AzeMelodiya Grand Prix

**AzeMelodiya Grand Prix** is the selection method used by Azerbaijan for The Origin Song Contest, which has been running since the seventh edition.

## Background

After the failure in the sixth edition, İTV decided to introduce *AzeMelodiya Grand Prix*, a new national selection procedure with the aim to revamp their former national selection format *Milli Seçim Turu*, which proved to be unsuccessful, as well as to create a regular music competition for promoting local talents and newcomers.

## Selection of participants

In the first edition, all competing entries were written by professional composers and producers directly invited by İTV. The composers were also responsible for choosing the performer for their entry with the approval of İTV.

However, since the second edition, the entries are selected via an open submission period, songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit entries to İTV, but songs were required to be performed by citizens of Azerbaijan. Unlike in the first edition, songs can be in any language, unless there is a rule applying for that edition. In case the song is not selected for the edition, the same song is eligible to be submitted for another edition. From all submitted entries, a selection committee appointed by İTV will select a number of entries for the televised selection. İTV also reserves the right to directly invite composers and producers to submit entries for the selection.

In addition, artists that have won in previous editions are eligible to submit entries to İTV, regardless of the recency of their winning editions.

## Format

The format had undergone multiple changes and revamps throughout the first few editions of the competition. As opposed to the first edition where 5 songs competed in a one-night final, semi-finals were introduced in the second edition where 10 songs competed in each, with the top 5 qualifying for the final. This was soon reverted back to a one-night final the following edition.

The outcome of the results are based on the joint decision of an international jury vote as well as viewer voting. Viewers were able to vote through the following voting methods: telephone, SMS and online voting. In the second edition, a regional jury vote replaced the international juries for the final, where the eight regions across Azerbaijan awarded points to the finalists. This was soon reverted back to international jury voting the following edition.

## Hosting

### **Venue**

The selection can be held anywhere in Azerbaijan. Every city has the right to apply for the contest. The selection can be held anywhere in Azerbaijan. İTV has the final say in determining the host venues for every edition.

## Editions

The selection has produced the first ever Azerbaijani qualification for the final.

## Seasons

### **AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 01**

*Main article: Azerbaijan in The Origin Song Contest 07 § AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 01*

The final took place on 30 July 2019 at the at the İTV Studio in Baku where the five finalist songs were performed and the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. The top two entries in the first round advanced to a Gold Final (second round) based on the combination of votes from a jury and public vote. In the Gold Final, the winner was determined exclusively by the public vote.

 1
 2

### **AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 02**

*Main article: Azerbaijan in The Origin Song Contest 08 § AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 02*

Two semi-finals took place on 25 January and 1 February 2020 while the final took place on 22 February 2020 and the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. The top five entries in the first round advanced to a Gold Final (second round) based on the combination of votes from a regional jury and public vote. In the Gold Final, the winner was determined exclusively by the public vote. The winner was announced on 11 March 2020.

### **AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 03**

*Main article: Azerbaijan in The Origin Song Contest 09 § AzeMelodiya Grand Prix 03*

The final took place on 28 June 2020 at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku where the five finalist songs were performed and the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. The top five entries in the first round advanced to a Gold Final (second round) based on the combination of votes from a jury and public vote. In the Gold Final, the winner was determined by the jury vote and a regional televote.

## Language statistics

As of the third edition a total of six languages have appeared in the contest, with Azerbaijani being the most popular one with 21 appearances.

 5
 4
 2
 2
 1