Malta confirms Junior Eurovision participation and opens song submissions for MJESC 2022

Photo credit: ANDRES PUTTING/EBU

Malta has become the twelfth country to confirm their participation for Junior Eurovision 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia. Along with their confirmation, we learned that Malta will once again utilize a national final to select their JESC participant. PBS has used a national final format every year since 2014, but multiple versions of a national final have appeared prior. The official name “Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest” mirrors the MESC version for Eurovision, and has been utilized since 2019.

MJESC Song Selection Process

Submissions will be collected until August 15th and can be sent to submissions@pbs.com.mt along with the paperwork and payments outlined in the official rules document. Songs are allowed in both English or Maltese, and if the artist chooses to include additional languages they must only comprise 40% of the lyrics. It is also recommended that the artists take part in the songwriting process for their entries. Additional requirements for songs are:

• Songs should reflect youth and be fun for the young artists to perform. Each submitted song should be suitable for the age of it’s lead singer
• The minimum duration of a song is 2 minutes 30 seconds, with the maximum being 3 minutes per JESC rules
• Applicants must submit original songs that include a full playback version and a backing track version excluding lead vocals
• Compositions may only include six vocalists per song
• The composers, authors, and artists must accept that PBS may request changes and amendments to the selected song including but not limited to structure, lyrics, backing vocals, and supporting artists

The submissions will then be fielded by a professional jury selected by PBS, who will select 16 entries to compete in the final broadcast. While artists are welcome to submit multiple entries, they cannot compete with more than one entry. This is likely to prevent what happened last year, with long-time participant Yulan Law being allowed to compete with two different songs.

The Voting Structure for MJESC

The 16 finalists will be announced by PBS on September 1st and will have one month to prepare for the live broadcast on October 2nd. The winner of MJESC will be selected through a 75% jury vote and a 25% public vote, and in the event of the tie, the entry with the highest jury score will win. PBS has indicated in it’s regulations that only the scores of the top three songs will be revealed publicly.

This year will mark Malta’s 18th participation in Junior Eurovision, and has won the contest twice in both 2013 and 2015. Last year Malta sent the duo Ike and Kaya who placed 12th in a field of 19 songs in Paris, France, earning a total of 97 points.

Are #YOU excited for MJESC 2022 later this year? Make sure #YOU tell us on social media @ESCUnited, on our discord, or on our forum page!