– It will be like a ski race where half get to grease their skis and the other don’t, says Morten Thomassen, leader of the Norwegian MGP club. – It can quickly become unfair. It is not certain that there will be the same winner as if everyone had started with the same assumptions, he continues. Today it became clear that in next year’s round of Melodi Grand Prix it will be possible to compete with songs released after 1 September this year. Alessandra went to Eurovision as the Norwegian entry this year. Photo: Chloeh Ashemi This is in line with the regulations of the EBU. – It is quite a radical change, a trial project for one year, we evaluate and then we take it from there, says music manager at MGP, Stig Karlsen. – Not the fairest idea in the world The new regulations should provide a window of opportunity for more good songs to be included as contributions to the competition. The new regulations will provide new opportunities, explains Stig Karlsen. Photo: Kjetil Solhøi / news The MGP editors also state that this will give fans the opportunity to put pressure on artists. But Thomassen in the MGP club is not overwhelmingly positive about this. – It’s an exciting idea, but not the fairest idea in the world, he says. – Then artists can also ask their fans for feedback in advance and get all their followers to back them long before anyone has even seen several of the other contributions, he continues. Alessandra in a frenzy during this year’s Eurovision. Who will be watching on stage in Sweden next year? Photo: Celina Øier / news German fadese Thomassen points out that when they introduced the same rule in Germany, the producer of the winning entry “Run & Hide” bought as many singles as were needed for the song to qualify for the German version of MGP in 2005. – In today it can lead to the record company, for example, pushing to advertise on TikTok, it can become a bought hit. I like best that all the songs are fresh, says Thomassen. “Run & Hide” was sent to the Eurovision final, but finished in 24th place. The producer who bought the singles, David Brandes, is said to have been pressured by the record company to do so. Many have called the episode manipulation of the competition. Many thought the producer had bought the position after Gracia won with the song “Run & Hide” in the German version of MGP in 2005. Photo: REUTERS – I think there are more advantages than disadvantages with the new rule, says Thomassen, who emphasizes that he is happy that MGP is thinking anew. – Exciting universe to play in Both Thomassen and Karlsen agree that the rule will have an effect before next year’s competition. But Karlsen is a bit more positive. – It can be a very exciting universe to play in, it is also a competitive strategy – people can choose to release music a little earlier, even if it is not made public, and we as editors can see what is happening in the music world before we all land the artists. Can advance promotion become a problem? Reiley was voted as Denmark’s entry to Eurovision this year, but did not progress from the semi-finals – despite around 10 million followers on TikTok. Photo: Reuters Karlsen also points out that the rule of 1 September has existed for many years, but that we in Norway have not looked at the possibility of making use of it until now. – The Norwegian MGP has not wanted to take in music that has been published. But now we can have a dialogue about songs that have been released and that we can already see working with the public, that have received “approval” from the people, he says.
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– It can quickly become unfair – news Culture and entertainment
