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Swedish media reports on potential production changes for Melodifestivalen 2021

| August 6, 2020

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has reported that production changes are expected for the 2021 edition of Melodifestivalen, in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In previous years, the six live shows of Melodifestivalen have been held in regional city venues across Sweden with large live audiences.  According to Aftonbladet’s sources, several alternative plans are being explored by producers due to concerns about the potential for poor audience ticket sales for the live shows and negative publicity about the risks of spreading infection during large arena productions.

It is reported that the contingency plans include holding all six shows in a single venue in Stockholm and/or to broadcast the shows without any audience at all.  The report also notes that a large television studio could be used to still allow for elaborate staging, but with a smaller audience.

It is understood that the format of the competition will not change and that the production should still feel ‘very luxurious and expensive’, according to the industry insider.

The submission window for Melodifestivalen 2021 opens on August 24th and runs until September 16th, and it is slated to begin in early February 2021.

The Mamas, who sang backing vocals for John Lundvik in Eurovision 2019, were crowned the winners of Melodifestivalen 2020 with their song “Move”. However, due to the cancellation of Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam, they were unable to represent the Scandinavian country on the Eurovision stage. Would you like to see them back in Melodifestivalen 2021?

Sweden in Eurovision

Since making its debut in the 1958 contest, Sweden has taken part in 59 editions. For every edition since 1959 Sweden has used their popular national final format Melodifestivalen. Sweden has 6 Eurovision wins, in 1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012 and Sweden’s latest win was in 2015 with Måns Zelmerlöw’s Heroes. On top of 6 wins, Sweden also has one second place and six three places. Sweden hosted the contest 6 times as well, in 1975, 1985, 1992, 2000, 2013 and 2016. Eurovision 2016 hosts Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw were named the best presenters from 2010-2016. Some of Sweden’s most memorable entries from Sweden include Den Vilda (1996), Hero (2008) and Undo (2014). The Mamas won Melodifestivalen 2020, and were due to sing their song Move in Rotterdam before the contest got cancelled.

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