As Swedish broadcaster, SVT, today announced that a record breaking 3,434 songs have been submitted for entry to Melodifestivalen 2008, competition producer Christer Bjorkman spoke to esctoday.com to discuss the process so far and the next stage of the Melodifestivalen selection process:
Are you pleased to break the record for the number of entries to Melodifestivalen?
"The record is quite interesting because we've really tried to talk to publishers and ask them to hold back with the number of songs that they submit. We didn't really want so many because we could end up with more than the jury can handle.
It's lovely to break the record, but we can't really expect the jury to sit for longer than a week. The business has listened to us, so the increase is really from the general public. It's a 'Marie Lindberg effect'. Anyone is allowed to send in a song, and a lot of people have obviously been sitting at home and realised that after Marie's success last year, they can get into the competition. A lot of people have picked up their songs and said 'if she can, we can'."
How many songs are from the Big Swedish record labels?
"Roughly 2,000 songs are from the general public and 1,400 are from publishers and professional record companies. Warner Mariann & Universal/Lionheart are the two powerhouses, and they are connected by m&l (Mariann & Lionheart) who produce the Melodifestivalen compilation. They are responsible for almost 600 entries between them.
Can you confirm rumours that the jury will be told who the singers on the songs are?
"Yes. Songs can be submitted with information about the singers. The jury will know who is singing on the songs if the information has been submitted but they will not be told who the composers, songwriters or record companies behind entries are. Of course, this does not guarantee that if a song is selected, the singer on the demo track will go forward to perform the song in the competition".
How do you think Melodifestivalen 2008 is shaping up so far?
"We are very happy so far and really pleased that interest in Sweden is still so high, and we are looking forward to the jury sitting down and hearing the songs".
