In December 2018 , Mahmood was one of 24 acts selected to compete in '' Sanremo Giovani '' , a televised competition aimed at selecting two newcomers as contestants of the 69th Sanremo Music Festival . Competing acts were split in two separate groups , which performed in different live shows . A winner from each group was declared , and Mahmood placed first in the second episode of the show , with his entry " Gioventù bruciata " . Mahmood also received the Critics ' Award among acts performing in the second final . " Soldi " was later announced as his entry for the Sanremo Music Festival 2019
69th Sanremo Music Festival
Sanremo Music Festival 2019
Soldi