Following today’s earlier announcement by DR that Denmark will be participating in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, the country’s national broadcaster has released the rules and opened submissions for the Danish national final.

As with previous years, the Danish national broadcaster DR has once again opted to select Denmark’s 2017 Eurovision entry via the country’s annual national final show, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP).

Although a generally successful selection method for Denmark over the years, the country’s results in both 2015 and 2016, which saw Denmark failing to reach the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, has pushed the DMGP team to change strategy for the next competition. DR’s entertainment chief Jan Lagermand Lundme went on to explain:

We must consider the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix as a semi-final of Eurovision. And we must have some songs that are so strong that they can get us into the final.

I cannot say much more. We will think carefully and change some things. As soon as the plan is ready, we will report on how it’s going to look.

Speaking of the potential national final entries for 2017, Lagermand Lundme revealed:

I’m looking for good songs with a strong chorus, which have the potential to be a hit.

Some writers think that Eurovision songs must be a certain way. It does not. We go for modern pop songs, which can also be played elsewhere than the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.

DR went on to release the full set of rules and regulations for DMGP 2017; lead artists wishing to compete in the 2017 Danish national final much be a Danish citizen or have equally strong ties to the nation, either through residency, relationship, etc., however both Danish and foreign songwriters are invited to submit their entries online before the set deadline on the 5 September. The final entries will then go on to be selected by a secret jury panel consisting of numerous music experts.

The full set of DMGP 2017 rules can be found via dr.dk.

This year, Lighthouse X was selected via DMGP 2016 in order to represent their nation at the Stockholm-hosted Eurovision Song Contest. Competing in the second semi-final with their entry Soldiers of love, the pop-trio received a total of 34 points, finishing in 17th place and therefore failing to qualify to the Grand Final.