The number of songs submitted for Melodifestivalen 2008, Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest selection show, has broken a new record. 3434 songs have been submitted before this week's deadline, exactly 200 more than last year, and 108 more than the previous record set in 2006. Kristian Luuk will be hosting the 2008 shows after becoming a huge hit with the viewers this year.
As with last year, the process of elimination now begins. The first stage will be through publishers under the music publishing body SMSS. Once SMSS decides which songs progress, a jury will reduce the number to the magic 28!
The final 28 songs are expected to be announced in October. The singers will then be sought and at the end of November, we will know which 28 acts will accompany the songs. The 4 wildcard entrants are expected to be announced at the end of December. Unlike last year, all four should be announced at the same time.
Number of entries submitted since 1995:
1995 600 entries
1996 1475 entries
1997 1223 entries
1998 1126 entries
1999 1315 entries
2000 1394 entries
2001 1567 entries
2002 1830 entries
2003 2630 entries
2004 3228 entries
2005 3131 entries
2006 3326 entries
2007 3234 entries
