Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE has received 470 demos for the 2013 edition of UMK (Uuden musiikin kilpailu), Contest for new music. The broadcaster says the technical and musical level of the entries is much higher than last year.

YLE says the highest number if entries came from strong female singers and dance music acts. Also represented were traditional schlager, country, Finnish pop, indie rock, eighties heavy metal, hip hop, blues, power ballads and metal.

According to YLE there were many music veterans, some current stars and many interesting newcomers behind the entries.

UMK or Contest for new music is now running for the second year. YLE is yet to reveal full details of the selection process, but they have promised many changes from last year and say that they have been listening to the feedback from the audience. Rules will be clarified, the shows will feature more music than last year and the audience will have their say earlier on. Also the judges are expected to be different from last year, but no names have been revealed, apart from Harri Hakanen as the head of the jury.

The next stage is that the demos will be listened to by an expert selection jury and then by the contest judges, who will make the final decisions. The final of UMK will be in Barona Arena in Espoo in February. 

Last year’s UMK winner Pernilla Karlsson went to the Eurovision Song Contest with När jag blunder, but failed to make the final.

Source: YLE