Popular Swedish band Ace of Base will NOT be performing at Melodifestivalen 2007. This news has been confirmed to esctoday.com by the band's management. The band are focussed on an international path, and Melodifestivalen is focussed only on the Swedish market, so it would not make sense for them to participate. They are however keen to enter the Eurovision Song Contest, and the United Kingdom IS a possibility.

Lasse Carlsson confirmed to esctoday.com that "Wewereoffered the opportunity this year, and last year as well. We were sent some songs to review, and they were good, but not fantastic. It would be sad for the fans of the band and for the Group's history if we had accepted one".

He went on to explain that "So many things need to be organised if Ace of Base were to enter Melodifestivalen. The strategy from Universal Music is for Ace of Base to release their music internationally and not to target the group solely at theSwedish market. We can't release something only in Sweden, and Melodifestivalen is solely about the Swedish market. If it was to be of interest to us, it would need to have a wider perspective. Remember that Ace of Bace were signed in Denmark, not Sweden".

Asked about participating in another country, perhaps the United Kingdom, esctoday.com was told: "We would be very interested in entering from another country. We have not spoken to the BBC but having released so many singles in the United Kingdom with success. The United Kingdom would certainly be in our thinking".