They’re the Baltic nation that has become a fan favourite in recent years. Now Latvia is taking the bold step of including streaming data from Spotify in the voting for its national final Supernova.

Broadcaster LSM has today announced that in partnership with Spotify and the Universal Music Group, Supernova will be able to take into account the online popularity of songs. Spotify are working to ensure that the system is accurate and can not be gamed for increased streams.

Supernova producer Ilze Jansone notes that this is the first time streaming data will be used to determine the results of any sort of Eurovision contest.

The move to include streaming data comes at a time when more people are streaming music, rather than purchasing it, especially in the Baltic region. Universal Music Group representative Petri Mannonen put it simply: “The more you listen to a song on Spotify, the more it is likely to become a hit. It’s a fact.”

Talent shows that use streaming data are so hot right now. Latvia’s announcement follows the Norwegian television talent show The Stream, which uses Spotify data to determine which acts will be eliminated. The format has recently been sold to NBC in the United States.

Supernova will also use an international jury. Helping Latvia decide will be Petri Mannonen (Universal Music), Matthias Müller (BMG Rights Management/Crazy Planet Records), Fruzsina Szép (Lollapalooza Berlin), Joy Deb (co-writer of ESC 2015 winner “Heroes”).

For Supernova 2016, Latvia included an online vote, open to fans from outside the country as well as Latvians. It ensured that the metal band Catalepsia — whose song “Damnation” won the televote — did not win the overall competition, with the online vote ensuring that Justs and his song “Heartbeat” won the competition.

The Supernova shows are due to begin in January, with the grand final scheduled for 26 February.

What do you think? Should Eurovision voting include streaming data as well? Share your thoughts below!

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cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Not a fan of this method, although I love Spotify.

Riva
Riva
7 years ago

Tbh this year’s Spotify favourite has proved that almost joke songs are still in favour and probably will be. In contrast to this it’s good to recall that most current songs from Latvia and Belgium didn’t won televote back in 2015. But it’s okay if they’re going to check NF songs for responsibility. They’re not replacing juries so why bother if something viral gonna get out?

KennyESC
KennyESC
7 years ago

@Marc stop offending REAL songs (like Kaliopi’s or Francesca’s this year) with that sh*t. That not even a song but Frans talking to an instrumental, can you comprend it?! >:(

MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
7 years ago

@Europa – I completelydisagree, I must say. What I like about ESC is the diversity. I would love to see heavy metal represent Latvia…or too hear Greek rap, Montegrin garage rock, Georgian indierock etc. Niche styles are what makes ESC good, and interesting for more people. Musical DIVERSITY is the keyword….What I find most generic and dull are ordinary euroballads or schlagers.

europa
europa
7 years ago

people will love this right up to the moment where some metal band or other niche thingwith an established fan base wins over their generic pretty boy/girl.

olvresc
olvresc
7 years ago

And I have to add that the Spotify system isn’t maybe so good. It doesn’t tell that what dies the song and artist sound live, and may open a possibility of a bad live singer to win cough margaret cough

olvresc
olvresc
7 years ago

As a Finn I can say that Latvia made a bad decision by putting a Finnish person into the jury. We vote for the wrong songs.

DJ Tiggeh
DJ Tiggeh
7 years ago

yeah let’s use spotify…also why not digital downloads too…..FFS get a life, the voting system is screwy enough – leave it be!

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

@KennyEsc
Yes I’m so dumb.. I guess you think the same towards all people who has streamed and purchased “If I were sorry” or all the European radio stations that has played Frans’ song.
It’s the most succesful song this year by far 😉

KennyESC
KennyESC
7 years ago

@khm Even without ZAMP lol
Hi Albania, hey Romania (and Moldova), hellooo Russia!

@Marc dude are you dumb? If I Were Sorry is not even a song. Is just Frans TALKING, T-A-L-K-I-N-G with an (awful) instrumental in the background. How can you people not hate it?!

Btw it would be SO stupid to use Spotify. We could have had…brrr, Margaret for Poland..

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Bizarre choice, I hope it won’t get out of Latvia – and especially that it won’t get to Sweden since that would mean it would reach Eurovision.

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

@MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease

I see your point and I kinda agree with you. But, cliche generic songs usually do bad in Spotify because they are not listenable on repeat (“Walk on water” and “Miracle” were big flops this year for example, no one streamed them).

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

Generally I think it’s a good idea. If we want ESC to survive to new generations it must stay hip and up to date and that involves more current modern music in the contest. It also has to do with doing well. Bigger chance to do well if you have a good modern song. I know some will say “focusing on doing well is negative” but facts are if you frequently do bad then interest in ESC will fade away with time and that is bad for the contest. So it’s a good idea but won’t work for ESC until… Read more »

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Mocosuburbian #illiminäticånförmd

HubertZnajomski
7 years ago

It makes no sense.

sonic0201
sonic0201
7 years ago

“Spotify are working to ensure that the system is accurate and can not be gamed for increased streams.”

How? People can change/fake their IP address in many ways, and manipulate the number of streams. I don’t know how it can produce a valid result. What’s next? Let’s count the Instagram hashtags and Facebook likes?… smh.

johanleekens
johanleekens
7 years ago

Slovakia has confirmed it won’t participate!!!

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

first G:Son, then Spotify… the swedes are behind everything #illuminåti

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Khm, hey Macedonia, hey Serbia!

But this doesn’t evaluate their live skills. What if there is one like Margaret. Good song, bad live skills. And what if the joke song get’s viral world wide.

Marshpan
Marshpan
7 years ago

This is certainly an interesting development for a national selection show…

Well, I suppose if the Riga Beaver wasn’t fun enough, Supernova seems to be conducting a few experiments. Hopefully they pick a good song by the end of it.

MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
7 years ago

Bad idea. Why? Well, even if I can understand the point made by Marc below (more hits, current sounding songs etc) and maybe he is right, I am sceptical. What I fear, is that the most cliched, generic ESC-sounding songs are the ones which will benefit from it. Let’s face it, among non-natives, few other than eurofans will be bothered to vote. This year for instance. I think “Heartbeat” was a good song. But the runnerup – WHICH WAS THE ACTUAL CHOICE BY LATIVIANS THEMSELVES – was BRILLIANT. And way more interesting musically. And it won after a very dubious… Read more »

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

Great news! If we want Hits and current music in Eurovision.. Streaming and Spotify is the best option for sure!

In recent years in NF:
– “Cool me down” would have beat “Color of your life”
– “Feel da rush” would have beat “Icebreaker”
– “Busy doin nothing” would have beat “Undo”.

-In Esc: “Calm after the storm” or “If I were sorry” would have won the whole contest as they were the best songs.

khm
khm
7 years ago

I hope that isn’t the future of Eurovision voting because there are countries which don’t have Spotify thanks to the ZAMP mafia (hello Croatia).

Anthony Ko
Editor
7 years ago

Fixed. Thanks for pointing it out Josh and Jak.

Jak
Jak
7 years ago

Balkans are in the Southern Europe, from Slovenia until Thracian Turkey. Latvia is a Baltic nation.

Josh ESC
Josh ESC
7 years ago

*baltic nation