For the first time Latvia’s selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest, Supernova will allow foreign talent to be involved in the competing songs.
LTV the Latvian national broadcaster has confirmed this morning that Supernova will once again be used to select the countries participant in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018. This is the fourth year that the format will be used, with Supernova having seen the country qualify for the final in both 2015 and 2016.
The biggest change to the rules of Supernova is the removal of a restriction on foreign involvement in the songs. Lyricists and composers from outside of Latvia can now be involved in the creation of songs to compete in the Latvian selection process as long as their involvement in the song does not exceed 30% of the copyright or related rights share in the song.
The change in the rules of hoped toย attract foreign professionals, in order to create higher quality and more professional songs that can compete on an international stage. It is also hoped that this co-operation will help to build co-operation between Latvian and international producers, artists, songwriters and composers.
LTV has also announced that for the first time a songwriting camp is also being held for the Latvian selection process. LTV cites the success of Estonia’s songwriting camp in recent years as a reason for the creation of the camp. Latvia joins Switzerland as new countries opting to use songwriting camps for their selection processes.
The submissions window for Supernova 2018 will open on September 6 at 10:00 CET and close on October 15 at 23:59. Full rules for the competition will be published on September 6.
Source: LTV
[tw-accordion class=””]
[tw-accordion-section title=”Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest”]
Latvia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000, being the last of the Baltic nations to join the contest. On their debut, Brainstorm finished in 3rd place with the song โMy Starโ. Latvia won the contest for the first and only time in 2002, with Marie Nโs โI Wannaโ. Latvia only participated in 2002 thanks to the withdrawal of Portugal from the contest, as Latviaโs poor result in 2001 had relegated them from the 2002 contest. Latvia struggled in to the contest after 2002, failing to qualify for the final for six years between 2009 and 2014. In 2015 and 2016 Latvia has finished 6th and 15th in the final respectively.
[/tw-accordion-section]
[/tw-accordion]