Nigeria: Next Afrobeats Star Season 2 opens: N225M recording deal, brand new car up for grabs
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Organizers of _Next Afrobeats Star_ — MTN Nigeria, Ultima Studios, and global music distributor ONErpm — have opened entries for Season 2, promising a bigger prize pool and an even wider platform for emerging artists.
Entries opened on July 18, 2026, and will close on August 17, 2026. The competition, which launched to critical acclaim last year, is positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s most credible pathways from grassroots talent to global music business.
The winner will receive a recording deal valued at N225 million. The package covers music production, marketing, distribution, and accommodation, plus a brand new car.
The first runner-up will get a recording deal worth N150 million. The second, third, and fourth runners-up will receive deals valued at N100 million, N75 million, and N50 million respectively.
That’s a major step up from Season 1, where winner Ayo Benzi walked away with a N150 million deal. Finalists Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay! also secured contracts and have since released original music on major global streaming platforms.
According to organizers, the goal isn’t just to hand out money. It’s to build sustainable careers.
Regional auditions will be held in four cities: Lagos, Jos, Enugu, and Benin. From there, shortlisted contestants will move into the main competition stages.
Throughout the season, contestants will work directly with leading music producers and mentors. The emphasis is on songwriting, performance, branding, and understanding the business side of music.
Public voting will ultimately decide who wins, giving fans across Nigeria and the diaspora a direct role in choosing the next star.
Season 2 will be guided by a panel of some of Afrobeats’ most respected producers and songwriters: Puffy Tee, Ragee, Andre Vibez, and Masterkraft.
The four bring decades of hit-making experience. Puffy Tee and Masterkraft are known for shaping the sound of modern Afrobeats. Ragee and Andre Vibez have credits with some of the genre’s biggest names.
Their role will be both to judge and to mentor — helping contestants refine their sound, stage presence, and industry readiness.
Speaking on the return of the competition, Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brands and Communication at MTN Nigeria, said Season 1 proved the concept works.
“Season 1 was our proof,” she said. “Our contestants did not simply gain exposure; they released original music now available on major global streaming platforms. They left the competition owning their intellectual property, with industry credentials and meaningful relationships in a music industry that now knows their names.”
Ogoro said the biggest change for Season 2 isn’t just the prize money. “It is the size of the door it opens. We are opening that door even wider by connecting grassroots talent to a national stage.”
Femi Ayeni, CEO of Ultima Studios, echoed that sentiment. He said the first season validated a core belief: Nigeria has more than enough music talent, what young artists need is structure and investment.
“When we launched Season 1, we were driven by a simple but powerful belief that Nigeria is overflowing with extraordinary music talent, and that what many young people need is more than applause from friends and family,” Ayeni said. “They need a credible platform, structured support, meaningful investment and a genuine opportunity to succeed.”
“The achievements of our contestants since the first season have validated that belief. Next Afrobeats Star is more than a television programme; it is a real pipeline into the music business. As we launch Season 2, we are raising the bar with bigger opportunities, higher aspirations and even greater rewards for the next generation of Afrobeats stars.
Afrobeats continues to be one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural exports. From sold-out arenas in London and New York to billions of streams, the genre has put Nigerian music at the center of global pop culture.
But breaking through remains difficult. Many talented singers in cities like Jos, Enugu, and Benin lack access to studios, distribution, and industry networks.
_Next Afrobeats Star_ is designed to close that gap. By touring auditions across the country and partnering with ONErpm for distribution, the show aims to find talent outside Lagos and give them the same shot.
Season 1 alumni are already showing what that can look like. Their music is on Spotify, Apple Music, and Audiomack. They’re performing, collaborating, and building fan bases — with ownership of their masters, a rarity for new artists in Nigeria.
Nigerian artists interested in Season 2 can submit entries from July 18 to August 17, 2026.
Details on audition requirements and submission portals are available through MTN Nigeria and Ultima Studios’ official channels.
After entries close, regional auditions in Lagos, Jos, Enugu, and Benin will begin. Those who make it through will head into the televised competition stages later in the year.
With Afrobeats’ global momentum showing no signs of slowing, platforms like _Next Afrobeats Star_ are becoming crucial. They don’t just discover voices. They train them, fund them, and connect them to the business.
For MTN, it’s also about youth empowerment. For Ultima Studios and ONErpm, it’s about building the next generation of export-ready artists.
