The competition, consisting of three semi-finals at the studios 1 and 2 in Marienlyst and a grand final at Trondheim Spektrum,[2] was organised by NRK between January and February 2024 and is presented by Fredrik Solvang [no] and Marion Ravn.[3] Six entries competed in each semi-final, with a televote decreeing three qualifiers to the final.[1][2] The result of the final were determined by a 60/40 combination of the votes from the public and an international expert jury, giving more weight to the televote.[4] The competition was broadcast on NRK1 and NRK TV.
The option for artists to make use of autotune, introduced in the previous edition, has been retained, despite not being permitted at the Eurovision Song Contest.[5] The European Broadcasting Union clarified that this rule should be limited to sound effects and must in no circumstance allow the "manipulation" of the artists' vocal performance.[6]
Competing entries
On 9 June 2023, four weeks after the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, NRK officially opened for songwriters to submit entries for Melodi Grand Prix 2024 until 31 August 2023.[7][8] The competition was open to all songwriters, and each songwriter could submit up to three songs. Each song was required to have at least one Norwegian contributor, in order to "prioritise and promote the Norwegian music scene". In addition to the open submission, NRK also looked for possible entries through targeted search and direct dialogue with the Norwegian music industry, and through songwriting camps[8] (the earliest of which was held in April 2023 at the Røverstaden in Oslo).[9]
For the first time, the songs were allowed to be published as early as 1 September 2023, in line with the EBU's existing rules for the Eurovision Song Contest.[10] Previously, all submitted entries had to be held secret until NRK decided to release them. According to the broadcaster, the aim of the rule change was to create a better "opportunity for more good songs and artists for MGP".[8]
The submissions were first assessed through a number of listening sessions, followed by a live audition phase in the presence of a jury on 25 September 2023.[11][12] The final list of selected entries, defined by early November 2023, was announced on 5 January 2024.[13][14] Four former Melodi Grand Prix winners were among the participants: Benedicte Adrian as part of Mistra (1984, then part of Dollie de Luxe); Margaret Berger (2013); Keiino (2019); and Gaute Ormåsen (2022 as part of Subwoolfer) behind the avatar of "Super Rob", who revealed his real identity only after the final.[15]
The final took place on 3 February 2024 and featured guest performances by Carola (1983, 1991 and 2006 Swedish Eurovision representative), Bobbysocks (1985 MGP winners), Alexander Rybak (2009 and 2018 MGP winner) and Tix (2021 MGP winner).[22] The winner was selected by a 60/40 combination of public televoting and an international jury.
Following the song's qualification, NRK found that the lyrics of "Ulveham" by Gåte had been taken from an existing Norwegian medieval ballad and requested them to be changed, in order to avoid potential infringement of Eurovision regulations mandating all songs be entirely original.[23] The band went on to win the final.
^"Dette er neste års MGP-programledere" [These are next year's MGP presenters]. nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ abHyttebakk, Jon Marius; Svelstad, Oda Elise; Vedeler, Linda Marie (3 February 2024). "Gåte er vinneren av Melodi Grand Prix 2024" [Gåte are the winners of Melodi Grand Prix 2024]. nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
^ abHyttebakk, Jon Marius (7 February 2024). "Disse satt i den internasjonale juryen" [These were the members of the international jury]. nrk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
^Jerijervi, Dag Robert (15 January 2024). "Nedtur for Melodi Grand Prix: - Tøff konkurranse" [Downturn for Melodi Grand Prix: - Tough competition]. Kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 22 January 2024.
^Hofsrud, Øyvind (22 January 2024). "Liten økning for Melodi Grand Prix" [Small increase for Melodi Grand Prix]. Kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 22 January 2024.
^Jerijervi, Dag Robert (29 January 2024). "Melodi Grand Prix mistet 50.000 seere" [Melodi Grand Prix lost 50,000 viewers]. Kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
^Johansen-Desjardin, Anette (5 February 2024). "MGP-finalen mistet nesten 150.000 seere" [The MGP final lost almost 150,000 viewers]. Kampanje.com (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 5 February 2024.