Måns Zelmerlöw only won Eurovision 2015 a month ago, but SVT is already busy searching for the act that will represent Sweden on home soil next May. Today the broadcaster announced that songwriters can submit their original songs for Melodifestivalen 2016 — Sweden’s national selection — from September 1. The submission window closes at 08:59 sharp on September 16, so set your alarms.
You can read the complete submission rules in Swedish and in English.
Melodifestivalen 2016: Selection process
Melodifestivalen 2016 will feature a total of 28 acts. Among these one spot will go to the winner of the “Svensktoppen Nästa”. The winning act from that contest will compete at Melodifestivalen, though he or she may have to sing a different song.
SVT — aka Christer Björkman — will specially invite 13 artists (think big name acts like Danny Saucedo and Sarah Dawn Finer and composers like Fredrik Kempe and Thomas G:Son who have already proven themselves). The remaining will come from a selection process involving a specially appointed jury and SVT.
At least 50% of the competing songs should be written by female songwriters or lyricists.
As ever, SVT is running two simultaneous processes: a Regular contest and a Public contest. The regular contest is for all you professionals out there, while the public contest is for upstarts who have not yet had their music published.
Regular contest:
The selection panel chooses entries from amongst the submissions to the Regular contest, for which both lyrics and music must have been written by at least one composer/songwriter who has already had a musical work published. Please note that entrants must state the ISRC code of previously published works when uploading their submission to the Regular contest. Entries are to be submitted by uploading a sound file to svt.se between 1 and 16 September, 2016.
Public contest:
The selection panel (same as above) also selects five entries from the submissions to the Public contest, which only accepts songs by composer(s)/songwriter(s) who have NOT already had a musical work published. These five entries are qualified directly amongst the best top 100 entries. The Public Contest has no guaranteed place in the next year’s Melodifestival. Entries are to be submitted by uploading a sound file to svt.se between 1 and 16 September, 2016.
Who are you hoping to see and hear at Melodifestivalen 2016?
I’d loveto have Kristin Amparo back! 🙂
If I must say, I hope Ace Wilder makes another attempt. I’m pretty sure we will see Mariette and Linus Svenning again. And if Jon Henrik Fjällgren tries again, I hope his next song has fairly equal proportions of lyrics (Swedish or Sámi, which he sings himself) and jojk.
Don’t really care as as long as MZ is presenting it!
Agnes, Darin, Mariette, Zara Larsson, Icona pop, Molly Sanden, Mollie…
I’d love to see Mariette, Dinah Nah, Dolly Style, and Isa all represent Sweden one day but for me personally next year I reaalllyy hope Ace Wilder will win 🙂
I’d love for Ace Wilder and Mariette to come back.
I really hope Magnus Carlsson and Mariette come back for 2016
The past entries from Sweden have all had on worded songs since 2011. And since 2011, ever odd year has been a solo male, and every even year has been a female solo. So I think a female with a one word title will win…if only they would accept Molly Sanden and her song Freak.
I want Dolly Style to represent Sweden – since it’s their home turf and don’t have to worry about qualifying, the public better let them in this time. xD
I want Sweden to send a song in Swedish this year – I couldn’t care less about the artist. Swedish is such a beautiful language – it would be great to hear.
I’d love JEM to return!
I would love to hear actually swedish song in Eurovision. Samir & Viktor could do a song like “Saxofuckingfon”. It’s amazing and catchy.
DOLLY STYLE!!!! also linus svenning, isa, jon henrik fjallgren, samir & viktor and molly sanden but i’d also love to see some big names at this years contest
Wishlist: Mahan Moin, Mariette Hannson, (maybe) Isa, Ellen Benediktson, Dead by April or Outtrigger, Ace Wilder, Death Team, Jessica Folcker, Dr Alban (singer or songwriter), Dinah Nah, (maybe) Dolly Style, Alcazar, John Martin (?), Samir och Viktor, EKO and Andrwas Weise.
I wouldn’t mind seeing JTR having another bash at it!
Mariette for sure! And also Mahan Moin thanks (a Persian song on home soil would be too cool for Sweden)!
I hope for Mariette (2015 and spokeperson) She was Amazing! Well speaking about ‘amazing’ Danny Saucedo may come back!
does anyone know where mans got his leather pants . i want some
I want to see Molly Sanden,Ace Wilder or Ellen Benediktson…..And maybe Sanna Nielsen(again!)….
I hope, that Danny Saucedo, Erik Rapp, Molly Sanden, and Elin Bergman will be there. <3