FOR YOUR INFORMATION. The submissions to the Swedish song selection Melodifestivalen 2020 are now open for anyone who would like to send in songs. The submissions will close on September 15th at 11:59 PM (Central European summer time).
Some basic facts about Melodifestivalen
It’s the Swedish Television (SVT) who are the broadcasting company that arranges the Swedish Eurovision selection. For the 60th time (or for the 19th time on a tour in Sweden), SVT have decided to use the Melodifestivalen as their selection to find the best act to compete for Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
According to the rules, 28 songs will participate, where one half of 14 songs will be chosen by a national jury (who will choose songs from a national song selection), while the other half of 14 songs will be chosen by SVT themselves. One spot in the contest has been awarded to the singer Amanda Aasa, who is invited to the contest as wild card from the Swedish Radio’s music competition P4 Nästa.
Some advice from us
Before you submit your song(s), we recommend you to read the complete rules, and take a extra look at the section Other terms and conditions (the C-section) which includes information about ownership and other requirements.
You should also know that it’s SVT that have decided the regulations for the contest. They have the rights to disqualify songs, artists and songwriters who break the rules, and they have also the rights to change the rules at any time they want. The rules were annonuced on July 1st, 2019.
If you have any questions about the song submission or the selection process, please send an e-mail to the Melodifestivalen staff at mello2020@svt.se
How and where can I submit my song(s)?
You can only upload the song(s) to the official platform at bidrag.melodifestivalen.se. To upload, please follow the instructions on the platform.
The submission period closes on September 15th at 11:59 PM (Central European summer time).
If you upload song(s) to the platform, please note that SVT has the right to block the song to be official released before ~November 27th, 2019. This rule applies regardless the song is selected or not. If the song are not selected, you are free to release the song after that date, but this also means that the song(s) will no longer be able to take part in Melodifestivalen again…
Can anyone send in songs to the selection?
Yes, the Melodifestivalen are open for anyone – including non-Swedish citizens – to take part both as songwriters and as artist(s). However, in the songwriting team at least one (1) of you is needed to be a Swedish citizen. This rule doesn’t apply if you want take part as an artist.
There are, however, som persons who are prohibited to send in songs to Melodifestivalen 2020. It concerns people who is currently an employee at (or a client for) SVT between August 2019 and March 2020.
What are the song requirements?
Only songs that has never been public to the public* are allowed to take part in the 2020 edition of Melodifestivalen. In the contest, SVT will decide when the 28 competing entries will be released on the public platforms**.
The participating songs must be no longer than 3 minutes (but not shorter than 2 minutes)***.
Singing is mandatory. However, how much is not said.
* This rule applies both analogue as digital platforms, such as concerts, social media platforms etc.!
** SVT decides itself when the songs may be made public, which usually occurs after the songs have left the competition or after the public has decided the last heat winners.
*** It is allowed to submit songs who break this rule, but in those case these songs will need to be re-written for Melodifestivalen to fit the time limits.
Can I select the artist myself?
The answer to this question is both yes and no, it depends if SVT agree to your choice of artist.
If your song(s) will be selected to take part in the 2020 edition of Melodifestivalen, you and your song writing crew can make a suggestion to SVT regarding this issue. However, SVT have the final word in this decision. It’s also good to know that demo artists can be selected to compete in the contest but they are not self-written for this purpose. This rule also applies to the winning artist in the Final (the artist or group who will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020)!
One thing for sure, and that is that the singer(s) and/or all group members on stage have to be at least 16 years old (at the latest in May 2020). There is no maximum age limit.
Are there any language rules?
No, there are not. It’s free to sing in any language you want, and you’re also welcome to send in the same song performed in different language versions.
However, if your song(s) will be selected to take part in Melodifestivalen 2020, please remember that SVT will decide in what language you’re artist(s) will sing in!****
**** SVT has a policy that approximately ten of the selected/invited songs (more or less) will be performed in Swedish language.
Extra rules (only for Melodifestivalen, not Eurovision)
In 2020, SVT also expanded its rules on stage performance. This means:
– That a maximum of eight (8) people are allowed on stage, which include the artist(s)/group, their eventual back-up live singers, and dancers.
– Pre-recorded choirs are allowed.
– A maximum of one (1) live instrument will be allowed on stage.
However, Since the EBU (who arranges the Eurovision Song Contest) doesn’t allow these extra rules, if the winning entry contain any of these things the song must be re-arranged for Eurovision 2020.
To conclusion: a look at the process
Between August 26th and September 15th, 2019, anyone who want to send in song(s) to Melodifestivalen will be able to upload it on the official platform.
When the submission has closed, SVT will go trough all songs and select a collection of them. This selection will then be presented to a national jury, who will listen to all the selected songs and then choose a total of 14 songs, which they want to see take part in Melodifestivalen 2020. When the jury’s job is finished, the editorial staff at Melodifestivalen on SVT will select their half of 14 songs, including to select a song to the invited wild card Amanda Aasa.
The names of the 28 selected songs and their artists will most likely be revealed in late 2019, most likely in October, November or December. However, SVT has not yet presented the official date for this purpose. Before this date only speculations will tell us which songs and artists that will take part in the competition…
