mounts as entries pour in for Airtel Trace Music Star

By Music In Africa Foundation

28 Apr 2016 - 10:51

With 2.3 million calls made in its previous season, the Airtel Trace Music Star (ATMS) talent search is the biggest music competition to ever take place in Africa. The number of contestants has even surpassed European and American talent shows such as The Voice and Idols.

American singer Keri Hilson is the face of this year's Airtel Trace Music Star talent search.

This year’s Airtel Trace Music Star talent search is already in full swing (following the initial call for entries), with over 600 000 calls registered from aspiring and ambitious singers in 10 African nations. Niger joins DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia as the newest African territory to enter the competition.

The winner will be groomed and mentored by American R&B superstar Keri Hilson in Atlanta, USA. The sensational Hilson, an award-winning composer, producer and singer-songwriter, famous for her smash hit ‘Pretty Girl Rock’ is a three-time Grammy nominee who has also written songs for artists such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Mary J. Blige.

Keri recently said of her involved in the content: “It’s truly an honour to help unearth the raw talent out of Africa. I look forward to working with talent and ensuring that they are set on the path to stardom!”

Here are some pearls of wisdom from Hilson making for the perfect winner: be professional; look good; inspire yourself; spark your creativity; know what you want; and work on your craft. “Respect is essential – for your peers and your supporters. Never lose the passion and keep pushing yourself to greater heights,” she adds.

Besides the trip to the US to work with Hilson, the winner will also get a big cash prize, a music video and a record deal and , to start his or her new life. So if you fancy yourself as Africa’s next music superstar, the time to start living your dream is NOW!

To enter the ATMS is simple. All you have to do is to dial the dedicated number for your country, sing and record a song on your mobile phone. Then share, share and share some more with viewers and fans so that they select you as the local winner to represent your country at the Grand Finale, which will be held in Lagos, Nigeria in June 2016.

It’s that simple: call, sing and win!

For more details and to find your country code, visit the ATMS website or check out the video below.