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Eurovision this month: National selection preparations have begun

31 August 2020 at 12:00 CEST
Norway's Eurovision 2020 representative Ulrikke Julia Marie Naglestad/NRK
In Eurovision this month, we look back on what happened in the world of the Eurovision Song Contest over the past month. In August, we had both exciting and sad news as we learned that the Contest will travel to the United States of America, but also that Agathon Iakovidis (Greece 2013) has passed away.

Summer is coming to an end, and with September waiting right around the corner, it means that every song that gets released after the 1st of next month is a potential Eurovision song. Exciting!

National selections for 2021

August was a relatively quiet month in the world of Eurovision, however many broadcasters are working on their plans for 2021. We expect big things to be revealed in the coming weeks and months. For example, Norway will host 6 "big and hefty" shows in 2021 according to their Head of Delegation, Stig Karlsen. Ulrikke, who won the national selection in 2020, will be part of the show, but not as a participant. Sweden has also opened up the application process for their national selection show Melodifestivalen 2021.

MGP Session Week 2020

Stig also gave us a little sneak peek into their MGP Session Week 2020 where 13 songwriters and 11 producers got together in 9 studios around Oslo, as seen on Instagram:

Black Sea Eurovision Songwriting Camp 2020

The Black Sea Eurovision Songwriting Camp brought producers, composers and songwriters together to work on multiple potential songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Among the present artists were Ben Dolic (Germany 2020), Victoria (Bulgaria 2020 and 2021) and Cesár Sampson (Austria 2018). You can follow the Songwriting Camp via Twitter.

The Eurovision Song Contest is travelling overseas!

Europe’s favourite TV show will travel across the ocean to the United States of America! The American Song Contest will take place during the holiday season of 2021.

The American version of the Eurovision Song Contest will, as it is currently conceived, position the artists head to head against other states’ representatives in a series of 5-10 televised Qualifier Competitions, leading to Semi-Finals and the ultimate primetime Grand Final.

People from all over the world travelled to Lisbon for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 EBU / Thomas Hanses

Agathon Iakovidis (Greece 2013) has died aged 65

There wasn't only good news in August, unfortunately. Agathon Iakovidis, who represented Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 together with Koza Mostra, passed away aged 65.

Agathon lakovidis was born in Evangelismos, in the Lagada province in 1955. He was devoted to rebetiko music, loyally serving it since 1973, refusing to sing any other – even more popular- styles. Read more about Aganthon in this story.

Aganthon Iakovidis in 2013 on the Eurovision stage EBU

Other stories you may have missed:

  • Eurovision fashion through the decades - Read here.
  • The saga of Molly Sandén: From Junior Eurovision to movie vocals - Read here.
  • Eurovision songs in the charts - Read here.
  • Songs that won the public's heart - Read here.

That's it for August. Who is ready for September?