Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Melodi Grand Prix 2015 was the 45th edition of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the music competition that selects Denmark's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The event was held on 7 February 2015 at the Gigantium in Aalborg, hosted by Esben Bjerre Hansen and Jacob Riising.[3][4] The show was televised on DR1 as well as streamed online at the official DR website. The competition received a visual update for the 2015 edition including a new logo and slogan. The new logo, which replaced the three star logo that had been in use since 2009, has been described as a round organism from which sound waves emanate. The slogan for the 2015 edition of the competition was "Drømmen lever" (The Dream Lives).[5][6]

DR announced in July 2014 that they aimed to make changes to competition with the goal of producing "Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2.0", which stressed quality over quantity.[3] Ten songs competed in one show where the winner was determined based on the combination of votes from a public vote and five regional jury groups.[7] Each jury group, composed of three members and headed by a former Danish Eurovision Song Contest entrant, was located at concurrent competition related events.[8][9] Viewers were able to vote via SMS.

DR opened a submission period between 4 July 2014 and 8 September 2014 for artists and composers to submit their entries. The entertainment director for DR, Jan Lagermand Lundme, stated that the competition would seek out "more authentic and real songs that can connect with viewers", providing the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 winning entry "Rise Like a Phoenix" and the second-placed entry "Calm After the Storm" as examples of such songs that had a story to tell.[3] The broadcaster received 687 entries.[10] A selection committee selected seven songs from the entries submitted to the broadcaster. Three of the participants: Sara Sukurani, Marcel & Soulman Group and World of Girls were invited to compete based on editorial considerations.[7]

The competing artists and songs were to be officially presented on 26 January 2015, however, the entries were leaked on 24 January 2015 due to an early delivery of pre-ordered CDs.[11] DR subsequently confirmed the list of participants and held a press meet and greet on 26 January. Following the presentation, the entries were released on YouTube and the official album was made available on Danish streaming services.[12][13][14]

The final took place on 7 February 2015. The winner, "The Way You Are" performed by Anti Social Media, was selected based on the votes of five regional juries (50%) and a public vote (50%).[14] The public and the juries each had a total of 290 points to award. Each jury group distributed 1–8, 10 and 12 points and the viewer vote was based on the percentage of votes each song achieved. For example, if a song gained 10% of the viewer vote, then that entry would be awarded 10% of 290 points rounded to the nearest integer: 29 points.

Anti Social Media at a dress rehearsal for the first semi-final

Anti Social Media took part in technical rehearsals on 12 and 15 May,[22][23] followed by dress rehearsals on 18 and 19 May. This included the jury final where professional juries of each country, responsible for 50 percent of each country's vote, watched and voted on the competing entries.[24]

The stage show featured the members of Anti Social Media in a retro band set-up with two backing vocalists in red dresses. The background LED screens displayed white moving vertical line patterns. The stage design was black and white with bursts of colour added.[22][23] On stage, Anti Social Media was joined by two backing vocalists: Nellie Ettison and Johanna Beijbom.[25]

At the end of the show, Denmark failed to qualify to the final and was not announced among the top ten nations.[26] It was later revealed that Denmark had placed thirteenth, receiving a total of 33 points.[27]

Voting during the three shows consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation. The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released shortly after the grand final.[28]

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Denmark had placed fourteenth with the public televote and twelfth with the jury vote in the first semi-final. In the public vote, Denmark scored 23 points, while with the jury vote, Denmark scored 51 points.[29]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Denmark and awarded by Denmark in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:[27][30][31][32]