selecting entries to advance in the competition. The panel consisted of: Rūdolfs Budze–DJ Rudd – DJ and producer Jolanta Gulbe – jazz singer Jānis Lūsēns – composer Competing entries Artists and songwriters were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 6 September 2017 and 15 October 2017. 63 valid entries out of 93 were submitted at the conclusion of the submission period. The submitted songs were listed online on the official Supernova website allowing users to either select the "Like" or "Dislike" option for each entry between 18 and 29 October 2017. 152,082 votes were received and local and international jury panels appointed by LTV evaluated the submitted songs and shortlisted 33 entries, taking the results of the online vote into consideration. Auditions in front of the local jury took place on 5 November 2017 at the Alfa Park in Riga and featured the 33 shortlisted entries. The local jury panel consisted of Ilze Jansone (Supernova producer), Toms Grēviņš (radio DJ and journalist) and two members of the jury panel during the live shows: Rūdolfs Budze–DJ Rudd and Jolanta Gulbe. The twenty-one selected performers and songs were determined on 9 November 2017 and all relevant parties were informed. The twenty-one competing artists and songs were announced on 6 December 2017. Shows Semi-finals The three semi-finals took place on 3, 10 and 17 February 2018. In each semi-final seven acts competed and the top two entries qualified to the semi-final based on the combination of votes from a jury panel and the Latvian public. On 12 February 2018, LTV announced that the song "This Time" performed by Markus Riva, which was originally announced as a non-qualifier during the second semi-final, had been awarded a wildcard to qualify to the final due to a technical failure with the online vote that led to changes in placing. On 20 February 2018, the song "Just Fine" performed by Sudden Lights was announced to have been awarded a second wildcard to qualify to the final. A guest juror was also featured in each semi-final: member of 2017 Latvian Eurovision entrant Triana Park Agnese Rakovska for the first semi-final, member of 2013 Latvian Eurovision entrant PeR Ralfs Eilands for the second semi-final and 2010 Latvian Eurovision entrant Aija Andrejeva for the third semi-final. Final The final took place on 24 February 2018. Commercial Director of Universal Music Group Finland and the Baltics Petri Mannonen