It was third time lucky as Lea Sirk said “Hvala, ne!” to Slovenia‘s non-qualifying streak earlier this year. And national broadcaster RTVSLO will be hoping to maintain their success in Tel Aviv as they announced they have received a total of 103 entries for their national final EMA 2019.
This is slightly less than the 108 entries the broadcaster received for the 2018 edition, but an increase from the 90 and 61 entries in 2017 and 2016 respectively. However, it’s a long way off from the second highest ever total of 145 entries from 2015.
All songs submitted can be in any language, which is stark contrast to the 2018 language rule which only accepted Slovenian and other recognized minority languages within Slovenia.
As for next year’s competition, RTVSLO are planning a return to the one show format last used in 2016. Ten finalists all perform their entries on the night. A jury panel will help to select two acts to compete in a super final. Then the televoting public decide the winner.
The previous two editions of EMA involved qualifiers from two-semis singing it out in the final, before a 50/50 combination of televoting and juries decided the winner.
A date for EMA 2019 has yet to be announced. And despite speculation, there’s currently no word on whether Lea Sirk will return to host next year’s final.
Who would you like to see competing in EMA 2019? Who should represent Slovenia in Tel Aviv? Let us know in the comment section down below!
Photo: RTV Slovenija
Slovenia was one of my favourites in 2018 🙂
I think Ina Shai won’t return, she said in an interview after EMA that her music can’t really win in Slovenia… But maybe she changed her mind… I’m kind of positive Anabel, Lara Kadis and Raiven will return. Maraaya also sent a song of their production, but we don’t know for who(maybe we will see their comeback), they shared that on IG story(it’s either Nika Z. or them I think). Then I think Zan Sercic from 2016 NF will return or/and Gaja Prestor will debut. For other artists I don’t know… Speaking as a Slovene:)
and also we will know the artists by the 28th of December.
103 is still a good submission figure for Slovenia considering for not just getting back in the ESC grand final but only scoring televote points from ex-Yugoslav nations and the winning entry only ranking 12th on Slovenian televote(2nd lowest for Netta across all countries) I don’t like how the EMA format changes every year and how they’ve reverted back to the 2015-6 method where a jury chooses 2 superfinalists that will face off on televoting, can’t RTVSLO just do a proportional 50/50 system like Melfest introduced that has been adopted in several countries’ selections? anyways I hope to see Ina… Read more »
Slovenia always changes its national selection format 🙂
The last two years had that huge stage but I’m guessing it will be hosted in that small room used in 2015 & 2016.
I think Slovenia should have kept the semi-finals but rethought the jury.
I’ve never liked this format of the jury picking the top two. It should be 50/50 to pick the top two and then televoting only.
Hoping to see BQL and Raiven return !
BQL stated, if I recall, that they’re not returning this time around.
I wonder if they did, would the jury sabotage them for the third time?
report that they give up participating in ema because of another defeat, it is true that they do not take part because of jury
I feel sorry for BQL, especially how they were denied the Slovenian ticket to ESC by dodgy regional juries 2 years running. “Heart of Gold” & “Promise” were brilliant contemporary songs that not only either would’ve won EMA if televote points were handled proportionally(%) instead of the basic multiply number of juries’ points method(e.g. Melfest 1999-2010) but could’ve achieved a really good placing for Slovenia too, I don’t blame them the boys for not returning again.