More Power To The People: Changes In “Melodi Grand Prix 2024” Voting System

Following long sessions of listening to the submitted entries, Norwegian broadcaster NRK completed the mission of choosing the acts for “Melodi Grand Prix 2024”

Stig Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian delegation and producer of the “Melodi Grand Prix 2024” revealed some new details about the national final this year. He was a special guest in an online meeting organized by Facebook Group http://www.grandprixboble.no/

As part of Stig‘s vision, the formula to choose the next Norwegian Eurovision representative will be changed.
The semi-finals will be determined by the public vote only.
However, the results of the grand final will be determined by: 60% public vote and 40% international jury voting.

Stig Karlsen became one of the main leading voice who called for a change in the Eurovision voting system. Following the continuous gaps between the public vote and jury vote, he claimed that the public vote should have bigger impact on the final results. He has even suggested a new voting system to the EBU.

“Melodi Grand Prix 2024” – Known Details

18 artists will participate in the “Melodi Grand Prix 2024″.
The artists will be revealed on Wednesday, the 5th of January 2024.
“Melodi Grand Prix 2024″ will feature 3 semi-finals and a grand final.
The dates are:
- Semi-Final 1: Saturday, the 13th of January 2024
- Semi-Final 2: Saturday, the 20th of January 2024
- Semi-Final 3: Saturday, the 27th of January 2024
- Final: Saturday, the 3rd of February 2024
6 artists will compete in each semi-final, 3 artists will qualify from each semi-final to the final.
The pair who will host the contest was described as a “surprising one”.
A wide range of genres were detected among the submissions, we well as mix of young and old artists.
In contrast to the past editions, the submitted songs can be released after the 1st of September. In the past, NRK prohibited releasing the songs before the announcements of the candidates.
The choreographer Mona Berntsen will be the new stage director, after Mattias Carlsson (who acted as stage director between 2008 and 2023) retired. Mona Berntsen was one of the backing dancers for Madonna at Eurovision 2019.
We can assume that the voting system will remain the same as in 2023: a 100% public vote in the semi-finals, while in the final, the results will be determined by 60% public vote, and 40% international voting.

Alessandra Mele represented Norway at Eurovision 2023 with the song “Queen of Kings”.
She ended up in 5th place with a total of 268 points:

What do you think about the new voting system?
Will it be an inspiration to wind of change in the Eurovision voting system?

Who would you like to see representing Norway at Eurovision 2024?
Eurovision 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden.
The semi-final will be held on the 7th and 9th of May 2024, and the grand final will be held on the 11h of May 2024