Since the first announcement in September, we haven’t heard much about the United Kingdom‘s song selection process. But now details have emerged of how OGAE UK are whittling down 300 songs to make their shortlist.

The BBC’s deadline for song applications was 20 November. In the days since then, things have swung into action, with the OGAE UK fan group hard at work assessing 300 songs, playing their part in helping the BBC select the finalists for 2016. Eurovision Ireland has revealed details of the process that the OGAE panel is using.

Blue
Blue in the simpler days of internal selection

45 members of OGAE UK make up the selection panel, with members chosen to ensure a diverse mix of people. Those 45 are then split into five groups of nine. Each group has a different set of 60 songs to review and from that, each member will choose their top five. The deadline for this stage is 14 December.

Then from each of the five groups, an overall top five is determined, creating a long list of 25 songs. Finally a new panel of 10 people will assess the 25 songs and create a shortlist which will be presented to the BBC to help determined the songs that will face the public vote.

In addition to this, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) has been running the Great British Song Competition. At least one song from the competition is guaranteed a place in the UK’s final line-up.

All up, OGAE, BASCA and the BBC’s team have less than a month to make their mind up. The BBC’s website says all successful acts will be notified no later than 1 January 2016.

Then what happens?

From there, the shortlisted songs will be presented to the public in an yet to be determined format. The BBC hasn’t said if this will involve a television show, leading fans to speculate that it could be some sort of web-based presentation or a Red Button event.

The public, along with a jury of experts, will vote for their favourites, with the winning song getting the UK’s ticket to Stockholm.

What do you think of the UK’s song selection process? Can it select the winner for 2016? Share your thoughts below!

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Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

None of this matters if the 300 songs are themselves, all terrible.

adrianauk
adrianauk
8 years ago

The reason why UK dint do better at Eurovision ,is because they took this competition as a joke and the Eurovision fans do not forget that easy.

criticca
criticca
8 years ago

Towards the national selection TV show I mean

criticca
criticca
8 years ago

On another note, BBC is not renewing The Voice UK for another series. Could this mean that the money will now go towards selecting the right entry & staging for Eurovision?

Fatima
Fatima
8 years ago

DR, I got talking to Trevor Nelson once at an airport in 2009. I suggested he might want to get involved as Andrew Lloyd Webber just had with Jade Ewen. He said the suggestion was ridiculous. He was polite, but I sensed he wanted me to just go away so I did.

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

The UK has SO many problems that mess up their Eurovision entries. I suppose we’re about to find out if the local OGAE is one of them. (Spoiler: Yep.)

mad-professor
mad-professor
8 years ago

@DR
Don’t know what happened there.
Anyways, Nick Grimshaw knows nothing about music if The X Factor is a good example; all he can do is suck up to his celebrity pals to try and stay relevant.

Jak
Jak
8 years ago

I actually not believe in the UK.

In 2014 they had sent the BEST song in the Eurovision Song Contest of the last ten years, Molly’s vocals were absolutely amazing and they ended up at the 17th place. I could understand why they have sent such an awful entry in 2015.

See them trying again is cool, I hope well but…there is something wrong about the Eurovision Song Contest if Russia, Hungary, Ukraine or Armenia did better than the UK in that year… I’ll always be sad for Molly. For ever. She deserved winning.

mad-professor
mad-professor
8 years ago

DR

DR
DR
8 years ago

I would have preferred if they had used the same panel for the BBC Sound of 2016 that was announced yesterday. They know their music. Or DJ’s from Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra. People lime Huw Stephens, Annie Mac, Trevor Nelson or Nick Grimshaw would select great songs, and with their connections, could get a a big name.

esc1234
esc1234
8 years ago

The ogae members usually have a specific kind of taste such as sweden 2008 hungary 2011 so im not quite sure if having only ogae members will work. If they realize that a “current” song is the best choice and not some swing-jazz-europop, they will do well this year

Hippo
Hippo
8 years ago

Seems pretty thorough, would be surprised if the uk doesn’t do a lot better this year