The 12 invited artists invited to take part in the Finnish national final next year will be reveled by broadcaster YLE on 8 November, two days later than previously announced. Also the tickets for the final show in Caribia Hall in Turku will go on sale on the same date. YLE

YLE has been in close negotiations with all record companies to find a selection of big name artists and compositions that could be potential hits in Finland. Very few rumours have been circulating around the process, as all those involved will have been sworn to secrecy before the official announcement.

Most fans speculating on the artists are expecting to see a larger number of rock oriented acts on stage in February to follow the victorious Lordi. YLE most likely will try to get a wide cross section of Finnish popular music in the selection and also to find a worthy suitor to the ruling kings of Eurovision.

Here is a current wishlist based on fan votes on the busy forum www.viisukuppila.fi (11 Oct):

1. PMMP 34 (3.8%)

2. Hanna Pakarinen 27 (3%)

3. Anna Eriksson 25 (2.8%)

4. Antti Tuisku 24 (2.7%)

5. Sunrise Avenue 19 (2.1%)

6. Annika Eklund 18 (2%)/ Apocalyptica 18 (2%)

7. Don Johnson Big Band 17 (1.9%)/ HIM 17 (1.9%)/ Indica 17 (1.9%)/ Tarja Turunen 17 (1.9%)

8. Tiktak 16 (1.8%)

9. Agnes 15 (1.7%)

10. Arja Saijonmaa 14 (1.6%)/ Dallas Superstars 14 (1.6%)/ Paula Koivuniemi 14 (1.6%)/ Rasmus 14 (1.6%)

11. Firevision 13 (1.4%)/ Lauri Tähkä & Elonkerjuu 13 (1.4%)

12. Olavi Uusivirta 12 (1.3%)

The Finnish selection process will be exactly like last year, when 3 artists compete with two song each in four live-in-studio semifinals. The artists are not competing against each other, but the song of each artist, that gets most televotes will go further to the final of 17 February 2007. So all 12 invited artists will be guaranteed a place in the final.

There are still no news, whether YLE will reach an agreement over copyright fees to be able to transmit music over the internet. If not, there is little chance of the Finnish final being streamed.

Come back to ESCFinland.eu on Wednesday 8 November, when we hope to bring you a full lineup of artist presentations as soon as they have been made public.