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MTN Nigeria Unveils Next Afrobeats Star Season 2 With ₦225m Prize

July 24, 2026 By BeatzHive Editorial 2 min read

MTN Nigeria Launches Next Afrobeats Star Season 2 With ₦225 Million Recording Deal on Offer

MTN Nigeria has announced the return of its reality music competition, Next Afrobeats Star (NAS), for a second season. The telecoms company, working alongside Ultima Studios and ONErpm, is bringing the show back with a bigger prize pool after a debut edition that produced several new names in Nigerian music.

₦225m Deal, a New Car and Judges Including Masterkraft and Puffy Tee

The eventual winner of Season 2 will walk away with a recording deal worth ₦225 million — covering production, marketing, distribution and accommodation — plus a brand new car. The first runner-up gets a ₦150 million recording contract, while the second, third and fourth runners-up will sign deals valued at ₦100 million, ₦75 million and ₦50 million respectively.

Contestants will face a judging panel of respected producers and songwriters: Puffy Tee, Ragee, Andre Vibez and Masterkraft, who will assess and mentor hopefuls throughout the competition.

Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brands and Communication at MTN Nigeria, described the first season as proof of concept, noting that contestants released original music now available on major streaming platforms while retaining ownership of their intellectual property. She said the biggest change this season is not the prize money but “the size of the door it opens,” with the show connecting grassroots talent to a national stage.

Ultima Studios CEO Femi Ayeni echoed that view, calling the programme “a real pipeline into the music business” rather than just a television show, and promising bigger opportunities and greater rewards this time around.

Building on Ayo Benzi’s Season 1 Breakthrough

Season 1 crowned Ayo Benzi, who secured a ₦150 million recording deal, while finalists Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker and Lucky Yay! also landed recording contracts. That track record gives the franchise credibility as it seeks its next star.

Talent shows have long served as a launchpad in Nigeria’s music industry, and with Afrobeats now a global commercial force, platforms that pair emerging artists with funding, distribution and industry mentorship are increasingly seen as vital entry points into a competitive business. NAS positions itself squarely in that space, backed by one of the country’s biggest corporate brands.

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