The number of songs submitted to compete in the Norwegian national final, MGP 2015, has risen to 800 – the highest since Alexander Rybak’s victory in 2009.

NRK, the Norwegian national broadcaster, has revealed that there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of songs submitted, up from the 600 songs entered to compete in Melodi Grand Prix 2014.

The show’s music co-ordinator, Vivi Stenberg, said she was impressed by the quality, reach and number of songs submitted for the contest,

It’s really grand. There are of course going to be hectic days ahead to listen through all the contributions, but it’s a job I do with the greatest pleasure.
I haven’t heard through all the songs yet, but from random samples, it appears that there is great diversity in both geography and genre.
People from across the country have submitted entries, and there are many who have chosen to submit songs with Norwegian lyrics.

There are a good number of tracks that come from more or less well-known songwriter environments in countries like Sweden and the UK, as well as some from the countries where we know there is great interest in Eurovision, such as Australia and the United States.

The submission period for entries to next year’s national final closed at the beginning of September. A jury, appointed by NRK, will now review all of the songs.

The dates for MGP 2015 have yet to be decided, as well as how many songs will compete in the televised shows.

Earlier this year, Carl Espen won the Norwegian national final with his song Silent storm. He went on to finish eighth in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for all the latest news from Norway and the Eurovision Song Contest.