MUMBAI: The hills will come alive with music as the state-wide ‘Red Ribbon Superstar’- or the ‘Meghalaya Icon IV’ gets underway Friday 14 June.

The singing competition will cover seven districts and capital Shillong and the organizers- Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS), Lelangki Cable TV and media partner Red FM Shillong- expect a strong field from a state famous for its love and talent for music. The finals will be held in Shillong on 6 July.

“The event has been envisioned as a movement for mass awareness on the issue of HIV and AIDS amongst the youth and the general populace of the state using music as a tool to highlight this serious issue, while at the same time offering talented musical groups of the state a much needed platform for artistic expression, MACS,” project director, Dr (Mrs) E Chyne said.

To make the competition inclusive, entries have been made free and open to solo artistes, folk troupes, cultural music groups/ bands and A-capella groups. What is mandatory from all the contestants is an original song on HIV/ AIDS and a counseling session at the nearest ICTC (Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre). To retain the competition’s main goal- spreading awareness HIV/ AIDS among the general population- participants will be judged and marked equally on their musical talent and knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS.

According to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Meghalaya falls in the ‘Group C’ - low prevalence but vulnerable state. Although there are only 254 HIV positive cases (prevalence rate of 0.08 percent), 93 percent of the rural people are unaware of HIV/AIDS and how it spreads.

Back to the music; contestants of Meghalaya Icon IV will be singing to bag the grand prize of Rs 1 lakh. The winner will also gets a chance to perform at all the events and festivals MACS sponsors throughout the year.

First Runner-up get Rs 30,000/-and Rs 20,000/- will go to second runner up. Individual prizes of Rs 10,000/- are also up for grabs for the best singer, guitar player, bass player, drummer, and rhythm or keyboard player.

“We are using Red FM’s significant reach- across Jowai, Umsing and Khliehriat districts- to announce the competition and invite entries. This year’s competition is much bigger than last year’s which was held across three districts only. Response has also been positive. We shall maintain publicity by interviewing past winners like the MGF band,” Red FM Shillong programming head Andreas War said.