With submissions now open for the Estonian national selection, Eesti Laul 2017, the country’s national broadcaster ERR has released the rules and regulations for the upcoming competition, with some big change being revealed in the process.

Since the introduction of Eesti Laul back in 2009, one of the reoccurring rules of the contest has been that composers of each of the bidding entries must either be a resident of Estonia or have Estonian citizenship. However for 2017, ERR has made some big changes to the rules in which foreign composers will also be able to submit entries to the selection.

Foreign composers are now eligible to write and submit a song entry alongside an Estonian composer; entries must be at least 50% Estonian produced. Eesti Laul’s executive producer Mart Normet spokes of the changes:

We open the door the foreign authors initially with caution, as to not be inundated with routine pop music which does not have a connection with Estonia. […] Cooperation is a key word.

One composer or composition team can submit up to a total of 3 songs for Eesti Laul 2017, as can a competing artist. Entries must be submitted to the Gonsiori 27, Tallinn front desk by the 1 November at 15:00 EET (14:00 CET). A full list of rules and regulations can be found via ERR’s website.

Following the closure of submissions, a total of 20 songs with be shortlisted by a competition jury in order to compete in the semi-final stage of the national selection. More details are expected to be released in due course.

The Eesti Laul 2017 semi-finals will take place on the 11 and 18 February 2017 with the final taking place at the Saku Suurhall on the 4 March 2017. Tickets went on sale back in May with more tickets still available.

Who will follow in Jüri Pootsmann‘s footsteps and become the next Estonian representative?