Melodifestivalen

SVT launched the rules for Melodifestivalen 2011. The big news here are that SVT will hand-pick 15 instead of 4 songs, 15 song will be picked by a jury and 2 songs will be selected by the web wild card. Foreign song composers are also now allowed to submit their entries - if they have written the song with at least one swedish composer.

Just because Melodifestivalen and Eurovision Song Contest is over for this year it doesn't mean that there is nothing to do. On Tuesday the 29th of June the Swedish TV programme Allsång på Skansen premieres with stars as Carola and Anna Bergendahl. And as usual you will find several other artists from Melodifestivalen in the programs to follow .

Andreas Johnson is one of the favourites to win Melodifestivalen this year. Tonight he participated in the second heat in Sweden, a heat which on paper looked rather easy for him. Andreas Johnson did make it to the final, together with Eric Saade. Two other songs will get a second chance to qualify for the Swedish final.

When Chanée & N’evergreen goes on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo representing Denmark then it will be with a song both DR and SVT rejected for their 2009 selection. A year ago none of the countries liked In A Moment Like This.

Salem Al Fakir and Ola Svensson has advanced to the final in Globen as a result saturdays televoting result. Jessica Andersson and Pain of Salvation will have another chance to qualify for the final in the second chance heat on March 6th.

The swedish selection Melodifestivalen is ready to kick off with it's first semifinal at Saturday the 6th February, 20:00 CET. The scene will be the northern town of Örnsköldsvik. The criticised voting system used last year has gone through some important changes. We also have the reactions from the audience after the first public rehearsal.