Rotana is one of the biggest musical productions company in the Arab world and I think this is because it manages to focus on younger artists along with the ‘golden oldies’. A prime example of this is the upcoming Rotana projects for this month.

Rotana has scheduled the release of an album which encompasses songs by 4 different Star Academy 2 contestants. The lucky four are: Katia Haraka, Bashar El-Ghazawi, Salma Ghazali and Samer Dhoumet. The album will include eight songs, two for each artist, and promises to be an exciting and excellent production. Obviously because all these Star Academy 2 contestants already have a fan base the album is almost guaranteed a success.

If you have never seen a photo of Lebanese star academy 2 candidate Katia Haraka with her Husband, here is a nice photo:

Katia got married in the beginning of last Spring to a Lebanese guy; it was quite a surprise for her fans who thought she will get married to her boyfriend Jihad or Bashar AlQaisi who was a candidate with her at the academy.
Many rumors surrounded Katia and Bashar claiming they were involved in a love relationship…

It really seems like Star Academy 2 stars are managing to excel in all sorts of different fields. Salma had her own show on LBC and Hisham has ‘Cash Taxi’ both of which were huge successes and Zizi has an amazing singing career. As for Ahmed Hussein, another Star Academy 2 graduate, he is currently presenting a show that is titled ‘Ibn Batouta’ and it’s an educational yet entertaining show. In every episode Ahmed speaks about a different country that Ibn Batouta visited and presents facts about it by asking the viewers questions.

Star Academy star Zizi’s last Album ‘Wahda Tayeba’ was amazingly successful in the Arab world even though she was quite new to the world of music. Her unexpected success drove Zizi to prepare for her next album at an early time to ensure that she has sufficient time to pick the songs she feels are right for her. About her last album Zizi said that she had no expectations for the album especially that there are several new singers that invade the scene everyday.

Kuwaiti Star Academy 2 graduate Ahmad Hussein had an interview recently with Khalijiya Magazine where he talked about his wish to have a duet with Egyptian singer Shereen and Lebanese singer Yara, and when he was asked about the guests that visited the academy, Ahmad said that he liked Tunisian singer Saber Al Rebai a lot and that he really respect him... and when he was asked about the candidates of different starac seasons, he said that the winner of starac 2 Saudi Hisham Abdul Rahman is not good at singing at all, he is better in presenting TV shows...

Ahmad Hussein interview with Khalijiya Magazine

These are some photos of Tunisian Star Academy 2 candidate Amani Swissi during an interview with her on Rotana TV on the occasion of launching her first music album.

Photos of Amani on Rotana TV

Last night Zizi Adel was the guest on the popular radio show ‘Nagm ala el hawa’! Zizi has seen some very amazing successes recently but it seemed she got slightly upset when a viewer sent an SMS telling her he didn’t like her look in her latest video clip, she didn’t respond properly if you ask me but her fans all over the world went mad. SMS’s flooded in telling Zizi she was gorgeous and that she was mind blowing in her video clip which she welcomed with open arms. Zizi was asked all kinds of question including weather or not she would marry a non- Egyptian and weather she would choose her career over a family and husband.

Rotana News just announced that the extremely talented Amani Swissi will shoot her video clip for her single "Elli Shayef Nafso". Being a Rotana artist, her video will be aired exclusively on Rotana TV. The video clip will be directed by Fadi Haddad (who recently directed "Domak La Albi" for Zain El Omr) and will be shot on Saturday and Sunday. The presenter also said that Amani's debut album is due "in a few days", and like her fellow Star Academy students who just released their debuts, Ahmad Hussain and Zee Zee Adel, the video and album will come within days of each other.

By Ahmed

• Amal Al Anbari was a guest during the album promotion of singers Ghassan and Salem El Mawla. She revealed that she is now living with some of her relatives in Lebanon and that she is so happy because of the support of her fans. She added that she is preparing for something but wont declare what exactly until her birthday. Jaras TV will be the first to know.

• Tunisian Star Academy 2 candidate Amani Swissi known for her golden voice and chosen by Ousama al Rahbani to star in the play Jebran and the Prophet, launched her first single on April 11th in Lebanon. She chose that specific day because simply it is her birthday. So we wish her all the success in her life and her career.

It seems Star Academy graduate Zizi Adel's career is sky rocketing!
Her debut album is a success & her first video clip was a hit & she's now working on her second clip with director Tareq Rifat, who worked with her on the 1st one.
Zizi thinks that it's not a must to win the title in order to be a successful star. The examples are a lot, Ahmad Al Sharif & Bashar Al Shatti just to name a couple, have fans all over the world & are doing great.

Here's the rest of the news about the future plans of a few of the previous LBC Star Academy students ...

Rym Ghazali from Algeria, is getting ready to go through her first experience as a talk show host! It seems fitting for her personality to do so, because she's hyper & the camera loves her!

Rym's sister, Salma has already recorded two songs with Rotana & her debut album is due in May.
Salma's husband, Bashar Ghazawi, is still perusing his amazing talent of composing.

The students of the past 3 seasons of LBC Star Academy are working hard to launch their careers ... Some of them are on the right track, while unfortunately others are not really finding their way!
As you might already know, Star System & Rotana are working with the students to help them with launching their albums & marketing them in the Arab world.

Tunisian Amani Swissi is putting the final touches on her first album which is being produced by Rotana. Her album is due in May 2007.

On the occasion of Star System's 3rd anniversary, the company held a huge party in Beirut.
The guest list was also a long list of famous names of journalists ... In addition to the popular Star Academy stars of the past 3 seasons. They all reunited for the occasion & the atmosphere was so warm & fun through-out the night.
The presence of Salma Ghazali & Bashar Ghazawi was the one that stole the spotlights.
The other starac stars attending the party were Joseph Attieh, Hani Hussein, Hana Idrissi, Maya Nehmeh, Samer Doumet, Ahmad Al Sharif, Fadi Andraous, Amani Souissi, Shaima Hilali & Wajdi Al Akhal.

I wonder where others like Zizi & Hisham & Bashar Al Shatti were?
I also wonder where Mohammad Attieh's been hiding all this time?

Here are some photos from the party

Zizi Adel was one of the students of the popular TV show LBC Star Academy ... She wasn't the best, but she did have a good voice & potential to make in the music business.
It seems she hit it well with Rotana, because she's got a debut album out & a video clip as well!
I watched the clip today & found it to be nice! ... The words to the song are not bad, the music is good & the video clip itself is fine! At least there's not nudity!
Zizi has been hiding all this time & has surfaced again to show us that she does have potential to make it the music business there days ... Unlike the guy who picked up the title of Star Mohammad Attieh! ...
You know what! Kudos Zizi!

Here are some photos of Zizi first Video Clip