After some months of speculation, regarding everything that happened during and on the lead-up to the 2024 contest, Iceland finally decided to stay in the competition, and are now preparing for the 2025 contest, but there will be some slight changes to certain things.
Söngvakeppnin 2025
For now, the Icelandic broadcaster (RÚV) has decided to open for the submission period. Calling for any artists and composers who are ready to further form the Icelandic music scene across Europe, which they have been doing for almost 40 years now.
Considering that it was only recently that Iceland confirmed their presence for 2025, not much else has been announced as of yet. However, the broadcaster has announced that it is considering a change to the way of selecting their song.
For many years now, Iceland has had their national final with a total of 10 selected acts competing across 2 semi-finals, which is very likely to happen again. Here, 5 out of those 10 reach the final, where the voting is done in two rounds. What made the selection in 2024 rather controversial, was how Bashar Murad Рwhom is of Palestinian origin Рwas considered a clear favorite, but still lost narrowly to Hera Bj̦rk. Talks had even circulated around, that there had even been Israeli involvement, for such to happen.
It was considered a great flaw in how the Icelandic public select their representative, by allowing having a second round of voting, which only consist of 2 songs, making it more likely to protest vote instead. Which is probably why RÚV has announced, that they will look into a change of how the winner/winning song is selected going ahead.
For now, the deadline for applying has been set to 13th of October 2024, whereafter a committee will then select the acts that will compete in the Icelandic national final. Details which we will get into, when the time arrives. The national selection is expected to commence sometime in February 2025.
As for 2024, in the end, Hera Björk was selected to represent the island on the big stage. Unfortunately, not much could be done there, as Iceland ultimately finished last in their semi-final, when the song “Scared of Heights” only managed to score 3 points from viewers.
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Source(s): RUV.is (In Icelandic)
