A music contest based on the Eurovision Song Contest is starting in the United States. Musicians represent their state or one of the five overseas territories.
“Alaska… Twelve Points!” This is what it could mean when the first “American Song Contest” takes place. Based on the model of the “Eurovision Song Contest” ESC, all 50 US states, the District of Columbia with the capital Washington, and five overseas territories Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands send their candidates to the race.
Among them are well-known names like Grammy winner Michael Bolton, pop musician Jewel or DJ project The Crystal Method. The show will be hosted by singer Kelly Clarkson and rapper Snoop Dogg. After five preliminary rounds and two semi-finals, the Best American Song will be selected in the final live show on May 9.
The resemblance to ESC is no coincidence
The resemblance to ESC is no coincidence – the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is officially named as the format’s creator. The American Song Contest should probably also serve to spark more interest in the European Original Contest in the United States.
As with the original, each of the participating regions, regardless of its size, is awarded the same number of points. Broadcaster NBC has yet to clarify how polling and scoring should be organized given the large time difference: Guam is ten hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, American Samoa is eleven hours behind – and Maine to California. Already included in the mainland of America. four time zones.
