Montenegro 2025: Artists announced for 'Montesong'

Ahead of Basel 2025, we'll be watching what is currently set to be our first Eurovision pre-selection of the season as early as next month, on Wednesday 27 November. Broadcaster RTCG will be hosting Montesong - a brand-new national final to select Montenegro's next entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. 

After a temporary Adio following Turin, Montenegro will return to the Contest in 2025, with an open call for songs having been sent out in August. The country's comeback after a two-year absence brings with it a whole new opportunity to showcase the music of Montenegro, with the fresh format of Montesong aiming to shine a light on the creative talent that we've been missing out on from the Balkan nation.

Following an evaluation round by two juries, broadcaster RTCG now reveals the 16 names that have been selected to take part in the inaugural Montesong in November, as well as the titles of the songs they'll be performing.

One of these is set to be Montenegro's entry to Basel 2025:

Anastasija Koprolčec - Kraj
Bend "9" - Stop War
Boban Rajović - Suze
Dolce Hera - Repeat
Đurđa - To Ljubav Je
Glumci Bend - San
Isak Šabanović - Ljeto, Ljeto, Ljeto
Kejt - Obala Raja
Luka Perazic & Rade Vukčević - Dva Srca
Luka Radović - Kada Dođe Maj
Milena Vučić - Škorpija
Nemanja Petrović - Među Zvijezdama
Neonoen - Clickbait
Nina Žižić - Dobro Došli
Tina Džankić - Nova
Verica Čuljković - Čuješ Li

In the selection of the songs, the first jury was made up music and television editors from within both the TVCG and RCG divisions of broadcaster RTCG: Boris Šarančić, Dražen Bauković, Eva Papović and Ana Petrović.

The second jury was made up of music professionals: musician and composer Renata Perazić, musician and composer Marija Božović, and lyricist Natalija Pavićević.

Montesong director, Danijel Alibabić, is enthusiastic about the various genres being represented in the final lineup:

"I would like to commend the selection committee, which broadened its perspective and recognised our desire for the festival to be diverse. Our idea was for all target groups to be in front of the television and watch Montesong. The committee worked hard to ensure this within the set criteria. I am pleased that we have 10 Montenegrin authors, which is truly an excellent result considering the competition was open to authors from all over the world."

All 16 songs will be published on Montesong's YouTube channel on 10 November, over two weeks ahead of the live show, which will be taking place at the Voco sports hall in Podgorica.

Basel 2025 will be Montenegro's 13th participation at the Eurovision Song Contest since its debut appearance at Helsinki 2007. Prior to that, it had competed as part of Serbia & Montenegro in 2004 and 2005.

Since its first participation in 2007, Montenegro has qualified to the Grand Final twice, with its highest placing being 13th in 2015, courtesy of the song Adio, performed by Knez.