The popularity of Käärijä, the rapper who came second at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) last May, appears to have boosted interest in next year's competition.
Tickets for UMK24 (the Contest for New Music, which decides who Finland sends to the ESC) sold out in less than an hour after going on sale on Thursday. The event is organised and hosted by Yle.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were still tickets available for the contest's final rehearsal which is held on the same day as the competition, 10 February.
Käärijä placed second at lasts spring's ESC with his "Cha Cha Cha" single, prompting national jubilation. He has made UMK bigger than ever, according to the domestic contest's organisers.
Last year, the UMK qualifier drew a record-high TV and internet viewing audience.
The increased interest prompted a decision to move UMK from Turku's Logomo venue where it has previously been held, to the significantly larger Arena in Tampere.
"The hit frenzy from last spring shows no sign of abating and at the same time, the increased interest in UMK has been breathtaking," the event's chief producer, Anssi Autio, said.
The winning act at UMK24 will represent Finland next May, when the Eurovision Song Contest is held in Malmö, Sweden.
