Melodi Grand Prix

Norwegian broadcaster NRK has confirmed today significant changes to be made in their selection process for next year's entry to Baku. The biggest change to be made is the removal of the final chance round, but other changes have also been revealed.

The final for next year's final of the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix has now been confirmed as taking place on the 11th of February, at the same venue as last year, Oslo Spektrum.

With just a few days left for hopefuls wishing to take part in next year's Melodi Grand Prix, programme hosts Per Sundnes and Marte Stokstad are delighted at the amount of potential entries that have been received so far.

Just who will follow in the footsteps of this year's Norwegian entrant Stella Mwangi? Broadcaster NRK are eager to find out, and launched therefore their selection process today by calling for entries to be submitted.

The young Sámi band from Northern Norway, BlackSheeps, who came 2nd in this year's Melodi Grand Prix with Dance Tonight as well as winning the Melodi Grand Prix Nordic contest in 2008 with Oro Jaska, Beana, have ended up in a fierce legal battle.

According to the latest statistics from TNS Gallup, the Norwegian final of Melodi Grand Prix 2011 proved once again to be one of the most watched programmes of the year. 1,295,000 viewers or roughly a quarter of the country's population tuned in to watch Stella cruise to victory.

The past week has seen preparations for the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix gather pace as the press have whipped themselves into a frenzy over this year's participants. Gossip, intrigue, drama and the all important publicity make this one of the most anticipated finals in years.

NRK have revealed that the two acts that gained the highest number of votes coming in 5th in their respective heats will be given another chance and invited to perform once again in the Siste Sjansen heat from Sarpsborg on February the 5th. The two acts that were given another chance were Gata's Parlament and Pernille & Marius.

The dust has barely settled after Saturday's heat of Melodi Grand Prix from Skien, and the new week sees winner Stella Mwangi soar to the top of the Norwegian iTunes chart. Her song Haba Haba first entered the charts at #80, then leapfrogging up the chart to #4 before capturing the top spot.

The stage transported around the country in conjunction with the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix was stolen last night, a mere week before the second chance round is to be broadcast from Sarpsborg. The trailer stood parked in a small town, about 30 minutes outside of Oslo when thieves made their move, NRK reports today.