Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2012 was the first edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the music competition that selects Finland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.[4] The competition consisted of six shows that commenced with an introduction show on 27 January 2012 and concluded with a final on 25 February 2012. The six shows were held in Helsinki and hosted by Yle youth radio channel YleX DJs Anne Lainto and Joona Kortesmäki.[5] All shows were broadcast on Yle TV2 and online at yle.fi/umk.[6]

The format of the competition consisted of six shows: an introduction show, three performance shows and a final. Six songs competed in the first two performance shows and the top four entries from each show qualified. Nine songs including a wildcard selected by a public vote competed in the third performance show and the bottom two entries were eliminated. Seven songs competed in the fourth performance show and one entry was eliminated to complete the six-song lineup in the final. The results for the first three performance shows were determined exclusively by a five-member jury panel, the results in the fourth performance show were determined by public voting and the jury panel, while the results in the final were determined exclusively by public voting. Public voting included the options of telephone and SMS voting.[5][7]

The five-member jury panel participated in each show by providing commentary and feedback to the competing artists and eliminating entries during the performance shows. The jury panel consisted of:[8]

• Pauliina Ahokas – Executive Director of Music Export Finland
• Sami Häikiö – Project Manager of Music Export Finland
• Anna Laine – Programmer at Radio Helsinki
• Tomi Saarinen – Head of Music at Yle youth radio channel YleX
• Jorma Hietamäki – Head of Music at Yle Radio Suomi

A submission period was opened by Yle which lasted between 15 August 2011 and 1 October 2011. At least one of the writers and the lead singer(s) had to hold Finnish citizenship or live in Finland permanently in order for the entry to qualify to compete.[4][9] A panel of eleven experts appointed by Yle shortlisted 40 entries from the 540 received submissions.[10] Demo versions of the shortlisted entries were released online on 2 November 2011 and an online vote took place, which was won by "Aamuyön ikuisuus" performed by Jari & Taika.[5] The twelve competing entries selected for the competition were presented during the first introduction show on 27 January 2012.[11]

The introduction show took place on 27 January 2012 where the competing entries were presented. The three competing entries selected for a public wildcard vote were also presented during the show.[11] The public was able to vote until 2 February 2012 and "Teleport My Heart" performed by The Spyro was announced to have been awarded the wildcard on 10 February 2012.[12]

The first performance show took place on 3 February 2012 at the M1 Studios in Helsinki and the jury panel selected four from the six competing entries to qualify. "Antaa mennä" performed by Mica Ikonen, "Laululeija" performed by Stig, "Mun taivas" performed by Aili and "När jag blundar" performed by Pernilla Karlsson qualified to the final.[13]

The second performance show took place on 10 February 2012 at the M1 Studios in Helsinki and the jury panel selected four from the six competing entries to qualify. "We Are the Night" performed by Iconcrash, "Noitanainen" performed by Freeman & Uusi Fantasia, "Lasikaupunki" performed by Ville Eetvartti and "Habits of Human Beings" performed by Kaisa Vala qualified to the final.[12]

The third live gig performance show, pre-recorded on 10 February 2012 and aired on 17 February 2012, took place at the Club Dom in Helsinki where the eight entries that qualified from the preceding two performance shows and the public wildcard competed and the jury panel eliminated two of the nine competing entries. "Mun taivas" performed by Aili and "Teleport My Heart" performed by The Spyro were eliminated.[14][15]

The fourth performance show took place on 24 February 2012 at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki during the final rehearsals and one of the seven competing entries was eliminated. The public was able to vote prior to the show between 17 February 2012 and 24 February 2012. "Habits of Human Beings" performed by Kaisa Vala and "Noitanainen" performed by Freeman & Uusi Fantasia were announced as the bottom two entries with the fewest public votes during the show and the jury panel eliminated "Noitanainen" performed by Freeman & Uusi Fantasia.[16]

The final took place on 25 February 2012 at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki where the six entries that qualified from the preceding performance show competed. The winner was selected over two rounds of public voting through telephone and SMS voting. In the first round, the top three entries qualified to the second round, the superfinal. "När jag blundar" performed by Pernilla Karlsson, "Laululeija" performed by Stig and "Lasikaupunki" performed by Ville Eetvartti qualified to the superfinal. In the superfinal, "När jag blundar" performed by Pernilla Karlsson was selected as the winner.[3]

In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the interval act featured The Rasmus, Anna Abreu and 2011 Finnish Eurovision entrant Paradise Oskar.[3]

• In the Semi-final Finland came 12th with 41 points: the public awarded Finland 12th place with 36 points and the jury awarded 12th place with 57 points.[17]