Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG will organize the national selection for Eurovision 2025: “Montesong 2024“
Previously, the national broadcaster revealed its plan to broadcast a national selection that will span for 2 nights.
However, in its most recent post, RTCG modified the format of the selection:
“Montesong 2024” will be held on Wednesday, the 27th of November 2024, in the Voco Sports Hall in Podgorica.
“Montesong 2024” – Known Details
- The national selection will be held on Wednesday the 27th of November 2024.
- The shows will be held at the Voco Hotel in Podgorica
- The submission window will close on October 1st, 2024
- The performer must be of Montenegrin descent
- There are no restrictions regarding the origin of the composers, writers and producers of the submitted songs
- The majority of the lyrics must be in one of the country’s national languages: Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian and Albanian.
- The professional committee will listen to the submitted songs and will shortlist up to 16 songs to take part in the selection:
- The songs will be judged based on 3 criteria: 50 points for composition, 30 points for lyrics, and 20 points for production.
- The 16 top ranked songs will have the right to qualify, as song as they achieve at least 75 points.
- The national selection results will be based on a combination of a 50% jury voting and 50% public voting. The jury will include an international jury as well.
Danijel Alibabić, who represented the country at Eurovision 2005 (as part of “No Name”) will be the festival director, commented:
We can expect diversity and openness to all genres, in order to offer everything we like to listen to the most. We believe that the best concept will win, with a large share of the audience in the decision. We are working hard on all segments in order to justify what we have already announced – that you will see the best festival in the region
Vladana Vucinic, who represented the country at Eurovision 2022 and now acts as the Creative Director of RTCG, commented:
This is an opportunity that Montenegrin musicians have not had for years – to present their creativity to a wider audience, not only in Montenegro, but throughout the region. Even if they don’t win a ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest, they will get a chance for their music to reach the wider public because Montesong will be broadcast live on Television of Montenegro, as well as through online channels
Montenegro recently participated in the contest in 2022.
Over the years, Montenegro has been absent from the contest in several occasions: 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The country qualified for the final only twice, in 2014 and 2015.
Vladana represented Montenegro at Eurovision 2022 with the song “Breathe”.
She finished in 17th place with 11 points in semi-final 2, failing to qualify for the final.
Eurovision 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland on the 13th, 15th and 17th of May 2025
