NDR is looking for a successful formula that leads them to a top place after years finishing at the bottom of the scoreboard, will this new one work for them? The German broadcaster has announced a brand new selection method that will feature a huge European panel, an international expert jury, and the German audience.
Germany has announced their selection plans to choose their representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. This season, NDR will try a brand new formula through which they hope to improve their recent disappointing results achieved in the European music competition. The next year’s German representative will be chosen by a more international atmosphere featuring a Europe-Panel, an international expert panel, and the German audience.
The members of the Europe-Panel will represent the taste of the European audience that watches Eurovision every year in the best way possible. It will be made up of 100 people that will be chosen through interviews on social media following different stages. You won’t be able to apply to be a member of the panel as NDR will approach them. The international expert panel will be made up of 20-25 members that have previously been judges of their country’s national selection or the jury which voted at the Eurovision Grand Final. The German audience will also have a say in the national selection and the decision of the winning entry.
Thomas Schreiber, ARD Coordinator entertainment stated: “We made very intensive discussions in the past months, tested everything and got external advice and criticism. Our aim is a radical new beginning where everything should be different than in the past years. We are thrilled by our partners with whom we created the concept. We want to start the new beginning for Germany with the right mixture of passion, understanding, and analysis. Our aim is to systematically consider the international music taste of the public and the international musical competence from the first candidate selection until the national final to be internationally recognizable, edgier and more successful. We will introduce and promote our new concept to the creative people in the music business and to the fans so that Germany can support it.” (Translation: www.eurovisionheadline.de)
Submissions open:
All interested singers can send their applications before November 6th, 2017, at 12.00 CET on the official website of NDR. From all the submissions received, the Europe-Panel will shortlist 20 entries that will be assessed by NDR. The German broadcaster will work with the mentioned candidates in the studio to judge their voice and stage presence, and five acts will be selected to compete in the final by the Europe-Panel and the international expert panel according to the results of NDR’s assessment. Following the selection of finalists, the German broadcaster will work with composers, producers, and record labels from different genres to select an individual song for each finalist, so the five finalists will compete at the live show performing original songs written specifically for them.
What do you think about the new German method? Will it work for them?