The discovery of talented music artistes in the past years was a rigorous excercise especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Today, technology has changed that narrative. Not just changing the narrative, but providing a level playing ground for prospective music stars to showcase their talents.
This immeasurable opportunity for all is basically driven by mobile technology. The era of traveling from one remote area to Lagos for a music contest is gradually going into extinction. Lots of hurdles are associated with this situation. Today, you can be inside your comfort zone and make a short video clip or audio and upload. You don’t need to know anybody and nobody needs to know you for you to get the attention.
Interestingly, a U.K. organisation known as SWYPE GLOBAL LIMITED is providing this kind of platform for music talents in Nigerians, and Africa at large.
To put simply, the organization has a mission to harness the potentials of digital technology to uncover talent in Africa.
Recently, they unveiled an App dubbed Swypatune, in view of widening access, creating opportunities for music talents. while solving the problems related to lack of transparency often exhibited during musical contests.
The App will serve as a contest platform for music talents in Nigeria. There would be a crowd source entry (anybody can upload their music content on the Swypatune App). With the help of an efficient algorithm built on the App, 100 entries would be shortlisted after a review. “The members of the public will have the opportunity to vote and determine their top 10 contents. This time, they will have to upload their videos, not audio again, says Frank Foto, a Director at SWYPE GLOBAL LIMITED.
“The public will also vote to determine the winner (artiste of the year). He adds.
“The winner of the contest will get a Recod Label and be assigned to a to renowned Producer. Who will produce the song, at the same time feature with a famous artist in Nigeria.”
For anybody to participate in the voting process, such person will have to download the App. And the good news is that, participants (App users) get rewarded depending on how active they use the App. The reward system is a way of paying back users for using the App.
SWYPE GLOBAL LIMITED will be looking at capturing and extending its tentacles to the entire African market having made Nigeria a priority. “This is the first time in the world this is happening and we are happy to have begun that process in Nigeria,” says Foto.
“Further, we have been in talks with some of the financial institutions because the App will also have payment gateway installed on it. The reason is because, we are also giving advertisers the opportunity to display their product or service on the App. However, the Ads will not in anyway pop up while someone is using the App.”
