Norway 
Sweden 
Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT suspects some of the 4,077 songs submitted for Melodifestivalen 2027 were generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, Norway has already banned fully AI-generated songs from Melodi Grand Prix.
Sweden stops short of an AI ban
Sweden has received a record 4,077 submissions for Melodifestivalen, its national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, project manager Anders Wistbacka suspects some entries might be created using AI.
Wistbacka told the newspaper the broadcaster became suspicious when unknown applicants submitted large numbers of songs across different genres.
Despite these concerns, SVT does not plan to introduce its own rules on AI-generated music for now. Instead, the broadcaster intends to follow any guidelines agreed upon by the wider music industry.
Norway draws a line at fully AI-generated songs
Norway has taken a different approach. NRK, the Norwegian national broadcaster, has banned fully AI-generated compositions from Melodi Grand Prix, its national selection for Eurovision.
Project manager Mads Tørklep explained the reasoning behind the decision.
There is no point in having a music competition where a computer has done all the work.
According to Tørklep, between 30 and 50 of the approximately 1,500 submissions received for this year’s competition were fully AI-generated. He added that some applicants openly acknowledged using AI to create their songs.
The editorial team reviews the submissions, with music director Tarjei Strøm among those involved in the selection process. Songs identified as clearly AI-generated are excluded.
AI tools remain part of music production
Norway’s ban does not extend to every use of AI. NRK accepts the technology as a tool for production, inspiration and technical effects, recognising its growing presence in the music industry. However, using AI to support a production process differs from submitting a song created entirely by a computer.
NRK has also experimented with AI in television production, including special effects and entertainment during the breaks in recent Melodi Grand Prix broadcasts.
Tørklep said the broadcaster wants to explore the technology’s potential in television while maintaining a clear boundary around the music competition itself.
What does this mean for Eurovision?
There are currently no common Eurovision rules specifically governing the use of AI in songwriting. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has stated that AI should not replace or undermine the creative thinking and artistic decisions of songwriters.
In an email to NRK, the organisation also stressed its expectation that submitted entries should be rooted in human creativity.
Eurovision director Martin Green has previously expressed confidence in the continued role of human songwriters, while remaining open to AI applications in other areas of television production.
The debate therefore extends beyond whether AI should be allowed in music. Broadcasters must also decide where to draw the line between technological assistance and replacing the people responsible for creating a song.
A debate Eurovision cannot ignore
The contrasting approaches in Sweden and Norway highlight a question facing music competitions across Europe. Should broadcasters introduce their own restrictions, or should the industry establish shared rules?
As AI tools become more common in music production, Eurovision broadcasters will need to define what human creativity means in practice and how they intend to protect it.
For Eurovision, the challenge is to embrace technological developments without losing sight of the human songwriting at the heart of the competition.
