After Käärijä’s second-place finish in Eurovision 2023, Finland’s public broadcaster UMK has released the rules and submission guidelines for its 2024 edition.
You can read the full rules and guidelines here, or check out our summary below.
Submission guidelines
The submission period for demos will be between August 21st and 24th, 2023. A lead singer may submit up to three songs, but only one of those three may be chosen for the competition; there is no specific limit for songwriters. One singer and one songwriter each must have citizenship or permanent residence in Finland. Promotional materials from the artists, including song lyrics and a bio, may be uploaded beginning on September 21st. A finalized instrumental track for the competition’s selected songs will be due on October 20th. The performers and producers of the selected songs are responsible for creating a finalized track from the demo.
Additionally, all submissions must follow EBU’s Eurovision rules, including being less than three minutes long and not having adult or “political” lyrics. Singers must be 16 years old on or before May 1st, 2024. The songs may not have been performed publicly before selection by YLE.
Additional rules for singers and songwriters
Selected participants commit to the possibility of representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest, and they must be available for that as well as for all UMK rehearsals and shows. The songwriters and performers additionally commit to marketing material produced by UMK; selected participants will receive a separate set of guidelines including rules for marketing.
Contestants must maintain confidentiality about the selection process until information is released by UMK. Failure to maintain confidentiality may result in the artist being removed from the selection.
YLE will compensate all participating artists, as well as providing hair and makeup, costume, and choreography services. They will cover all travel expenses within Finland, but not international travel for participants outside Finland. Compensation will be discussed in the separate agreement for selected artists.
Singers and songwriters must agree to give the EBU any relevant rights to the song, if selected. Royalties in Finland will be distributed through Teosto.
UMK 2024’s format
The document notes that UMK will be held on an unspecified date in February 2024. Selected songs will be released between January and February. The competition will again be decided through a competition of public vote and international juries. Should the public vote fail, for reasons technical or otherwise, an expert panel appointed by YLE will decide the winner.
Finland’s history at Eurovision
Finland debuted in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 10th with Laila Kunnunen’s “Valoa ikkunassa.” Since then they have competed 56 times, and appeared in the final 48 times. Finland has finished in the top 10 an impressive 14 times. They have won the contest once in 2006, with Lordi’s performance of “Hard Rock Hallelujah” getting 292 points.
Finland’s most recent entry was “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä. He won the first semi-final in Liverpool, thus qualifying for the final. At the close of voting, he gained a total of 526 points, earning them 2nd place – Finland’s second best result of all time. Käärijä received 376 points from the televote, and an extra 150 points from the juries.
Who would you like to see in UMK 2024? Do you think Finland can keep Käärijä’s momentum going? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we look back on Eurovision 2023!
News Source: YLE
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU
