Yle has announced that Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 will take place as planned, as open contest for all. That means Yle won’t internally choose Aksel Kankaanranta to represent the country in 2021.

“Aksel can send in a new song”

The search for new songs open on September 1st and everyone can send in their song to the competition. Professional jury will select the songs to compete in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu.

The producer of UMK, Anssi Autio, says that the winner of UMK 2020, Aksel Kankaanranta, can send a new song in, but getting a spot in the final is not guaranteed for him.

Aksel Kankaanranta won Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2020 with the song “Looking Back”. After the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was cancelled, he won’t get to represent Finland. EBU also decided that the songs selected for 2020 can’t be used in next year’s contest. Earlier Aksel said that he would like to represent Finland in 2021.

This year six artists competed in the Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. For the previous two years, Yle selected their artist internally and let the public choose the song the artist will perform. Saara Aalto and Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman the two internal choices.

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