ESTONIA: Important changes for Eesti Laul 2025 !

A wind of change is blowing at this year’s Eesti Laul / 📸 EBU – Corrine Cumming

Eesti Laul returns for the 17th consecutive year on the frequency of the Estonian national broadcaster ERR .

The process of submitting participations has just opened and those interested will be able to submit their bids until October 21st . But Eesti Laul 2025 is expected to be somewhat different.

WHAT IS CHANGING IN EESTI LAUL

The semi-final stage is abolished , which means that one – and only – final will be held on February 15, 2025.

Regarding this change, the head of the ERR program stated that:

Eesti Laul’s biggest goal has always been to support the creation of new music and give artists and composers the opportunity to present their work across Europe. As long as everyone is saving this year, we’ll do the same. Thus, we are limited to the final night, with the semi-finals, unfortunately, being canceled for this year. But in doing so, we are giving more artists the chance to appear on the final stage than before.

In 2025, we are faced with a difficult task, so that with limited resources there will be opportunities for music programs on pop as well as classical music, events intertwined with popular culture as well as celebration shows. Eesti Laul may be “downsizing”, but we will focus – now – on putting on a great night.

Karmel Killandi

What also changes is the number of finalists , which increases to 16 . A jury will be asked to select the 15 best entries – from all those submitted – and give them the ticket to the finals night.

This selection is expected to be made in November , while the songs will be heard for the first time in December .

The public is also expected to have a say in this phase, as after the announcement of the 15 finalists of the jury, a public vote will start to give one more ticket – a second chance – for the rejected songs of the jury. Thus, the Estonian public will choose the 16th and last song of Eesti Laul 2025 !

THE REGULATIONS OF EESTI LAUL 2025

The deadline for submitting entries is October 21 at 12 noon.
Until October 18, the cost of participating in the competition is 50 euros for a song in Estonian and 100 euros for a song in a foreign or multilingual language. In the last 3 days the cost is doubled accordingly.
Performers, creators and composers can submit up to 5 songs each.
At least one composer of an entry must be an Estonian citizen or resident . Performers do not need to be Estonian citizens or residents.
The winner of Eesti Laul 2025 will be chosen on February 15 in the superfinal after telephone voting, while the three participants of the superfinal will be determined by the votes of the jury and the public .

The producer of the Estonian final had this to say:

This year’s regulations were adjusted according to the composers’ point of view, in order to give Estonian creators a more flexible opportunity for international cooperation than before. We see that Estonian composers actively collaborate with musicians from other countries, and we gave Eesti Laul better opportunities for such joint projects. The participation of creators from different countries provides an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences in productions and therefore develop and enrich the musical life here as well.

Riin Vanni

Source: [ ERR ]

What do you think of the renewed Eesti Laul 2025?

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