After months of speculation that Montenegro might be one of the countries that return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year a document published by the Montenegrin broadcaster, RTCG, seems to confirm this.
Montenegro last participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 but withdrew from Eurovision 2023 alongside North Macedonia citing cost concerns.
The document in question outlines details for a new television show the broadcaster is planning called “Montesong 2024” which is expected to act as the national selection show for the country.
The rules of the contest state that the submission date for songs closes on the 1st of October 2024 and that all songs’ lyrics must be at least 51% written in one of the nation’s official languages. All entrants must also hold Montenegrin nationality.
The songs will then go through a committee review stage where they will judge the songs and award points based on set criteria – a maximum of 50 points for composition, 30 points for lyrics and 20 points for productions.
The document states that any song that does not receive at least 75 points from the committee will not be able to progress to the competition and if no song reaches the required 75 points then RTCG holds the right to select its artist and song for Eurovision internally.
If the competition does go to the competition stage the final decision will be made up from a televote and jury vote although the document does not confirm the weightings of each of these votes.
While there is not yet an official confirmation from the broadcaster that they will return to the competition this document seems to make it quite likely many fans will welcome this and the EBU itself after Eurovision dipped to just 37 countries participating in Malmo last year – with Montenegro returning and a return from North Macedonia still seeming possible it looks like the competition will have an increase in countries next year. However, the participation of the Netherlands is still in doubt while countries like Czechia are yet to announce a final decision on the involvement next year.
Image courtesy of EBU / Nathan Reinds
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