national selection

The Olsen Brothers were asked if they would like to be interval act at the Danish final in a few weeks, where a bunch of former Eurovision winners will be performing. They declined the offer due to a US trip getting inspiration for a new album that should bring them back to their rock sound.

Tonight, the last show in second round of Azerbaijan's long term national selection, Milli Seçim Turu, was held via its official broadcaster İçtimai TV. A group of nine  participants tried to get the semifinal ticket, which ended up being won by Rəvanə Əliyeva.

Last year's host country, Azerbaijan, started its "long term" national final called Milli Seçim Turu on the road to Malmö. As well as in previous years, the participants in the first heat showed their skills in different music styles during the past week on İçtimai TV with Vüqar Muradov winning the first ticket to the semi-final.

Tonight Albania kicked off their national final selection. Three hectic days will decide who will represent the country at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Among the participants tonight fighting for a spot in the final was Kejsi Tola who won the national final in 2009.

The very first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Lys Assia failed to reach this season's Swiss national final and thereby it looked like 2013 wouldn't be the year where we saw Lys back on the Eurovision stage fighting to win the trophy. Yesterday rumours however spread fast claiming her to represent San Marino instead, and today Lys answered back.

Is Heilsarmee allowed to represent Switzerland at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö? That was the question a lot of people asked after the band had won the Swiss national final in Kreuzlingen last Saturday. Today it was announced that they are allowed, providing that they change their outfits and band name.

This morning the participating artists of the German national final Unser Song für Malmö were finally revealed. The line up consists of eleven acts and is a mixture of well-known popular artists and newcomers. A twelfth artist is still to be announced. According to the broadcaster NDR we will get to know the name before Christmas.

After two months of qualifying rounds at the first season of The Voice (La Voz) in Spain, the four best voices that will compete in the final has now been chosen. Jorge González, who participated at the 2009 national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, is one of them.

Austria’s national broadcaster ORF announced that five acts will compete to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö 2013. On February 15th the national final Österreich rockt den Song Contest will be staged in Vienna with a variety of different music styles. The winner will be chosen by televoting.

The past few days an uncomfortable case for DR has taken a lot of focus away from next months national final. The final show will be hosted in Herning, but 7 other cities spread over the country was offered to be a part of it. As promises failed DR first refused to compensate, but after media pressure the broadcaster changed their mind.