As part of efforts to develop talents in the Ghanaian music industry, MaddHaus Incorporated, Ghana’s most prestigious record label, will organize a talent hunt dubbed, ‘MaddHaus Talent Hunt 2008’.

The event, which would be telecast live on TV on Saturdays, is targeted at molding the youth to become professional musical icons for the continent.

According to the vice president in charge of media relations and publicity, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, the event which would run for 13-weeks, would house all contestants and it is expected to bring together Ghanaian artistes close to their fans and the public to have in-depth knowledge about their favourite stars.

The public would be invited to play a crucial role in evictions through voting via SMS.

She told BEATWAVES that the musical talent aims to create possibilities for a new crop of talented singers, instrumentalists, and composers among others, whose music genres go beyond already established musical boundaries in the country, adding that all the contestants after auditioning would go through various activities, in and outdoors, which include packed shows for the duration of their stay.

She explained that the contestants would be grouped in the house and offered formal training in music and the use of musical instruments by music experts.

She disclosed that the first prize winner would take home GH¢3,000, brand new Kia Rio saloon car and, a year’s recording and management contract with MaddHaus.

The second prize winner takes home GH¢1,500, a year’s recording and management contract with MaddHaus and a home theatre, while the third prize winner goes home with GH¢1,000, home theatre and one year’s recording contract.

Obuobia Darko-Opoku said though people might want to vote for the most popular contestant, her outfit expects the public to vote for contestants with the most endowed talent to enable the producers sell the winner on the international market.

She disclosed that her outfit has already signed on music stars such as Tinny, Kwabena Kwabena, Samini, Bandana, King David, and Nana Quame among others on its label.

She said her organization would hereafter be responsible for producing, managing, packaging, marketing and promoting the artistes.

MaddHaus, which is headed by Livingstone Abani, has a state-of-the-arts recording studio with facilities that meet international standards.