San Marino '1 in 360' doubtful to return
San Marino's Eurovision Song Contest selection process '1 in 360' may not return for the 2019 Eurovision national final season, casting into doubt the method by which the microstate will select their Eurovision representative in future years, and potentially opening the question of whether or not San Marino will participate in Eurovision at all in the future. The '1 in 360' format, used for the first time in 2018, was unique in the sense that it gave anyone from any country the opportunity to compete for San Marino's Eurovision ticket to Lisbon - and come from all corners of the world they did, with singers from as far afield as Russia, USA, Canada, UK and South Africa to name just a few. Thousands of online entries were whittled down to 11, featuring familiar names to Eurovision fans, including Emma Sandström (who sang 'Circle of Light' in UMK 2017) and Malta Eurovision Song Contest regulars Franklin Calleja and Jessika Muscat. Those 11 entrants then progressed to the live shows. After a series of live shows, the Final was held in Bratislava, Slovakia and was won by Jessika Muscat and Germany's Jenifer Brening - with the unlikely duo representing San Marino in Lisbon with the song 'Who We Are', although Jessika and Jenifer failed to qualify for the Grand Final, finishing 17th in the second semi-final. You can re-live Jessika and Jenifer's Eurovision song here.
San Marino made their Eurovision debut in 2008, but have only qualified for the Grand Final once in their nine Eurovision participations - memorably in 2014 when Valentina Monetta finished 24th with 14 points in Copenhagen. What do you think of '1 in 360' and do you think it will return for the Eurovision 2019 season? Let us know in the comments below and on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
