The next Digicel Rising Star will walk away from the stage with $1-million, as well as the facilities to produce and record a single, and a video. But that’s only if they can win the hearts of the millions of Jamaicans who tune into the show every week on Television Jamaica.

However, it’s not just the first place winner who will walk away with prizes, as the second and third place Digicel Rising Stars will get $600,000 and $400,000 respectively.

Tahnida Nunes, Executive Producer of Digicel Rising Stars 2009 said: “Certainly, the competition has grown in every aspect, and so too have the prizes. In our first season, we didn’t have cash prizes. In this our sixth season, we’re giving the winner $1-million dollars, a song, and a video. The star who comes second will leave with $600,000 and the third place Star will go home with $400,000,”

As has become customary with the Digicel Rising Stars competition, persons who vote for their favourite contestant in the competition will be able to win great prizes as well, according to Nunes: “We’ve just reworked the mechanics for the prizes for voters. There is a ton of Digicel call credit to be won, KFC meal vouchers, NCB is giving away $10,000 bank vouchers, and there are weekends for two at Knutsford Court Hotel up for grabs as well. We’re still in talks with sponsors to see if we can add two more prizes, because the voters are really the ones who run the show, and we want to offer great incentives to them for voting”.

There are also spot prizes on offer for those who attend the live shows at the Courtleigh Auditorium. Last season numerous patrons walked away with thousands of dollars worth of call credit and this season will be no different.

With $1-million waiting for the winner of Digicel Rising Stars 2009, it won’t be easy for the 16 contestants who will make it into the studio finals. Those who make it will have 12 weeks of live shows, beamed from the Courtleigh Auditorium to prove their mettle, win the adoration and votes of Jamaica in order to take home the cheque.

Watch TVJ this Friday at 8.30p.m. when the three finalists from the Portmore Auditions will be crowned. Make sure to vote as this is the only way your favourite from Portmore will make it to the studio finals.

VOTING NUMBERS:

MARK SIMMS
444-5501

JAHNELL ECCLES
444-5502

ORALE JOHNSON
444-5503

JOHN ROSS AUSTIN
444-5504

RUTH HANNAH GRANT
444-5505

WENDIA ROWE
444-5506

NICHOLAS GORDON
444-5507

NEKORAH PHILLIPS
444-5508

LATOYA CHAMBERS
444-5509

ANGELLE SMITH
444-5510