Are reality shows in Ghana unearthing talents or extracting money?

Talent reality shows and beauty pageant shows were once regarded as platforms that gave young people a voice, visibility, and a chance to build their confidence. These public events, years ago, gave people opportunities and growth, but in recent times, concerns have been raised about them prioritising profit over genuine empowerment.

Profit-making is part of a business, but it shouldn’t be the ultimate goal where we neglect the essence of the existence of the competition. It should take into account how to handle stardom, managerial issues, and how to survive in the industry. When the show invests in mentorship, production, and post-show management, it absolutely unearths and launches talent.

Hitmaker has proved many times, but when it becomes product chasing votes and sponsorships, you get exposure but not careers.
We have seen young talented people yet to exist from the competition because the voting is low; therefore, we are focusing on exposing the talents, polishing or helping the talents or using the talent as a way to get money.

What are the measures put in place after the young talent wins a prize? Due to the talent competition becoming the highest voting wins, people without talent come on the reality show then voted higher which automatically means the person wins the prize, while the young talented with low votes go home with nothing.

Do talent shows put pragmatic measures in place to see their respective winners climb up so well aside the prizes? Can’t they have a partnership with record labels that will take the winners and manage them for some years?
Sunday evening was inevitably, TV3 Mentor came to set the tone true with talents like Mavis Asante emerging heavily.

Who didn’t love Mentor? Who didn’t enjoy seeing their region being represented and chanting their team songs? It sent a great sense of belonging and pride on national television to the point that some fans did everything to see their favourite contestants win. It has been a great platform over the years for people to win. But the question is “has the contestant really benefited from it after taking part in it?”

There have been many foreign reality shows such as X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent and many successful shows that have unearthed stars such as Westlife, JLS, One Direction and supported our very own “Reggie and Bollie” to break into the music scene in the UK.

Such platforms also gave the British comedian of Ghanaian descent, Kojo Anim, the opportunity to share with the world his successful comedy career in the past. So, it isn’t bad to be part of a reality show because it makes dreams come true. The deals, the exposure, the fame, and the luxury are all inclusive in these reality shows.

Talented Kids by TV3 has unearthed talents over the years through their showcase among young people. We have had the likes of DJ Switch, who has shot to global fame due to her dexterity in controlling her jockey system to bring light to the party. We have Nakeeyat, whose eloquence in public speaking and poetry is mouth-watering.

Awal and Tutulapato can’t be forgotten when they are on the microphone to showcase their talent in rap as locally known “Kasahare”. But now, where are they after the competition, a question of deep thinking. The problem of the management of the competition or the winners themselves.

Do you remember “Stars of the Future”? The reality show was aired on Ghana’s very own national television, GTV. We saw the likes of Irene and Jane (now Efya), Jemima (now JAYANA), Bertha (now YaaYaa), and Christian (Royal Chris) always share with us their talent in music.
Their existence in the music industry can still be felt and manifested, not even leaving out MTN Hitmaker, from Kuame Eugene to Kidi to Fameye to Yaw Berk to OV These are young stars that have emerged from these shows and found their paths to the scene.

So, what happened to some of our forgotten stars who paved their way into reality shows and excited us with some bangers after their time?
They vanished into thin air without a trace of them in the industry. Were they failed by the lack of good structure, or were they not prepared to take music as their full profession? What spurs them to take music as their path? Was it simply an access or a way to try their luck?

These are questions I always wish to ask them and the organisers of the show to see where the loophole was that bottled them up even before they could blossom. Now I believe whatever the reason was, up-and-coming stars from these reality shows are gaining weight in the industry as Kwaku Darlington has received a warm welcome on the Kumerica scene to continue what he started on the show.

One of my suggestions is why don’t these reality shows partner with record labels in Ghana? An independent label does not work for everyone, especially someone who has talent but doesn’t have a team or knowledge about the business side of it. Such people are bound to be left in the middle of the music ocean for their talent to drown.

Some record labels and people such as Highly Spiritual, Lynx Entertainment, Sarkodie, and Stonebwoy have used their platform to support talents from these reality shows. So, it means that it works as musicians such as “Reggie and Bollie” will testify to this as a way that nurtured them to set up their label F.R.O.D. Music after parting ways with Syco Music owned by the British mogul and owner of X Factor and other reality shows in the UK, Simon Cowell.

We have come to realise that becoming a winner from a reality show is one hurdle, but sustaining your crown in the industry as a winner is another. Only a few have managed to prove it with their talent, skills, and relevance over the years.