After making it to the final for the first time in four years, Yle seems to be happy with the change they made with Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu and will use the same format again next year. Once again they will invite an artist, or artists, to the contest rather than having an open search for the songs.
Getting help from the record labels
The producer of UMK, Anssi Autio, says that they are already in discussions with record labels, producers, songwriters and artists. He also says that with this format, they can invest more in performances and other content.
Last year Saara Aalto was the only artist in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu and the Finnish public together with international juries chose her entry. It’s still unclear if Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2019 will have one or more artists.
The biggest show in years
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2018 was easily the biggest and the most expensive show Finland has had after the introduction of their new national final format. Despite the show having only three competing songs, all the performances were filled with big props and choreographies.
The show was also a success. The broadcast reached over 1.4 million viewers and over 289 thousand people visited the Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu website during the spring.
What do you think about Yle’s decision? Who would you like to see competing in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu? Let us know below or on social media @ESCXTRA!