Die kompetisie, wat in samewerking met Select Musiek (’n afdeling van Sony Music Entertainment Africa) aangebied is, het dramaties geëindig toe ’n niksvermoedende Rudo Schwim van Clarens in die Oos-Vrystaat tydens ’n regstreekse vertoning, wat hy geglo het die laaste deel van die kompetisie was, meegedeel is dat dit sy eerste optrede as wenner van die sangkompetisie was.

“Dankie vir almal se denke, gebede en ondersteuning. Ek het nooit dit verwag nie. Ek het hard gewerk hiervoor. Dis ongelooflik. Dis ’n droom wat waar word. Hierdie gaan deure oopmaak,” het ’n opgewonde Schwim gesê.

Hy is beloon met ’n eksklusiewe ontwikkelingsooreenkoms met Select Musiek vir ’n enkelsnit wat insluit:

• professionele liedjie skryf en komposisie;
• opname en produksie;
• amptelike uitreiking en verspreiding;
• bemarking en openbare betrekkinge-ondersteuning; en
• speeltyd op OFM.

Die 38-jarige musikant, wat ook ’n restaurant en buitebandbesigheid bedryf, vertel hy kom uit ’n musikale gesin en het reeds op sewejarige ouderdom begin om die snare op sy blikkitaartjie te tokkel en op te tree. Hy skryf sy eie liedjies en put inspirasie uit sy eie lewe asook die mense in die gehoor voor wie hy optree.  

“Ons Select Musiek-span is super-opgewonde om saam met Rudo te werk en om sy loopbaan as musikant na nuwe hoogtes te voer. OFM het werklik die ekstra myl gestap en dit reggekry om ware talent op te spoor onder hulle luisteraars,” vertel Ernst Kleinhans, algemene bestuurder van Select Musiek.

’n Span van agt het altesaam 2 901 km oor vier weke afgelê, deur vier provinsies gereis – en agt dorpe, sewe gastehuise, 56 beddens en 168 maaltye later, is 163 inskrywings beoordeel om Sentraal-SA se volgende sangsensasie te vind.

“OFM se Trok Talent was meer as net ’n kompetisie; dit was ’n lewende verhoog wat verborge sangpotensiaal in Sentraal-Suid-Afrika onthul het. Dit is die hart van OFM: ’n verbintenis daartoe om nie net vermaak te bied nie, maar om die stemme te ontdek, te koester en te verhef na ’n blinker toekoms,” sê Nick Efstathiou, Central Media Group se uitvoerende hoof.

Die OFM Trok Talent-kompetisie het nie net die perfekte platform gebied om OFM se splinternuwe buite-uitsendingseenheid met sy kenmerkende afklapverhoog ten toon te stel nie, maar het ook groot talent in die streek ontgin. Schwim was deel van ’n groep van vyf finaliste wat die hoogste punte tydens die beoordeling behaal het. Die ander finaliste was Michelle Marais van Welkom, PB Laas van Potchefstroom, J’sen Brown van Klerksdorp en Jansjoe Theodora de Roubaix van Groblershoop.

“Om te sien hoe elke deelnemer hul droom op die verhoog najaag, was ongelooflik inspirerend. Ek is trots op en dankbaar dat ek deel kon wees van hierdie lewensveranderende projek,” vertel Pulane Nel-Sekepe, ’n OFM-omroeper, wat ook deel van die beoordeelaarspaneel was. 

“OFM en Select Musiek het die kans gegee om iemand se lewe te verander met OFM Trok Talent, en ek glo hulle het dit in oorvloed bereik. Ek is ongelooflik trots op elke persoon wat hul talent vertoon het om hul drome na te jaag. Welgedaan aan OFM, Select Musiek en elke deelnemer. My verwagtinge is oorskry – Sentraal-Suid-Afrika het regtig talent! Dit was ’n fees!”

Vir nog inligting, kontak marketing@ofm.co.za.

EINDIG

Waarom OFM

OFM, die klank van jou lewe, is Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se voorste handelsradiostasie, wat ’n verskeidenheid musiek, nuus en vermaak bied. Die stasie vier vanjaar reeds 39 jaar in die uitsaaiwese. OFM is deel van die Central Media Group, met sy hoofkantoor in Bloemfontein.

Die stasie bedien die welvarende SEM 7-10 ekonomies aktiewe mark met ’n uitsaaigebied wat die Vrystaat, Noord-Kaap, Suid-Gauteng en Noordwes insluit. OFM is sinoniem met die mense van Sentraal-Suid-Afrika, en sluit ’n volle spektrum van luisteraars in, van stedelike werkende ouers, tot korporatiewe professionele persone, sowel as landelike gemeenskappe en landbouprodusente.

Die stasie het ’n ongelooflike lojale en ondersteunende gehoor. OFM se luisteraars spandeer van die meeste tyd wat luisteraars in Suid-Afrika spandeer om radio te luister. Dit word bereik deur die stasie se gepaste musiekaanbiedinge – luisteraars kan hul gunstelingliedjies op die Request Network versoek en op Saterdae kan hulle inskakel om saam Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se 30 grootste treffers op die Central SA Top 30 af te tel.

OFM bied verskeie nisprogramme aan – insluitend ’n toegewyde landbouprogram met drie bykomende landbounuusberigte per dag, asook as ’n toegewyde sakeprogram.

Sport lê OFM-luisteraars na aan die hart en dit is wat baie Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners bymekaar bring. Die stasie is ’n trotse vennoot, borg en ondersteuner van die Cheetahs-, Griekwas- en Luiperds-rugbyspanne, asook die Knights, Heat en Dragons krieketspanne. OFM is daartoe verbind om die waarlik goeie lewe te lei, en terselfdertyd Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners te help om hul beste lewens te lei.

Clarens singer crowned OFM Truck Talent winner!

The moment OFM listeners have been waiting for since March arrived this morning with the announcement of the winner of the OFM Truck Talent competition.

The competition, presented in collaboration with Select Musiek (a division of Sony Music Entertainment Africa), came to a dramatic end when an unsuspecting Rudo Schwim from Clarens in the Eastern Free State, was told during a live performance, which he believed was the final part of the competition, that this was his first performance as winner of the singing competition.

“Thank you for everyone's thoughts, prayers and support. I never expected this. I worked hard for this. It's incredible. It's a dream come true. This is going to open doors,” said Schwim.

He was rewarded with an exclusive development agreement with Select Musiek for a single that includes: professional songwriting and composition, recording and production, official release and distribution, marketing and public relations support as well as airtime on OFM.

The 38-year-old musician, who also runs a restaurant and tyre business, says he comes from a musical family and started strumming his tin guitar and performing at the age of seven. He writes his own songs and finds inspiration from his own life as well as the people in the audience he performs for.

"Our Select Musiek team is super excited to work with Rudo and to take his career as a musician to new heights. OFM has really gone the extra mile and managed to find true talent among their listeners," says Ernst Kleinhans, general manager of Select Musiek.

A team of eight covered a total of 2 901 km over four weeks, travelling through four provinces and eight towns, seven guesthouses, 56 beds and 168 meals later, 163 entries were judged to find Central SA’s next singing sensation.

“More than just a competition, OFM’s Truck Talent was a vibrant stage revealing hidden singing potential within Central South Africa. This is the heart of OFM, a commitment to not just entertain, but to discover, nurture, and lift the voices that will shape a brighter future for many,” says Central Media Group CEO Nick Efstathiou.

The OFM Trok Talent competition not only provided the perfect platform to showcase OFM’s brand new outside broadcasting unit with its distinctive fold-down stage, but also unearthed great talent in the region. Schwim was part of a group of five finalists who achieved the highest scores during the judging. The other finalists were Michelle Marais from Welkom, PB Laas from Potchefstroom, J’sen Brown from Klerksdorp and Jansjoe Theodora De Roubaix from Groblershoop.

“Seeing each participant pursue their dream on stage was incredibly inspiring. I am proud and grateful to have been part of this life-changing project,” says Pulane Nel-Sekepe, one of OFM’s presenters, who was also part of the judging panel. “OFM and Select Music gave the opportunity to change someone’s life with OFM Truck Talent, and I believe they achieved it in abundance. I am incredibly proud of each person who put their talent on the line to pursue their dreams. Well done to OFM, Select Music and each participant. My expectations were exceeded – Central South Africa really has talent! It was a feast!”

For more information contact marketing@ofm.co.za.

END cg

Why OFM

OFM, the Sound of Your Life, is Central South Africa’s premier commercial radio station, offering a mix of music, news, and entertainment. The station celebrates 39 years in the broadcasting industry this year. OFM is part of the Central Media Group, with its head office in Bloemfontein.

The station serves the affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace with a broadcast footprint across the Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West. OFM is synonymous with the people of Central South Africa, and includes a full spectrum of listeners, from urban working moms and dads to corporate professionals, as well as rural communities and agricultural producers.

The station has an incredibly loyal and supportive audience. OFM enjoys one of the highest occurrences of time spent listening to the radio in South Africa. This is achieved by the station’s great music offerings – such as playing listeners their favourite songs on the Request Network and counting down Central South Africa’s 30 biggest hits on the Central SA Top 30.

OFM offers several niche features – including a dedicated agricultural programme with three additional agricultural news updates a day, as well as a dedicated business programme.

Sport is close to OFM listeners’ hearts and is what brings much of Central South Africa together. The station is a proud partner, sponsor, and supporter of the Cheetahs, Griquas and Leopards rugby teams as well as the Knights, Heat and Dragons cricket teams. OFM is committed to living the real good life, while at the same time helping Central South Africans to live their best lives.