$1M for MOK competition winner

The inaugural MOK Ride the Rhythm competition will make one artiste an instant millionaire.

The hiking of the prize money by the competition's directors also extends the rhythm's competition deadline to the last day of 2015.

The brain-child of Manchester-based music producer and businessman Oral McKenzie, the competition, which began in June with a US$2,000 cash prize, 50-inch smart television sets, highend smart-phones, and other prizes, will now pay a whopping US$10,000 (J$1.2M) to the eventual winner.

McKenzie, in announcing the new cash prize, revealed that he had become frustrated with the struggles new artistes endure as they try to make a name for themselves. He said that with this in mind, the concept was developed to give aspiring artistes a chance to stake their claims in music.

"Straightup, it's now a million dollars for the winner, and to give more people an opportunity to participate in the competition, we have taken the decision to extend the deadline for application to December 31, 2015," he declared. "You know how much artiste out there right now in the struggle and can't get a chance to shine. Of course, they can always try Magnum or Rising Stars and subject themselves to rude judges and beg like a blind person to win."

The music producer also shared with The Star that since the competition was inaugurated last June, scores of local and overseas artistes had signed up. He said that as soon as an artiste signs on to participate in the competition, that person's development starts.

"It's a simple process. Once signed up, the artiste will record a song on the Holly Holly rhythm. The song will be mix, mastered, and given airplay," he said.