Having failed to qualify to the Eurovision finals for the last 2 years, the Danish national broadcaster DR has decided to enlist help from fans and viewers in order to select the entries for the country’s upcoming national final.

Receiving a total of 1,115 entries earlier this year for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP), music producer Cutfather together with Jonas Schrøder shortlisted the submitted entries to a total of 41.

Speaking of the change to the shortlisting process, DR’s entertainment manager Jan Lagermand Lundme revealed:

We have established a new strategy for the selection of songs. We need more opinions and therefore we have invited a jury to hear and judge the songs.

There is one mission and that is to get Denmark back into the Eurovision final.

Fans to help shortlist entries

On Monday, the specialist 50-member jury panel consisting of Eurovision fans, television viewers and music professionals met in Copenhagen where they listened to each of the 41 shortlisted entries.

Speaking of DR’s change of tactics, Danish fan club president Johann Sørensen said:

It’s great that we get to be involved in the process, and that we’re trying to correct the previous year’s sorry history. So hopefully we will not misses a place in the final for a third consecutive year.

DMGP 2017 will take place on the 25 February 2017 at the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. Tickets for the Danish national final can be purchased via billetlugen.dk.

For the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, pop-trio Lighthouse X were selected to represent the nation with their song Soldiers of love. Competing in the second semi-final, Denmark received a total of 34 points and placed in 17th position.