Azerbaijani website news.az reports today that 77 contestants are bidding to represent the Caucasian country next year in Düsseldorf. Public broadcaster Ictimai TV will stage a total of 7 elimination rounds, featuring 11 participants every week. One of them would proceed to the final, where 7 hopefuls would battle for the ticket to Germany.

In both the semifinals and the final, the voting system to be used is a combined method of jury vote and public vote.

UPDATE: Ictimai TV have announced that on November 15th the weekly shows will start. The name of the Azerbaijani representative at the 2011 Eurovision will be announced in February.

Among the 77 hopefuls, some of them are said to be popular faces, while other could be considered new talents. One name in the race is German-based singer Seyran Ismailkhanov. Also, there is a handful of foreign contestants, such as American singer Barklay Nikola.