According to the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbladid, national broadcaster RÚV has recieved 188 songs for Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2007. The number is down on last year�s 216 entries, but it is probably due to the fact that this year there was a maximum 3 songs per writer limit imposed by the rules.
From now on, a special jury will be selecting 24 of the songs, which will compete in 3 Semi Finals in February 2007. RÚV demands that all songs are submitted by Icelandic citizens and are sung in Icelandic in the National Final. Then the winning song may be sung in English at the Eurovision Song Contest, should the performers wish to do so.
Base Camp, the production and events management company, that undertook last year’s National Finals will do so again this year. The 2006 Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins reached a national record 80% ofthe televisionv viewingaudience share.
Jónatan Garðarson, the icelandic head of delegation who was involved in the European Song Contest for the past five years, will be stepping down due to ill health and will be succeeded by Kristín Helga Arnardóttir. Esctoday is in touch with RÚV and we will be updating as soon as news come in.
As Silvia Night did not make it to the Final in Athens, Iceland will be participating once more in the Helsinki Semi Final on Thursday 8thMay 2007.
