For many years, fan’s of the Eurovision Song Contest Down Under have been use to getting up in the early hours to watch various National Finals from across Europe. Now it’s the European’s turn to wake up in the early hours of a Saturday morning in 2019 when Australia hold their first ‘Eurovision: Australia Decides’ National Final.

The final will be held in the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre – beating hosting bids from the heavyweights of Sydney and Melbourne. The inaugural ‘Eurovision: Australia Decides’ will take place on Saturday 9th February.

Songwriters and composers have until Sunday 4th November to submit their entries via the SBS website. Submitted songs that are shortlisted will get paired with artists by SBS and Blink TV.

How will the winner be decided? It’ll be 50% Jury and 50% Public, just like the Eurovision Song Contest. The Jury vote will take place from a rehearsal the night before the LIVE broadcast – the first LIVE Eurovision broadcast on Australian soil.

Last year, Jessica Mauboy represented Australia after a fourth consecutive internal selection. She took ‘#WeGotLove’ to 20th place in the Final, with a total of 99 points.

Video: YouTube/EBU

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: ESCXtra