MELODIFESTIVALEN 2023. Until September 16 at 11:59 AM, it is possible to submitting songs to the Swedish Eurovision selection Melodifestivalen 2023! Here is some information regarding how you submitting your songs to the contest.
A Swedish version of this article can be found here.
How it works
Step 1: Create an account on SVT:s digital platform
To start submitting any song(s) to Melodifestivalen 2023, please go to SVT’s external platform.
The first thing you must do is creating a user account on the platform from where you can upload the song(s) and give Sveriges Television (here referred to as SVT) all the information they need from you regarding each song and the songwriter(s).
Note: the platform has support in English and Swedish.
Step 2: Read the contest’s rules
Before you start the submitting, please read the competition rules which includes information regarding the requirements SVT has for the songs as well for the singer(s), and the songwriter(s), i.e., the lyricists and/or composer(s). We also recommend you to carefully read the C-section, or Other terms and conditions (as it is called in the rules), which includes information regarding copyright and other conditions.
For a summary about the rules, please read our FAQ below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SVT has the rights to block every uploaded song from being official released until (earliest) November 25, 2022. This rule applies REGARDLESS the song is selected to the contest or not. The release date will then be decided whether the song will compete or not in 2023.
If the song is SELECTED to compete in Melodifestivalen 2023: – You must wait to a later date for the song release. This date will be decided by SVT.
If the song is NOT SELECTED to compete in Melodifestivalen 2023: – You free to release the song after (earliest) November 25, 2022. However, if you want to take the chance to try another year and/or to another country’s Eurovision selection, then it is the best way waiting with the release. |
• FAQ: the rules for Melodifestivalen 2023
Please note that the information below is a summary of the rules that SVT released in early Summer 2022. Before you start to submit any songs, we recommend you read the rules, so you know exactly what SVT requires from you.
If you want to read the FAQ in Swedish, please click here.
• Who is allowed to submitting songs and/or take part as an artist?
Songwriter (composer and/or lyricist)
The Melodifestivalen contest are open for anyone, including non-Swedish citizens, in any ages and genders. However, at least one (1) person in the song writing team must be a Swedish citizen and/or being registered in the Swedish population register (in Swedish called folkbokföringsregistret) no later than August 26, 2022.
Please note that if you are an employee at and/or is a client for SVT between August 2, 2022, and March 30, 2023, then you are not allowed to send in songs to the 2023 edition of Melodifestivalen!
The artist (singer/music group and so on)
To take part in the Melodifestivalen 2023 as an artist, you must be at least 16 years old (at the latest in May 2023). However, there is no maximum age limit as well as you are not needed to have a Swedish citizenship and/or being registered in the Swedish population register for this purpose.
On the other hand, if you are an employee at and/or is a client for SVT between August 2, 2022, and March 30, 2023, then you are not allowed to take part as an artist in the 2023 edition of Melodifestivalen!
More information about the artists/singers can be found in the paragraph Can I decide the singer/artist for my song?
• Are there any gender requirements for a song writing team?
No, there are no such rule. On the other hand, SVT has a policy that says that at least one half of the line-up should consist of songs written/composed by female songwriters, alternatively in collaboration between both female and male songwriters. This should therefor be interpreted as a policy (and not a rule) from SVT to all the song writing teams.
• Which are the song requirements?
1. Firstly, only a song which meet all the following requirements can be selected by SVT/the Jury to take part in the 2023 edition of Melodifestivalen:
1.1. The song must be newly written (i.e., cover songs and/or plagiarism are not allowed).
1.2. The song has never been public to the public.
1.3. The song has not been published before SVT’s own deadline, and certainly not before September 1, 2022.
Examples of situations where the song must not have been released in public are all kinds of concerts, social media clips, TV- and radio stations etc. More information regarding this issue can be found in the paragraph Why is it important that the song should not be published before September 1, 2022?
2. Singing and/or speaking in the lyrics is mandatory. However, how much is not said.
Remember that there are no obstacles to e.g., use expressions such as swearing. On the other hand, SVT may disqualify songs that have a title and/or lyrics that may seem offensive. You should also know that the EBU, who organize the Eurovision Song Contest, does not allow swearing in the Eurovision songs, as well as all forms of religious, commercial, and political messages and gestures.
3. All participating songs must be nor longer than 3 minutes (but not shorter than 2 minutes).
It is good to know that SVT allows demo songs who break this rule. However, if such song is selected to the contest it is needed to be re-written to fit the time limits.
• Why is it important that the song should not be published before September 1, 2022?
Any songs released on public platforms before September 1, 2022, may not compete in Eurovision 2023. This is according to the Eurovision Song Contest competition rules. In some cases it has been possible to circumvent the EBU’s regulations, however our suggestion to all song writers is that only send in unpublished songs, regardless of whether you send it to Melodifestivalen or to other countries’ national selections!
We also recommend all the songwriters to verify that no previously version(s) of the song has been published or released on any public platform. For an example where the song was sent into another country’s national selection a previous year but was not selected to take part that year, or if the demo version were recorded some years ago and now you want to sending it to Melodifestivalen.
If the song, without permission from SVT, is released in any form before or during Melodifestivalen 2023, then the song could be disqualified! On the other hand, as long as intent is lacking the song may stay in the competition. SVT will always investigate the matter to secure what has happened and what eventual consequences will be.
Approved publications by SVT
1. Song publications during the competition
Since many years, SVT has a rule that says that the songs which qualifies from the four Heats (in Swedish called Deltävlingar) to the Semi-final program, as well as the songs that does not qualifies from each of the four Heats, may be released after each Heat has been broadcasted in SVT. However, the songs which are the public’s favourites to the Grand Final in each of the four Heats will be in ’quarantine’ and firstly released after the results has been decided in all the Heats. There is, however, not yet confirmed whether SVT will continue with this rule or not in the 2023 edition of Melodifestivalen. More information regarding this will most likely be released in the weeks before the competition begins.
2. Sneak clips, studio versions and rehearsals
During the competition weeks, it may also happen that SVT releases sneak clips and/or parts of studio versions of the competing songs. This is so-called approved publications – if it only takes place in SVT’s channels and for a limited time. It may also happen that accredited media and fan sites will be able to watch the rehearsals and/or listen to the studio versions of the songs. This is also approved if it only happens on SVT’s premises. If SVT allows public at the show’s dress rehearsals, then these persons will also be able to hear and watch all the performances in the show, which is allowed.
• Can I decide the singer/artist for my song?
Well, you can at least suggest the singer/artist for your song to SVT, even though it is SVT that have the final word in every artist decision. SVT can decide to selecting the demo singer for the song as well as other artists they prefer. Demo singers are, however, not self-written for this purpose. This rule includes both the songs that will be selected by the Jury, who selects one half of the line-up, and the remaining songs, which will be selected by the Melodifestivalen team at SVT.
You should also be aware that SVT has the rights to disqualify any artists and/or songs where the production cannot agree with the songwriter(s) on which artist will perform the song(s) in the contest. In such cases the song and/or the artist may be replaced.
How many people are allowed on stage?
SVT allows up to eight (8) persons* for each stage performance. The number of people includes the singer(s) and/or other members of a band as well as any dancers, choir singers on stage, and so on. Please note that the eventual using of so called ’pre-recorded choirs’ are not included in the allowed maximum people during the stage performances. This means that you can use as many background singers as you want for this purpose.
* In the Eurovision Song Contest only 6 people are allowed on stage (for each country’s stage performance), and you should also be aware that SVT has the rights to change the maximum number of people on stage in Melodifestivalen, for an example due to the corona virus pandemic.
• Are there any language rules for the songs?
No there are none. This means that your singer/artist/music group is free to sing in any language(s), and you as the song writing team are also allowed to upload the same song in different languages versions. However, if your song is selected to take part, it is SVT that decides which language version that will be used.
There is a rule which says that SVT will select approximately 10 songs which will be performed in Swedish.
• Are there any extra rules for the stage performances?
Firstly, all music will be pre-recorded and not performed by a live orchestra, and all the singing must be performed ’live’. However, SVT still have expanded rules regarding the stage performances, which means that it is allowed to use pre-recorded choirs in the songs and/or having one (1) live instrument on stage.
Since Eurovision 2021, EBU has allowed the using of so-called pre-recorded choirs in the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be allowed in the 2023 edition as well. EBU does however not accepting the using of any live instruments.
• What else is important to know regarding the rules?
As mentioned earlier, we recommend everyone who wants to send in songs to Melodifestivalen 2023 to carefully read through the entire regulations – especially the sections regarding copyright and other conditions. You should also know that it is SVT who is the owner to the rules, which means that they have the rights to adjust and/or re-written the rules, as well as they are allowed to disqualify songs, artists, lyricists, composers, and others, who in a conscious or unconscious way breaks the rules.
