Ever since its conception, the American Song Contest has given Eurofans a lot to talk about. Between speculation over its format to the revelation that Simon Cowell might already be working on a rival, people have been keen to dissect every detail. And recently legendary Eurovision technical director Ola Melzig gave us a lot more to chew on when discussing his tantalising proposal for the United States.

In an interview with former Czech Head of Delegation Jan Bors for his Humans of Eurovision series, the technical director of 13 Eurovision finals detailed not only the fact that they are close to securing an American network to air the show, but also the proposed format.

While the discussions are still ongoing, Ola explained how the contest could take shape.

Each state will have the right to determine how to select their artist and song for the main contest, be it a statewide final or an internal selection. The main Americavision show would take place in 5 “heats” of 10 states each, competing for 4 spots for the next round. The 20 states that advance will be organized into 2 semi-finals. Five states will qualify for the final from each semi, which means 10 states will battle for the American Song Contest trophy.

The format of the voting will vary as the show progresses. In the heats, they will use a system similar to Melodifestivalen. In the semi-finals and the grand final, however, the voting process will be identical to the one in Eurovision.

The contest, which has a tentative start date for the end of 2021 or Spring of 2022, has the aim of featuring unknown and rising artists, found with the help of various record labels. This means no Madonna or Justin Timberlake to be found competing! However, they have a window of time where they would like to have each state be in complete charge of selecting their entries.

One of the big prizes for the triumphant act of The American Song Contest could be a feature as the interval act at the following Eurovision. At the same time, the winner of Eurovision 2021 will be an interval act in the sister contest in the States.

But all of that needs a network to support it — and Ola says that there’s no shortage of interested channels. To this day, about 10 TV networks have shown an interest in the new contest’s rights and, by the end of 2020, the winning TV network will be confirmed.

Gears are turning all the way across the Atlantic and we can’t wait!

What do you think? Do you like the sound of the American Song Contest? Do you know of an unknown rising star? Let us know in the comments below!

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Vell Baria
Vell Baria
3 years ago

I would like to join this contest and I hope they will open the doors for entries! :O

Pancake
Pancake
3 years ago

With this in the air, I already have a few names in mind on who should represent their states.
As for hosting, I’m pretty sure Los Angeles or New York City will be the top choices, although I’m guessing it will be in an empty area if the pandemic would go a little longer.

Richard Stegman Jr
Richard Stegman Jr
3 years ago

The Grand Final of The United States Song Contest(I refuse to call it the North American Song Contest)should take place on a Sunday night because Saturday nights are a dead zone for TV unless you like sports or reruns.

Last edited 3 years ago by Richard Stegman Jr
Pressed Yolk
Pressed Yolk
3 years ago

I think it is good that there are 10 songs in each semi and the final – it means that everyone gives points to ALL states in that semi final and the final, so there will be no situation in which one song places 12th in all states, gets 0 points and last place.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
3 years ago

The concept sounds really great. 7 shows and 50 songs? Whoop whoop!

Lemanic
Lemanic
3 years ago

I think the Walt Disney Corporation want some of this Think of the possibilities with that. I’m thinking that a Eurovision pavilion at EPCOT or Springs would fit very well. And how about expanding “Eurovision in Concert” to also play at America Gardens Theatre once a year? Great synergies there. Fits very well with the intention of EPCOT, both entertaining as well as educating.

Last edited 3 years ago by Lemanic
Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  Lemanic

idk why you are pushing Disney and eurovision together but they are very much not at all related, nor would I want them to be.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

Disney are in the television business, they own ABC…so it’s not impossible.

Lemanic
Lemanic
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

I think we need PIXAR level heart into this if we want it to really stick into Middle America. Glam and cheez without heart is nothing. And as I said before in this thread, Disney and Eurovision are kindred spirits. Even though Disney has been a thing since almost 100 years, it was during the 1950’s Disney really cemented itself as Americas brand in the same vein as Eurovision cemented itself as Europes brand during that same time. Same goal of providing comfort food for your population from both of them. That’s why both Disney and Eurovision are about high… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

I feel like this is never going to be much like the original, beloved Eurovision. The same broadcaster every year? No EBU? Prioritizing unknowns?

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

The same broadcaster every year is a given. States don’t really have their own individual broadcasters. And even if they did, a handful of states would not have the money to host it if they won.

There is the issue of a venue too. If they want to host this in an indoor venue than not every state is going to have one that is big enough if they win.

There might even be a venue made somewhere that is dedicated to hosting the contest every year.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

I’m guessing it will be mostly held in a television studio, with maybe the final held somewhere else a little bigger. I feel anybody expecting a Eurovision-level production will be disappointed.

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
3 years ago

Although I like the idea of a American Song Contest, but the 50 States idea is untenable and a Pan-American approach is more relevant and what most people want. The hypothetical Pan-American Song Contest will obviously include the US as a single country along with countries of Central and South America, the island nations of The Caribbean including those owned by other nations like Bonaire or the British Virgin Islands, and potentially the Pacific States owned by the Americans and Greenland but, the latter is unlikely. This gives the upcoming contest more diversity and make it a true implementation of… Read more »

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

The US and Canada would probably not have interest in watching it. Most of the countries in the Americas speak Spanish so it would be logical for the contest to be hosted in Spanish and have mostly Spanish language music. Canadians and people from the US are not going to want to watch something that is not in English.

Pressed Yolk
Pressed Yolk
3 years ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

well, that’s just not happening. be happy with what you get.

Diane P
Diane P
2 years ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

There are so many people in the US and if the rules are similar to Eurovision, the US voters would not be able to vote for a US song… there could never then be a US winner. It would always be some other country. The concept would need a lot of tweaking to be a Pan-American concept, although it would certainly yield interesting results. also, the US would always have some big star, and therefore no US unknowns could ever participate. I am interested to see how the five groups of ten states are “stacked” as that will surely affect… Read more »

Kirby
Kirby
3 years ago

The OTI Ibero-American song contest should be revived, despite the big sociopolitical issues that are taking place in most of central and southern America. It’s such an important piece of history (1972-2000) that shouldn’t get buried down with time. There were years when it had nothing to envy from Eurovision.

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
3 years ago
Reply to  Kirby

OTI was only for Spanish and portuguese speaking countries so only Spanish speaking Americans were allowed to compete (and many Latin singers would migrate to the US to do just that)

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

I’m not surprised by how they are choosing to set this up at all. As an American ESC fan I’ve actually thought quite a lot about this ever since it was announced. The format being a mixture of melfest and ESC sounds about right. And I expected them to drag the show out into more than just two semis and a final as well. Americans like their big TV events to drag out. I’m also very pleased to hear that they won’t allow big names. If the people in charge of this are smart, the show will go to either… Read more »

Richard A Stegman Jr
Richard A Stegman Jr
3 years ago

I disagree somewhat. CBS would actually be the best choice because they don’t air a “Voice” or “American Idol” type singing competition show.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

CBS is another good contender but I don’t think they have the same level of popularity that networks like ABC and NBC have

It really depends on how big they want ASC to end up being. If they want this to get like, super nationally famous and eventually become like a tradition at almost superbowl-like levels, they’ll probably want it on the same networks that air those big traditional annual events. And NBC does a lot of stuff like that.

Richard Stegman Jr
Richard Stegman Jr
3 years ago

Well,let’s see…..they have had the number one daytime soap for nearly thirty years with “The Young And The Restless”. “The Bold And The Beautiful” is number one internationally. The Grammys always do well and Thursday nights are their biggest night during prime time. I think they can handle it.

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago

I’m actually really excited for this. Not only will there be so many new songs, but the fact that the winner will be performing as an interval act in Eurovision tells me that right now there are no plans for the USA to participate, which I like. Very excited for this.

Jim
Jim
3 years ago

I’d be happy to see the winner as interval act in of of the Eurovision Semi-Finals, but I do wish that the US doesn’t cross the pond and participate as Australia does now.
A fun concept is that with Asiavision, America Song Contest, Eurovision, and the African and Caribbean equivalents we could see a Worldvision style competition with everyone’s winners competing for a super win!

Neil
Neil
3 years ago

As an American, I don’t really agree with the American song Contest but that’s done now I guess… Hopefully Texas will win!

HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
3 years ago

I wonder if each state will want to be represented by a song in a genre traditionally associated with that state, so grunge for Washington, Hip Hop for New York and country for Tenneisse.

Also, where will the show be hosted? Madison Square Garden? Staples center? Or in Vegas?

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  HarpyDarper

If it’s anything like most American competition shows, probably somewhere in L.A.

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
3 years ago

If they are considering big network names, I propose ABC since the last couple of years everything has become politicized, ABC has done an amazing job at maintaining things neutral.

As for the format, it would vary from state to state. Small populated states such as Montana or Alaska would probably aim for internal selection or have five acts compete against each other. As for bigger states such as California, New York, Florida, etc, acts would be representing their county before winning the right to represent their state.

Just my 5 cents

Lemanic
Lemanic
3 years ago

I had both PBS and ABC in mind. PBS because of the reach and airing without commercials as not to disrupt the flow and ABC because of Disney being pretty much concurrent to Eurovision, like split sisters.

Disney is working on a new streaming service called Star that would include HULU and ABC programming. So I think ABC/HULU would be the best shot for this sort of thing.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Lemanic

I don’t think PBS is likely. I’ll be honest with you, I do not know many people who watch PBS and this is definitely not the kind of thing you would find on that channel. PBS content is largely educational, documentary-like stuff. The most well-known stuff on PBS are probably their children’s shows that are aimed towards preschoolers.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

When I think of PBS, I think of little kid’s shows like Arthur and Sesame Street.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

Who would pay for it if it was on PBS? They have no money.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Exactly. PBS is barely even able to afford to continue Sesame Street right now. They needed to turn to HBO for help.

Richard Stegman Jr
Richard Stegman Jr
3 years ago

Apparently,none of you are “Downton Abbey” fans. That was PBS’s biggest hit since the original “Cosmos” or “Brideshead Revisited” back in the day.

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
3 years ago

PBS is partially funded by the federal government and donations from people. Ever since Trump came to office he has made cuts to the broadcaster, thus barely surviving to this day.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

If you think the target audience of Downton Abbey and the target audience of the eventual American Song Contest are going to be the same, I kind of have to laugh.

RavensHeart
RavensHeart
3 years ago

Seems a bit long to have so many heats.

Why not include D.C as a 51st competitor, in fact as the capital city let it host first.
So we then have 2 Semi finals of 25 states each. 12 songs from each semi final qualifies, to give a grand final also of 25

Or they could do a Big 4 of California, Texas, New York, Florida, alongside the host, then have 10 qualifiers from each semi final.

American ESC FAN
American ESC FAN
3 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

Apart from DC I would love if they included Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands to be more inclusive as they are American Territories in the end. DC will most likely be incorporated with Maryland if it happens unless they plan to have the Grand Final there.

Andreu
Andreu
3 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

I think the Big 5 would be California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois. But I don’t think that will be established until much later. Right now they are just focused on being successful in the U.S entertainment market. Afterwards they can focus on tweaks.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Andreu

We would not have a big five. The amount of outrage that would happen if we had a big five would be insane. The states are not like European countries where some are putting more money into this than others and thus get to be the big five. The states just don’t work that way.

Pressed Yolk
Pressed Yolk
3 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

I have to laugh at the amount of nonsense in these comments.