Finland’s riding a high after winning the televote at Eurovision 2023. But now the producers of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu — the country’s contest for new music — have a very big challenge on their hands. How do you match the success of Käärijä and his addictive “Cha Cha Cha”?
Well the work is underway. The song submissions window closed on 24 August and now producers are busy sifting through demos and assessing artists, known and unknown.
As in previous seasons, the song and artist selection will be made by a panel of music professionals, which is headed by Tapio Hakanen, Head of Music at YleX. He and his team will contact all applicants by the end of October to let them know their fate.
“Interest in UMK among the audience and artists has grown year after year, and last year’s Käärijä phenomenon shot it to unprecedented heights,” Hakanen says.
“UMK’s status proves that a large percentage of the biggest Finnish music phenomena and hits have come from none other than this open call for song entries. UMK is not just the preserve of big-name artists or recording companies – every year, we also see many incredible indie artists and artists from small recording companies. We’ll soon see who will be Finland’s next Erika Vikman, Blind Channel, BESS, KUUMAA or Käärijä. It’s all about the song.”
UMK24 will culminate in a live final, which will be held in February 2024. The exact time and place will be announced in the next couple of months.
So we wanna know: Which Finnish acts do you have on your radar? What talent — undiscovered, up-and-coming or firmly established — has what it takes? Let us know down below…
Not even up for debate.
NIGHTWISH……an incredible live band that would blow the arena apart with their stage show. Of course they won’t do it, but I can dream !!
I would do anything to see KUUMAA enter UMK again.
Same! Their new album is such a vibe!
Such an idiotic short time? What’s the point just couple days to submit the song? As if YLE assure, that no more success at 2024.
The duration of this window was the same as in previous years, but there’s two theories as for why it happened earlier than usual:
1. The venue already had a scheduled event for the night UMK24 was originally planned to take place, so they moved it to an earlier date and thus, they brought the whole process two weeks forward
2. The broadcaster plans to include more entries next year and they need more time to evaluate submissions and do everything they do every year
Is there any chance for Erika Vikman participating another time ? This could be great.
I love her, but I really doubt so, she’s so moved on from UMK20. To my understanding, she’s already an established act in Finland
The Rasmus, i love Lauri so much, and why not for a second time with a slightly stronger one than Jezebel
The unforgettable Bess. Been a fan since Ram Pam Pam. Missio, Kädet Ylös, Sammumaton. Banger after banger
Besides almost everybody mentioned before, it’d be cool to see Joalin and/or Erika Sirola taking part of UMK imo
Deep down I want Jane (06) or Nylon Beat (98 & 00) to make comeback out of nowhere, Umm ma ma, Viha ja rakkaus, Sivuoireita & V.I.P. are still songs I listen often.
Bess
I get the feeling a lot of these initial 2024 national selection posts are going to be excuses for me to list all the recent NF songs I’ve loved since May (I’m currently working my way through the 2018 selections). So, pre-2023, I’ve really enjoyed Bess, Isaac Sene, Younghearted, Ilta and Oskr. And also poor Aksel. But I don’t think UMK has had any repeat performers since 2020 other than the special case of Aksel, and it might be considered more of a new artist showcase? Either way, the fields were great in 2022 and 2023 and I expect a… Read more »
I would love to see
BESS! That’s it! She needs to win and bring energy to the contest
Would love to see Cyan Kicks try again, I really like their electronic pop rock style of music
With me being a huge rock fan for life, I always expect Finland to serve me something like Dark Side, but with the level of overall quality in UMK every year, I would trust them with anything lol
I think they might send a pop banger next year
I want Aksel, because he deserves another shot, Erika Vikman, Kuuma And, if I’m funny and naughty, Lordi, because it would be a gag.
I hope Aksel will win UMK again and represent Finland in Eurovision! <3
Looking back at him, I recall everyone wanting Cicciolina to win that year, but Aksel’s song was a very worthy representative that would’ve made it to the final with ease in 2020, had the contest taken place
I’d love to see Korpiklaani compete
Bess.. i would love to see her again at UMK
Finland, the real and only winner of Eurovision 2023!!! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Or more likely the new Verka Serducka
Still being salty and delusional after all this time?
The real delusion here is to think Sweden won fair and square this year
Erika Vikman!
I still get excited every time I watch the Cicciolina performance. Would have loved to see that one the big stage.