In a post on the channel’s Facebook page, Azerbaijan’s Ictimai TV confirmed the country’s participation at Eurovision 2024 and announced the launch of their selection process.
“The Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (ITV), the official broadcaster of the international song contest Eurovision in Azerbaijan, is starting the selection of singers and songs that will represent our country at Eurovision 2024, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden” from May 7 through 11, 2024, stated the post.
Prospective performers have until September 30, 2023 to submit their entry to song@eurovision.az.
No mention of the method of selection was made, though Azerbaijan have typically used some variation of internal selection to make their choice since 2015.
In their earlier years Azerbaijan did use song contests to pick the artist and later internally select a song, though Milli Seçim Turu 2013, which was won by Farid Mammadov’s “Hold Me,” remains the only national final to date,.
Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2023 representatives, the twin indie-rockers TuralTuranX, were selected by a panel led by Eldar Gasimov, one half of the country’s Eurovision 2011 winning duet Ell & Nikki. (With the internal selection not exactly progressing without some controversy.)
TuralTuranX’s “Tell Me More” failed to qualify for the Grand Final in Liverpool, United Kingdom, coming in 14th of 15 in Semi-Final 1 with 4 points from the 1st all-televote Semi-Final since 2007.
This was only Azerbaijan’s second non-qualification (Aisel’s “X My Heart” from Eurovision 2018 being the first) since the Caucasus nation’s debut at Eurovision 2008.
TuralTuranX’s “Tell Me More” was also the only all-Azerbaijani penned and produced entry since their debut (Elnur and Samir’s “Day After Day”), so it remains to be seen whether or not Ictimai sticks to an all locals approach or reverts to type with the hiring of foreign composers and/or producers.
How do #YOU think Azerbaijan should select its entry for Eurovision 2024? Do #YOU think Azerbaijan should have a public national selection, or continue with internal selections? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media.
