So the 10 heats are complete and we have once again had a record number of votes through the 10 weeks with just over 10,000 votes in total. Incredible support for all the bands, not just those who have made it through to the next round. Its a tough ask for our International representation with British bands holding 80% of the seats. Bands from India, USA, Denmark and Ukraine are the only ones through to a very tough semi-final draw but will they make it to the final…?
So what happens next? We draw the 2 semi final heats which will be played on air Sunday 3rd and Sunday 10th April 5pm UK time. This time the bands 2nd and 3rd choice tracks will be played to give a little variety from the heats.
The voting from the public is the same. You can vote for as many of the bands as you like, once per day all week long with the votes closing 11pm UK time on the following Saturday.
This time though, 3 bands will be through from public voting but added to that we have a number of guest judges who will add 2 more bands into the final each week. The judges decisions will be based on all 10 bands. They will be asked to score their top 3 bands as 1st, 2nd and 3rd. There will be 3 points for 1st place, 2 for 2nd and 1 point for 3rd place. These totals will be added up and then when we announce the top 3 bands of the public voting, we will then add on top, the next 2 highest placed bands from judge voting to also go through.
So if the top choice from judge voting is a band that is going through anyway, then it will be the turn of the next highest scoring band on the list from judge voting. The judges will remain anonymous but will be all music industry people with some being TBFM DJ’s, reviewers and other members of the staff team but will also include representatives from some of the sponsors too.
We wish all 20 bands the best of luck with their heats and look forward to an exciting final which takes place live on air on Sunday 24th April 2016 at the same time as always, 5pm UK time.
