Azerbaijan in Own Eurovision Song Contest 45

Azerbaijan confirmed their participation for the Own Eurovision Song Contest 45 on the 6th of July 2015, after the appointment of a new Head of Delegation. An internal selection was held to select the Azeri entry.

Background
Main Article: Azerbaijan in Own Eurovision Song Contest

Before the Own Eurovision Song Contest
On the 7th of July, İTV announced an open call for entries for the Own Eurovision Song Contest. The following requirements were announced on bakuvizyon.az, the official website for the selection: The deadline for submissions was the 10th of July 2016, and at that point 146 songs were received by the broadcaster: 100 in Azeri, 36 in English, 8 in Turkish and 2 in Russsian. The 146 songs were then narrowed down to 20 songs by a panel of experts, before being bought forward to a panel of İTV producers, who announced that the chosen artist will be announced on the 15th of July, but the chosen song will be announced later. On the 13th of July, it was leaked that the Azerbaijani entry would be sung in the Azeri language, but it was then announced by the Head of Delegation that they had shortlisted two songs, one in English and one in Turkish, both sung by the same singer.
 * Singers must be citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan
 * Composers must be a citizen of Azerbaijan or any other member of the Turkic Council
 * A preference will be given to songs in the Azeri, English, Russian or Turkish languages