With a large cash prize of N24m, X Factor Nigeria Might outshine Nigerian Idol, Project Fame and others

Burna Boy performing at the Industry Nite, March 27 where GLO announced their X Factor sponsorship. Photo: Matthew Ohio

As we’ve reported earlier, Globacom sponsored X-Factor has put up a prize money of N24 million up for grabs by the winner of the maiden edition of the show.

After successfully making history in several countries around the world, the reality show makes a stop in Nigeria courtesy of Rotimi Pedro’s Optima Media Group (OMG). The show debuts in an amazingly big way with a startling package never before seen in the history of reality TV show in Nigeria.

Not only is the reality show promising a 24million cash prize, the winner gets to sign a record deal with the prestigious American record company, Sony Music and a whole lot of other goodies.

We could not immediately confirm if it’s a worldwide deal or a contract for the African market, but this will mark the first time any music talent show is promising to sign winners to an international label, since the scandal of Timi Dakolo and West African Idol (2007).

As in the tradition of the show, the winner takes it all…Whereas in the UK, the winner of the X-Factor is awarded a £1m (N250million) with a recording contract with Syco Music in association with Sony Music, the show in the US awards the winner of the competition a recording contract with Syco Music in association with Sony Music Entertainment plus a cash payment totaling $5million (N790million). Other highly placed contestants may also be offered recording deals, but this is not guaranteed

But compared to other talent shows in Nigeria, the N24million prize money for X Factor Nigeria will be the highest that has ever been offered by any music reality show in Nigeria. And pundits say it is expected that contestants, fans, media and audiences will give the new talent show more than enough attention, even as Idols and Project Fame will have to up their game or suffer relegation.

While the winner of MTN Project Fames takes home N2.5million including a RAV4 automobile, Nigerian Idol winner goes home with N7.5million plus a recording contract worth N7.5million as well. For Glo Naija Sings, which is now rested, it is N16million naira and a Toyota RAV4 (An insider tells NET that Globacom has also ceased its sponsorship of Naija Sings); Nigeria’s Got Talent, N10million; Star Quest, N7.5million recording contract and N3.6million in cash to be shared by the members of the winning band.

The full detail of X Factor show has not yet been revealed, but Glo announced its sponsorship of the show, which is being promoted by Optima Media Group last Wednesday during the weekly Industry Nite at GET Arena in Lagos.

In 2011, OMG brought their first reality show franchise ‘Nigerian Idol’ (the local version of the Idol franchise), and in the following year, birthed the ‘Nigeria’s Got Talent’ show. .

Selection of judges, hosts and other pre-kick off elements are now being concluded, with insiders saying a full announcement should be made next week.

The Industry Nite celebration featured performances by Niyola, Burna Boy, Phyno and UK-based Nigerian singer, L Marshal, while the Nollywood industry was represented by Glo ambassadors Ini Edo, Desmond Elliot and Funke Akindele