2 FACE LIVE AT THE MTN PROJECT FAME THIS WEEK

Nigerian superstar, 2Face Idibia is the next celebrity to grace the third season of MTN Project Fame West Africa. The talented music export will join the list of recording artistes that have featured in Project Fame including Asa, Samini, Yinka Davies and Onyeka Owenu.

2Face is scheduled to visit the contestants in the Performance Academy on Thursday, September 2. During his visit he will be on hand to mentor the contestants as well as motivate and rehearse with them. Being one of Nigeria’s most successful recording artistes, 2Face Idibia possesses a wealth of experience that only a select few can claim. With such experience under his belt, he is the appropriate artiste to motivate and mentor the contestants into becoming better performers and recording artistes.

And on Saturday, September 4, two weeks before he clocks 35, he will have the honour of being a guest/celebrity judge on the show. As the contestants will be performing most of his hit tracks such as *African Queen*, *Only Me*, *True Love*, *One Love* and others, he will be on hand to assess, evaluate and criticize their performance. After their performances he will end a show by performing for the millions of Project Fame fans who will no doubt be watching the show.

2Face Idibia, 34 was part of the R and B group, Plantashun Boyz that broke into the industry in the late 90’s. One of the earliest hits they featured on was *Omode Meta Sere *by Toni Tetuila. Based on the popularity of the song and the success of their debut album, they became one of Nigeria’s talented acts. The group which consisted of Black Face, Faze and Tu Face later went their separate ways a few years later.

In 2004, 2Face Idibia, released his debut album *Face to Face*. The album was success and boasted of major hits such as the classic *African Queen and Mfana Ibaga*. As a result of the runaway success of the album he won the Best African Act in the MTV Europe Awards 2005 making him the first among his contemporaries to win a major international award. So successful was he that he was given a Special Recognition Award at the maiden edition of the Hip Hop World Awards in 2006, a rarity for an artiste who had just released his first album.

Now armed with four full albums, Mr. Idibia has become a bonafide bestselling act, and an icon of contemporary pop culture. Travelling day and night across scores of cities across the world, he is an ambassador of modern Nigerian music, and a genuine candidate for mainstream international break.

“I understand how it is to be in a show like MTN Project Fame. I remember my days as an unsure upcoming artiste, and I’m happy to have an opportunity to mingle with the contestants and spend some time making music with them” Idibia said

Despite the catastrophic fire incident on Sunday, August 22, 2010, the organizers of Project Fame have insisted that “the show goes on”, and true to their words, the show continued with Helen and Vwede leaving the academy last Saturday. Seven days after the inferno, the PFWA recording went on unperturbed with veteran singer- song writer Onyeka Onwenu joining the judges and contestants to deliver one of this season’s most memorable episodes yet.

“We are glad to have 2face on the show, these talents look up to him, they want to be like him, and it is a good way to make them feel the excitement and promise in store” Femi Ayeni of Ultima studios says.

Tolu, Chidinma, Adebola, Rhoda, Eyo, Ochuko, Joecilia, Yetunde, Christian and Kesse will yet again continue in the contest, To keep your favourite contestant in the competition, just send his or her number to 306. Your vote, might just be the one to put them in the competition.

CULLED FROM PFWA FACEBOOK PAGE

2010 MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS HOLDS IN LAGOS

Johannesburg/Lagos, 25 August 2010: MTV Networks Africa (MTVNA) and Bharti Airtel have confirmed that they will be holding the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in Lagos, Nigeria. MTVNA’s jubilant celebration of contemporary African music and creativity will be held at the EKO EXPO Hall, Lagos on 11 December 2010, focusing the spotlight on Africa’s most outstanding musicians, from the heart of one of the continent’s most vibrant cities.

The 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel will take the form of a stunning live music event and global television spectacular, featuring performances from contemporary African and international music giants and hosted by a major music celebrity. Artists from around the continent will battle to win a coveted MAMA trophy in one of twelve award categories including: Best Male, Best Female, Best Video, Best Group, Artist of the Year, Best Lusophone Act, Best Anglophone Act, Best Francophone Act, Song of the Year, Brand: New Act, Best International Act and MAMA Legend.

Telecommunications giant Airtel comes on board as the headline sponsor of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2010, signalling the telco’s profound commitment to African music and youth culture following its purchase of Zain Africa’s business operations earlier this year. The sponsorship was announced by Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa and Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa.

Sponsorship of the MAMA will provide Airtel with unique brand exposure across multiple platforms including live event activations across the continent. A key component of the partnership will be the development of exclusive mobile and data content for the Airtel subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa including wallpapers and various downloads. The campaign will also be fully activated in the digital space with a bespoke mobi-site (mtvmama.mobi) and a dynamic website (www.mama.mtvbase.com). Multiple SMS voting and interactive mechanics will be integrated into the campaign, to provide Airtel customers with unique access to the MAMA initiative.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Airtel to bring the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel to Lagos for the first time and look forward to delivering the most exciting MAMA yet on 11 December.”

Said Mr. Beyers, “Airtel is proud to be at the forefront in nurturing talent in Africa and connecting the passions of millions of youth across the continent through music. Our support for the MAMA awards is founded on our commitment to empower the youth through initiatives that will help Africa to identify and celebrate talent.”

Conceived in 2008 as the ultimate celebration of African contemporary music talent, the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel provides a major promotional platform for the African music industry, championing, supporting and empowering African talent by broadcasting their music around the world via MTV’s global multimedia network.

The awards celebrate contemporary African and international genres loved by the youth and young adults across sub-Saharan Africa including Hip Hop, Hip Life, R&B, Afro Pop, Afro House, Kwaito, Boomba, Bongo Flava, Coupé Décalé, Dancehall, Soul and Rock.

The inaugural MAMA was held at the Velodrome, Abuja in 2008, while October 2009 saw the awards move to Nairobi, Kenya, with performances from 2Face (Nigeria), Amani (Kenya), A.Y. (Tanzania), Blu3 (Uganda), Brickz (South Africa), Da LES (South Africa), D’Banj (Nigeria), Fally Ipupa (DRC), HHP (South Africa), Lizha James (Mozambique), M.I. (Nigeria), Mo’ Hits Allstars (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), Pype (Nigeria), Samini (Ghana), STL (Kenya), Lira (South Africa), Wahu (Kenya) and Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa), alongside international stars Wyclef Jean and Akon.

Past winners have included 2-FACE (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), Samini (Ghana), Wahu (Kenya), HHP (South Africa), D’Banj (Nigeria) and Patricke-Stevie Moungondo (Congo Brazzaville).

NMVA 2010......CALL FOR ENTRIES

If you know your video deserves a nomination or two,and it deserves the "ANNABEL",then you should visit the NMVA website at www.livebeats.net and down load an entry form.

Fill the form accurately and bring with you a DV tape of your music video in a sealed envelope with your name written at the back to; 9 Toyin street,Ikeja,Lagos.

Entries closes on the 15th of September 2010.

HiTV reduces it's premium subscription price

From today, the monthly subscription for Premium bouquet of HiTV that went for N6, 000 has been slashed to N3, 500 but the Correct Bouquet still goes for N1, 900. The price reduction plan according to Subair has been in the pipeline since early this year and was scheduled to start this August. “We are going ahead with the plan, so now our valued subscribers can watch premium sport, movies and enjoy music at a far reduced price. Nigerians deserve to enjoy quality programmes at a price that won’t kill them, we would have reduced the price before even if we had the Premiership right because the plan has been hatched for some months now,” he submitted.

HiTV clears air on EPL rights and removal of Nigezie

AFTER weeks of speculation in the media on issues that led to the loss of the English Premier League rights by proudly Nigerian Pay TV, HiTV, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hi Media, owners of HiTV Mr. Toyin Subair, finally cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the EPL rights, on Monday, August 9 at the Pay TV expansive office, Ikeja, Lagos.

Subair explained that contrary to the information that made the rounds in the newspapers and other electronic medium that HiTV could not afford the right’s fee, the opposite was the case. “HiTV actually paid the owners of the rights; the issue that came up had to do with the Bank Guarantee which took some time because of the new CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) regulations. We have been doing business with the owners of the rights for three years now and we have never had any issue concerning payment. We actually paid for the right to broadcast the 2010-2011 English Premier League matches; we had won the rights 100 per cent to air the matches from now till 2013. When the rights owners demanded for a guarantee to cover the two seasons, our bankers had to move fast and assured the owners that they would provide it, but due to the new CBN regulations, they had to follow due process which took some time. However, they were in communication with the owners of the rights and one of the bank’s Managing Director actually called the rights owners to explain the delay. This was on a Monday.”

The bank chief according to Subair explained the position of things and assured the English Premier League board that they will get the guarantee they asked for on Friday. “The rights were withdrawn from us the next day, Tuesday.”

Subair described the development as a “rude shock and disappointing”, even as he assured that everything is on track in HiTV because HiTV has over the past couple of years moved away from building its business model around the Barclays Premier League. “Although we lost the rights, we have over the years grown our brand with other premium content for all.

“I want to correct the impression that HiTV is all about the English Premier League. While we pride ourselves as number one in the area of sports content especially football, HiTV is purely an entertainment Pay TV company with lots of other entertainment content for the viewing delight of its numerous subscribers. However, at HiTV, we have identified live sports as a key component of Pay-TV model. A live sport is the battering ram for pay-television. In sub-Saharan Africa, this live sport is the Champions League, Europa Cup and Premier League. They are important for the rapid attraction of subscribers across all of Africa. It guarantees a healthy minimum subscriber base throughout the year. At the moment we also boast of premium sports content such as the biggest football show in the world, the UEFA Champions League, Carling Cup, Europa Cup and of course Italian Serie A, for sports lovers. But then, HiTV has an array of channels that it continues to acquire (31 channels now and still counting) that cater for all categories of viewers. We are bringing in 10 more new channels in a couple of weeks. For kids, there is Hi Kids, Kids Co and Nickelodeon, for movies, we have Hi Movies, Hi Mix, etc, for news (both foreign and local) there is BBC, Sky News, and Al Jazeera and Hi News, Amuludun, Biscon, TVC etc take care of local programming and for entertainment, Hi Nolly is one of the best movie channels one can get in this part of the world and plans are on to ensure that all the films you watch on Hi Nolly are all new films. We now have a new Channels Manager who is doing the best she can to make this dream a reality. So in the next couple of weeks, it is a new Hi Nolly that you will be seeing. For viewers of religious programmes, God TV, Dove Vision etc are just there to take care of their needs. We just launched a new world class music channel, One Music; there is Wedding TV to cater for the needs of potential couples, what else would one want in a Pay TV?”

He continued: “There is more than enough reason to stay hooked to HiTV and people have stayed hooked to HiTV all seasons. We will continue to grow our business model and invest in all opportunities local and foreign which bring entertainment and information to Nigerians, we will remain focused in our goal of being the preferred highway of delivering the very best of informative and entertaining channels into every home in Nigeria and then the world”, Subair said.

He debunked the rumour that HiTV blamed the loss of the rights on the new CBN regulation. “We are aware of the ongoing reforms in the banking sector and there was no time that HiTV blamed the Central Bank of Nigeria for the loss of the EPL rights, the reforms will be of benefit to all of us and our children in the future, so that is clear.”

On the replacement of Nigezie music channel with the widely acclaimed One Music on the HiTV platform, Subair again refuted the claim in some quarters that HiTV had issues with Nigezie managed by Femi Aderibigbe. “Like every union, Nigezie and HiTV broke up amicably when their lawyers wrote that they wanted to move on. Both HiTV and Nigezie own the channel on equal basis, so our lawyers have began the process of making sure that the process of disengagement is concluded. We had no quarrel and we wish them (Nigezie) all the good things they wish themselves. You can now see that we have launched our own music channel, One Music on August 1 and you will agree with me that it is the best new music channel in this side of the world.”

Hi Nolly and One Music signals are being seen in 10 African countries as well as Europe, America and Canada. “Both Hi Nolly and One Music signals are seen in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Sudan and Eritrea on Wannachi platform and in South Africa we are on Top TV.”

HiTV signals are also on Sky in the UK and in America and Canada on Comcast and Dishnetwork. “We are the most watched African channel in Europe, America and Canada; this has shot up our advertisers’ revenue in recent times.”

CULLED FROM :- www.hitv.com.ng

HiTV launches new 24Hrs Music Channel.........

One is an African Music and entertainment Channel showing exclusively on HiTV – This new entertainment channel, just like it's sister Nigerian Movie channel, HiNolly will air across the globe; HiTV, which is in 10 Countries across Africa (Ghana, TOP TV South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Sudan, Eritrea), on Sky channel 204 in the UK, Free TV in France, and will begin broadcast on DishNetwork and Comcast in the USA by the end of August 2010.

One launched on HiTV on the 1st of August 2010, replacing popular Nigerian Music Channel – Nigezie on its platform worldwide. One is starting off with the hottest local and international music videos, and in-time feature most intimate A-list artist interviews, coolest parties, front stage experience at the most amazing concerts and parties, as well as electrifying out of the box shows all controlled by you the viewer!
Undoubtedly, this channel will have huge viewership across the globe especially with Africans in the Diaspora who are keen to immerse themselves in the music, fashion and entertainment emanating from the continent, and this channel will also serve as platform for artists to promote themselves or shows if they choose the peform/breakout in any of these countries.

“Like” ONE on Facebook “One (1) – African Music & Entertainment Channel”.
And Follow ONE twitter handle “1neChannel”.

Soundcity Africa international VJ Hunt begins...........

The quest is on for that young, beautiful, suave and adventurous African with the right touch of swag and finesse to represent his/her country in the Soundcity Revolutionary International VJ hunt. Each VJ representing an African country to be an international Soundcity VJ.

Visit http://buddie.me/ to summit your bio and details.

MTN PROJECT FAME SEASON 3 STARTS SUNDAY

The MTN Project Fame West Africa opening gala starts this Sunday .See below for show times on the following TV channels:-

STV

Monday-Friday – 7.30-8pm

Saturday (omnibus) – 11am-1pm

Saturday – 5-6pm

Sunday – 7.30-9pm

AIT

Saturday – 7-8pm

Sunday – 6.30-8pm

DBN

Monday-Friday – 7-7.30pm

Saturday (omnibus) – 2-4.30pm

Saturday – 5-6pm

Sunday – 7.30-9pm

ESBS

Dailies – 7.30-8pm

Saturday – 7-8pm

Sunday – 6.30-8pm

CRBC

Dailies – 7.30-8pm

Saturday (omnibus) – 10.30am-1pm

Saturday – 5-6pm

Sunday – 7.30-9pm

Naija Sings Returns!

M-Net has just announced that it will produce and screen a second season of its music reality series, Naija Sings. Once again, the series will journey across Nigeria through seven cities with one mission: looking for amazing new singing voices, undiscovered vocal talent and aspiring music stars!

Open to a wide range of musical acts from super soloists, to dynamic duos to music groups of up to 5 persons, Naija Sings will offer them all the opportunity to compete for a place in the Top 10 and in the race for a grand “winner take all” prize of USD 100 0000.

For M-Net Africa Managing Director Biola Alabi, M-Net was pleased with the results of season 1 of the show and so made the decision to launch season 2.

“With Naija Sings, M-Net created a format uniquely suited to the soaring voices, the passionate determination and the undeniable talent of Nigerians. Last season both M-Net and our audiences celebrated with the contestants, we sang with them, grew with them, learnt with them and ultimately triumphed with them. This year, to bring back Naija Sings for a second season, is something we’re very proud of. Good luck to all the entrants, enjoy the experience and have fun!”

This year, M-Net also marks a unique moment in its production history with Naija Sings set to take on the distinction of being its first original series to be filmed in High Definition.

Alabi says, “We’re thrilled that the series will be filmed and will be available in High Definition. Technology constantly progresses and we aim to keep up with these changes so our audiences ultimately can benefit directly from these exciting new developments.”

And more good news from M-Net this year is that legendary Nigerian musical icon Tosin Martins will play a central role in the production as a key judge travelling from auditions in the different cities to the Top 10 stage, which is set to be filmed in Lagos.


Joining Olisa Adibua and Tosin Martins in season 2 is singer/songwriter, businessman and music producer Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, a.k.a Dokta Frabz, as the Musical Director on Naija Sings, whose most critical task is to provide music guidance and vocal training to the contestants as they approach the all-important TOP 10 stage of the series.

Once again this year Naija Sings will be co-produced for M-Net by STORM360 Ltd and Never Machine, and will embrace different musical genres including Hip Hop, Reggae, R&B, African American legends, African legends and Afrobeat.

In addition, this year will also see the inclusion of special celebrity judges who add their expert opinion to the series and a fan favourite, once again the studio audiences will be able to comment on the performances, adding their own thoughts and sometimes humorous insights to the feedback.

So if you want to enter and take this opportunity to be discovered by the Naija Sings team, simply attend auditions - here are dates and venues:

LAGOS - 15th July & 7th August: FRAME 24 STUDIOS (Phillips Building, Ojota Bus Stop)
BENIN CITY - 17th & 18th July: CONSTANTIAL HOTEL (24/26 Airport/Ogba Road Benin)
ENUGU - 20th & 21st July: DANNIC HOTEL, GRACE ROOM (3 Edem Close, upper Chime road New Haven)
PORT HARCOURT - 23rd & 24th July: HOTEL PRESIDENTIAL, CONFERENCE ROOM 1 (GRA phase II, Aba road, Port Harcourt)
CALABAR - 26th & 27th July: CULTURAL CENTRE (Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar)
KANO - 31st July & 1st August - ROYAL TROPICANA HOTEL, BANQUET ROOM (17/19 Niger Street, Kano)
ABUJA - 3rd & 4th August: BOLINGO HOTEL, IMO ROOM (Independence Avenue, Central Business District Abuja)

BIG BROTHER AFRICA 5 LOGO

I can show you the brand-new logo of the fifth season of Big Brother Africa first that will debut on DStv 198 on Sunday, 18 July 2010.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE that the contestants of Big Brother Africa V will be made up out of an all-star cast from the previous four seasons that's set to get viewers wagging with even more of the absurb theatrics that made them famous in previous seasons.

According to the producers the new Big Brother Africa logo for the fifth season place an emphasis on ''light, reflection and shimmer'' with a boldly defined eye ''highlighted with moments of iridescent colour. ''Setting off the sophisticated design and central to the layout is the outline of a star, evocative of fame, showbiz and the classic Hollywood sense of lights, camera and action!''
Toldja . . . that is code for: expect some stars in that house just as I've told you - with supersized egos, megalomaniac behaviour and completely outrageous diva tantrums!

The fifth season of Big Brother Africa will run on DStv 198 for 91 days, 24 hours a day and viewers will get to choose between two feeds. Big Brother Africa will be available to both DStv Premium as well as DStv Compact subscribers.