Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast

Finalists named in MTV India’s first GCC Next Big Thing competition


  • English
  • Arabic

The successful finalists competing in MTV India’s first GCC-wide talent search have been named for the first time.

Following a gruelling round of auditions, 13 acts have been selected to compete onstage at a series of live concerts in Dubai.

Three semi-finals will take place at The Music Room every Saturday from November 7, with the best performers called back for the grand final on December 2.

A total of 83 bands and solo acts entered the audition stages of the competition, which is aimed at expats from the subcontinent.

“It was a tough decision to make,” said audition judge and Dubai DJ Shadow. “These shortlisted artists stood out because of their freshness and their ability to keep the audience entertained.”

The shortlisted bands include Rooh, Steel, Rajiv & Johan, Sur Aikhtalaf, Raag Addiction, Dhruv and Mohsin & Shahid and solo artists include Muhammed Zeeshan, Irawati Mulmule, Ricky George, Ranjini Hannah, Vaibhav Saxena and Morries Mana.

Each act will now be tutored by musician/actor and contest judge Luke Kenny and the MTV India team.

Check who will perform when below - all gigs start at 9pm and a free to the public:

November 7 – Steel, Vaibhav, Muhammed Zeeshan and The Scene

November 14 – Rajiv and Johan, Sur Aikhtlaf, Irawati, Ricky and Morries

November 21 – Raaga Addiction, Dhruv, Ranjini and Rooh

December 2 – Grand final, plus live set from judge Luke Kenny

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

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