Leighton Levy, Freelance Writer

A Magnum girl rides the beat at the launch of Magnum Tonic Wine Kings and Queens of Dancehall

The winners of the 2009 season of Magnum's King and Queen of Dancehall will each get $1 million in prize money, double what last year's winners got. This was announced Monday night as the second season was launched at the Indies Sports Bar on Holborn Road, New Kingston.

The winners will also each be afforded the release of a single and corresponding video.

But the announcement almost went un-noticed as the energy inside Indies kept building from the hype surrounding the hugely popular talent show aired on Television Jamaica.

Well received

Also featured on the night were the music video releases - Register and Mix Up - of last season's winners Singer Jah and Baby Tash, respectively. Both were very well received, especially the latter's. There were also highly entertaining performances from Stacious and Konshens, two of dancehall's newest stars.

Stacious, clad in a purple top, gold knee-length tights and purple stilettos, oozed raw sensuality during a short but energetic five-song set, the knob in her pierced tongue glinting under the lights.

Konshens, who was joined on stage by the attractive Magnum girls, clad in very short black body suits, accentuated by orange belts and orange strap platforms, provided an equally short but stirring performance to end the formalities on a high note.

First audition

However, before those performances, Master of Ceremonies, Empress, announced that auditions for the new season will be held at five locations across the island, starting November 15 in Montego Bay at the Wexford Hotel; November 22 at Glenmuir High School in May Pen, Clarendon; November 29 at the H2 Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine; December 6 at the Amnesia Nightclub in Ocho Rios; and on December 13 at Oakton Entertainment Centre in Kingston.

The first audition show will be aired on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 9 p.m. with the other audition shows being aired on subsequent Saturday nights for the next four weeks. From each of those audition shows, the two 'princes' and 'princesses' with the most votes will advance to the live studio finals.

These 10 'princes' and 10 'princesses' will then compete on the live studio shows starting February 28 with nine live shows to be aired on Saturdays until the winners are announced on May 9.

There will be some minor changes to the format for the new season. Empress, who also hosts the show, announced that there would be changes to the dance element.

Looking pristine in a white cap, top, pants and three-inch-heeled slippers, she revealed that there will be a different local and popular dance group featured each week. She said there are also new elements that will be unveiled as the competition develops.

Backstage access

Mark Kenny, the creator, producer and executive producer of the show, thanked those involved and responsible for the show's success, especially main sponsors Magnum. He revealed that for the new season there would be a new director Kibwe McGann, and new backstage access with Pretty Boy Floyd.

Managing director of TVJ Kay Osbourne thanked everyone for the support that made the show such a hit for the station.

Brand manager for Magnum, Gary Dixon, also echoed similar sentiments.

"We have come full circle," he said, adding that he appreciated the support the show has received.

"Some people said you could not put dancehall on national TV in an open setting and we said 'yes, we can'." He concluded by saying he was looking forward to a successful second season.

In addition to Magnum, other major sponsors include the RJR Group, TVJ, and THE STAR.

Stacious dips it low at the launch of Magnum Tonic Wine King and Queen of Dancehall, held at Indies Pub and Grill, Holborn Road, New Kingston on Monday. - Winston Sill photos