The Azerbaijani broadcaster Ictimai has announced that it will utilize an open submission process to select it’s Eurovision 2023 entry.
Interested performers and songwriters can submit entries directly to Ictimai by emailing song@eurovizion.az before the deadline on December 31st. Demos are permitted, but the broadcaster expects that the lyrics, performance and duration of the song meet the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest upon submission.
This is the first time that Azerbaijan has hosted an open submission process since 2016 where Samra was selected to compete in Stockholm. Since then, İTV has selected an artist internally through an application or invitation process, and then used a song submission process to find their Eurovision entry.
Eldar added to delegation for Liverpool
Ictimai has also taken an new direction for their Eurovision 2023 approach by inviting former Eurovision winner and The Voice Azerbaijan coach Eldar Gasimov to join the delegation as the official music producer.
As music producer, Gasimov will assist in the recording process, any necessary revamping or rewriting of the entry, and will likely oversee the stage performance at Eurovision. This will not be his first time working with the Azerbaijani delegation following his Eurovision win and subsequent hosting, as he was also a member of the delegation in Turin this past year.
Speaking about the honor, Eldar said “There are lot of things on my mind and in my heart, but there’s one thing I’m sure of – I do want to put my soul into this business again.”
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