MTN Nigeria has officially launched Next Afrobeats Star (NAS), a bold new music reality competition designed to uncover and elevate the next generation of Afrobeats talent. The show was unveiled on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during a media event held at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, said: “Next Afrobeats Star is a bold initiative by MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Ultima Studios and ONErpm, to discover and elevate the next global icon of Afrobeats. At MTN, we believe in progress, not just as a brand stance but a purpose.

“We believe that every Nigerian, regardless of background, location, or education, deserves a chance to be connected, seen, heard, and celebrated. That is why we are taking this message to every corner of Nigeria, from the bustling cities to the most remote villages so that no youth is left behind. Because talent knows no boundaries, and neither should opportunity.

Today, Afrobeats is a global force, filling stadiums, topping charts, and inspiring millions. But the journey is far from over. The Next Afrobeats Star is our commitment to the future of this movement. It is a platform where raw talent meets real opportunity. Where the rhythm of Nigeria meets the reach of the world.”

A partnership between MTN Nigeria, Ultima Studios, and ONErpm, one of the fastest-growing music companies in the world, Ikenna-Emeka revealed that the winner will receive a $100,000 music deal made possible by a collaboration between ONErpm and U-Records. The remaining four finalists will also walk away with music deals ranging from $25,000 to $75,000.

This effort, Ikenna-Emeka explained, aligns with the Nigerian Government’s Destination 2030 strategy, which aims to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for creative excellence. “Through the Destination 2030 strategy, the government is working to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for creative excellence by the year 2030. This vision is about more than economic growth, it’s about cultural pride, global influence, and national identity. It’s about creating an enabling environment for artistic brilliance, promoting diversity and creativity, and preserving the rich heritage that makes Nigeria unique.”

MTN’s partnership with Ultima Studios brings decades of production and talent development expertise to the show. Known for their work on Project Fame and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Ultima brings its expertise in audio-visual production.

Femi Ayeni, CEO of Ultima Studios, explained the standout quality of the show. “What makes this show different is because for the first time, we are having the producers, the beat-makers, actually recording original songs for the contestants for the show. So, they [the contestants] will be doing covers, but at the end of the day, their original songs are the ones that will determine how well they do on the show.” The producers have been revealed as Andre Vibez, Puffy Tee, Sarz and P. Prime.

Head of Content at Ultima Studios, Oluwabori Richards, explained that Next Afrobeats Star will feature both online registration and in-person auditions. “After texting NAS to 13013, you get a text back with a link and a unique code,” he said. “That link takes you to the Next Afrobeats Star website, and then you enter your unique code and email address. Once you do that, you fill in your registration details.”

Richards added that the website hosts 10 to 12 instrumentals from the four producers. “Download any of the tracks that you want, you make music on it and then you put it back on the website. When you do that, we have A&R execs from ONErpm who will be reviewing all the entries.”

He also noted that regional auditions will be held in Jos, Enugu, and Lagos, giving applicants the option to audition either digitally or in person. “So once we collate all the entries, both regionally and on digital platforms, 300 people will be shortlisted to come to the trial.The trial is the first round of the show, and that’s the first time you will be performing before judges,” he said.

The competition is open to Nigerians and will focus not only on discovering talent but also on nurturing it through professional development, mentorship, and access to industry-standard resources.