After a two-year hiatus, Montenegro returns to the Eurovision Song Contest by organizing its own selection process under the title Montesong 2024, which is going to take place on November 26th and 27th in Podgorica.
The national broadcaster of Montenegro, RTCG, announced a public competition for the selection of teh composition and the representative of Montenegro at this music competition, and the process will last until October 1.
As festival director Danijel Alibabić said at today’s press conference, 16 competing compositions will be presented. The best will represent Montenegro at the most famous European music competition, which will be held in Basel.
“The performers must be Montenegrin citizens, and the composers can be from all over the world. It will be a production venture that Montenegro has never seen before.”
Alibabić is full of optimism and believes that the festival will come to life.
“I would like it to have a tradition like the Croatian Dora and to be in that rank. I believe that the stage will be spectacular”
He is also convinced that Montenegro will have a representative who will qualify to the final.
“The fact that they will appear at the festival, where they will be paid for their entire performance, is enough stimulation for the performers. It will be a real spectacle”
According to him, the Association of Variety Performers of Montenegro made an effort to have a team of people at the festival who will deal with graphic design and lighting.
“There will also be rehearsals, so that the singers and the team can correct everything they don’t like and would change, if they want to”
Artistic director Vladana Vučinić announced that the process of judging the compositions will be transparent and Eurovision-style: 50% of the audience – 50% of the jury.
“The jury will include domestic musicians and musicians from abroad. It will be made up of eminent composers”
Vučinić also stated that the festival will be mostly financed by the Association of Variety Performers, and RTCG is in the role of co-producer.
“We want to give musicians support and an opportunity to present themselves. We have few musicians and I encourage everyone to come forward. We would like to hear diverse musical styles. There is room for everyone on stage”
She encouraged especially young performers to apply for the competition.
“Finances have always been our biggest problem. We have to provide young musicians with support, and this is a real opportunity”
When asked if the Ministry of Culture and Media has shown interest in the festival, Vučinić replied negatively.
“For now, they haven’t. But we hope to win the favor of the institutions.”
Source: RTCG
Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!
Follow us on all our social media, so that you’ll not lose a thing of what’s happening Eurovision: