Posted: Friday, May 2, 2008     Source: Daily Guide

Gospel Reality Show Launched

Global Media Alliance (GMA) has launched the first ever gospel music reality show in the country dubbed "Soul Search".

Soul Search is a television reality show to search for an unrecorded gospel artiste for a big international career with the aim of discovering the singing talent of the youth.

The programme which would be telecast on Ghana Television (GTV) and the newly introduced DSTV Gospel channel, "ONE GOSPEL" is targeted at the youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years, with the objective to tap their enthusiasm to become musical icons for the continent.

Mr Sena Atoklo, producer of the show said, "Music, and gospel music, for that matter, is the celebration of the Christian experience of salvation and hope, and we at GMA would want to be part of the celebration, hence our desire to ensure that the project succeeds."

He explained that the country would be divided into four zones; with the southern zone comprising Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions, while the middle zone would include Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.

The Northern zone, he indicated, would be made up of the three northern regions, with the Central and Western regions for the Western zone.

According to Mr. Atoklo, 60 percent of the votes would come from the public, with the remaining 40 percent coming from the judges.

He said the twelve finalists would be given GH¢500 each as well as souvenirs from the sponsors, with the first prize winner taking home GH¢5000, a trip to South Africa, a recording and management contract and products from sponsors.

The second prize winner takes home GH¢2000, a recording and management contract and products from sponsors, while the third prize winner goes home with GH¢1000 and products from sponsors.

Representatives of OneTouch, the title sponsor of Soul Search and Pepsi, a co-sponsor, said though people might want to vote for the most popular contestant, they expected the public to vote for the contestant with the best talent, to enable the producers sell the winner on the international market.