In astronomical terms, a supernova is the last stage of a dying star. And lately, Latvian media have speculated that national final Supernova — and even Latvia’s participation in Eurovision — could be headed in the same direction. But Supernova producer Ilze Jansone has spoken out, saying that talk of the national final’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.

Earlier this week, Latvian media reported that the fate of Latvia at Eurovision 2020 was uncertain. Latvia Television (LTV) board member Ivars Priede told a Latvian government subcommittee on media policy that the broadcaster had not yet decided if they would participate in Eurovision 2020.

He noted that the cost for Latvia to participate in Eurovision was €300,000. Priede suggested that the regular national final Supernova could still be held, or the broadcaster could opt for a reduce format.

But is this a sign of doom for Supernova? Or just a political power play from LTV, hoping for more government funding?

Supernova producer Ilze Jansone has spoken out about the situation, saying that “talk of Supernova’s death has been greatly exaggerated.”

Runas par projekta “Supernova” n?vi man? pasaul? ir stipri p?rsp?l?tas. Mums t? nav tikai ail?te budžet?, mums tie ir…

Posted by Ilze Jansone on Thursday, September 5, 2019

In a Facebook post, Jansone explained that the contest is more than just its budget — “We’re people in the industry: singers, songwriters, producers, sound engineers, dancers, choreographers, recording studios, photographers.” Jansone noted that Supernova also creates money for the music industry through royalties and digital distribution.

And while Latvia has not qualified for the Eurovision grand final since 2016, Jansone says “No, we are not ashamed that we do not qualify for the Eurovision finals. We are proud to have a participant who is respectfully representing the country.”

Jansone ends on an optimistic note, saying,  “I believe that Supernova 2020 will be and together with our partners we will find a chance to do it!”

LTV has told media that their initial response for participating in Eurovision 2020 has to be made by mid-September, and an early October deadline for signing on for confirmed participation.

Latvia at Eurovision

While Latvia won Eurovision 2002, it hasn’t had the same luck in recent years. In the past 11 years, Latvia has only qualified for the grand final two times, in 2015 and 2016. Both times, with songs written by Latvian pop powerhouse Aminata.

In the last three years, Latvia has languished in the semi-finals, with fans sometimes complaining that better songs were left unselected in the Supernova grand final. Most recently folk group Carousel placed 15th in its semi-final with the low-key “That Night”.

Whatever LTV decides to do for its Eurovision 2020 participation, there will be at least some pressure to get the Baltic state back in the grand final.

What do you think? Is Supernova doomed? Does it need to be revamped? Or is it just fine as it is? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Latvia Eurovision news here

28 Comments
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Karlan
Karlan
4 years ago

Latvia’s problem is that not their best song wins on their selection, always.On Supernova 2019 there were a lot of good songs.Carousel-“That night”-just weak dull kakaha.Tautas Dziesma, Atom and Fireworks were great.

Quuq
Quuq
4 years ago

They should’ve chosen Markus Riva and they would’ve got to the final.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Quuq

Hahaha keep it realll he would be in semi

Balonowa
Balonowa
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

He can’t worse than Carousel. That’s for sure.

Loin dici
4 years ago

Actually, Latvia’a selection ain’t bad. They just need the press+eurofans to freaking pay attention to them.

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

Not saying that it’s the absolute way to go, but in the modern days the press helps quite a lot on their success. I really think Latvia lacked attention for the past three years.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

As much as I love “That Night” and think that “Supernova” is one of the best NFs in terms of production value, an internal selection might be a good experiment for Latvia. It would give them far more time to prepare a quality song and its staging concept. There’d always be some risk, that certain Markus would be selected using this method, but let’s look at other possibilities. Maybe MADARA would be interested? Maybe Edgars Kreilis would get a killer song?

Latvian
Latvian
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

There is no way that Markus will represent Latvia. At all.

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Latvian

Why?

a lett
a lett
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

Markus has never really been liked by the general Latvian public (same goes for Samanta T?na)

IMHO we should skip a year or two (most Latvians have been asking for that for years) and change some things regarding the selection, like getting rid of adding the Spotify streams and Alfa votes to the score and perhaps inviting foreign jurors.

Karlan
Karlan
4 years ago
Reply to  a lett

Send ATOM, eblany.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

I don’t think Markus would be a bad pick actually. He has a decent amount of charisma and can pull televotes from the Russian diaspora, and the songs he’s submitted in supernova are admittedly basic but lend themselves to good staging. Moreover, if he finally got to go he’d be less likely to enter supernova subsequently

FYROM
FYROM
4 years ago

every year i forget theyre even taking part

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

For a country with their luck in the contest, their attitude is quite refreshing. If they didn’t withdraw during a six year spell that never saw them come even remotely close to qualifying, they won’t quit after just three years out of the final (especially when Laura came so close and would’ve made it with the juries).

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Interestingly, they announced their withdrawal back in 2009, but later on they cancelled it and sent Intars Busulis to Moscow (only to get their first, but not last, last place in the semi).

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Latvia was close in 2014 tho.
They were 10th with televote but juries killed its chances (+ 4 countries only used juries in that SF which made juries to have even more power)

Eurovisionfan12
Eurovisionfan12
4 years ago

It’d be a shame if they actually withdraw (because I really like their songs they recently sent), but maybe they could do a Ukraine and Portugal, sit our for one year and reevaluate Supernova as there are a lot of things that needs to be revamped.

If they do cancel the current format I have a feeling that they’ll internally select Markus Riva (and even make a one-artist Supernova with him with 3-4 songs)

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

I never got that argument of sitting it out (unless there’s no money, but even then, institutions usually find money for worse things if they want to). It’s one song/act a year, surely, people can sit out the entire summer and autumn and come up with something decent for May, while drinking cherry absinth. If they were to select Markus Riva, one song would be plenty. They should really help him get a listenable one. Just one.

Latvian
Latvian
4 years ago

There is no way Markus will represt Latvia. At all.

uzhas
uzhas
4 years ago

Markus Riva would never be selected by LTV

Latvian
Latvian
4 years ago

If Patrisha wins I’m happy either way

Trash KAN
Trash KAN
4 years ago

They can internally select Tautumeitas and all will be forgiven

Idksmth
Idksmth
4 years ago
Reply to  Trash KAN

NO, NO, NO

uzhas
uzhas
4 years ago
Reply to  Trash KAN

If Poland didn’t qualify this year, Tautumeitas would most likely flop as well

Deven O’Kearney
Deven O’Kearney
4 years ago

Supernova is just “Euro Dziesma” with a different name. It hasn’t delivered better results (if anything Latvia has gotten WORSE results) and the two qualifications that it has given us were because of Aminata.

Might be time to try an internal selection?

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Latvia are one of only a handful of active Eurovision countries that have never withdrawn once (the others are Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Spain), so it’d be a shame for that to end. Plus, next year is the twentieth anniversary of their first appearance.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

Keep it. I like the name.

James
James
4 years ago

Apart from being a national selection for Eurovision, Supernova as a musical variety show is a great introduction for those wanting to hear contemporary Latvian music.