Airtel Ghana today launched Airtel Trace Music Star, a music talent search competition in collaboration with Trace TV.

Airtel Trace Music Star is an international singing contest that recognizes talented young people who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire. The contest aims at giving the nation’s hopefuls a real opportunity to come through the ranks as budding artists of any genre or style.

 Airtel Trace Music Star competition is an opportunity to develop the African music industry by creating a platform for the exposure of African music and musicians to the rest of the world. It is also an opportunity for Airtel to connect and communicate with their customers globally.

 Airtel Ghana has partnered with Trace TV because it is a globally recognized brand that gives the seal of recognition to many international artists.

 The official launch of Airtel Trace Music Star was an impressive array of well attended and celebrated industry entertainment bloggers and journalists. The on-stage showcase for the launch was conducted in the acoustically acclaimed setting of Viasat 1 Studios.
The competition which is the first of its kind, where contestants can win by calling into the Airtel Trace Star short code 533 and singing any song of their choice. The short code can only be accessed from an Airtel number between the 7th October 2014 and 10th December 2014. After this period, the best 5 will be selected ahead of a live televised show in January.
TRACE will select winners based on a combination of singing skills (quality, picth, originality, tone, range) and number of votes received.
The best singing talent in Ghana will be identified, rewarded and put in competition with the best singing talents of other participating countries to run for the first Airtel Trace Music Star winner. The overall grand prize comprises of a recording deal with Universal Music Group, and an intense mentorship programme with Akon in the United States of America.
Marketing Director of Airtel Ghana, Manu Rajan said, “this initiative is in line with Airtel’s commitment to unleash the power of potential amongst our youth to enable them to Make a Change in their lives to achieve their dreams. We believe the youth of Ghana carry the power to bring about the change they want to see in their lives and around them. Airtel will act as the key enabler in their attempt to bring about a positive change in their lives”.
“We partnered with TRACE because it is a globally recognized brand that gives the seal of recognition to many international artists. Airtel Trace Music Star is an opportunity to develop the African music industry by creating a platform for exposure for Ghana’s music and musicians to the rest of the world,” Manu Rajan said.”
The CEO of Trace West Africa, Sam Onyemelukwe, added that, “this competition demonstrates TRACE strong commitment towards Africa’s rising stars. We know for sure that the African continent has great-undiscovered music talents. With TRACE Music Star it has never been so easy to enter a music competition and possibly become the next big star.”
Senegalese-born American super star, Akon, who is the Airtel Trace Music Star Ambassador said in a statement that, “I am pleased to join Trace to develop innovative ways in which to identify and nurture dynamic music talent throughout the continent.
The intersection between technology and artist development is elevated by the presence of this ground-breaking music competition concept,” stated Akon.
The grand finale will be held in March 2015. The partnership with TRACE Music Star will last three (3) years. To find out more stay connected on Airtel Ghana’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages and via www.tracemusicstar.com