The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has signed an exclusive option with international production company Brain Academy to develop the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), the world’s biggest live music show, for the American market.

The goal is for the very first American Song Contest to be ready to air in 2021.

“For over six decades the Eurovision Song Contest, powered by public service media, has brought audiences together with its values of diversity, universality and inclusivity,” says the ESC’s Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand.

“It remains a unique must-see event in over 40 competing countries each year and enjoys a global audience of almost 200 million viewers. As part of the EBU’s overall strategy to grow the ESC brand it’s time for Eurovision to go Stateside to reach even more viewers.

"We’re delighted that this growth will be overseen by some of the people that have created some of its brightest moments.”

The team behind The American Song Contest project includes some of Europe's most experienced TV producers.

Anders Lenhoff and Peter Settman will be joined by Christer Björkman and Ola Melzig who have worked on over 20 ESCs between them.

Brain Academy, a part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT) will develop, manage and co-ordinate the project for the US market in cooperation with the EBU.

“The timing is perfect. Outside of sports, the Eurovision Song Contest is the biggest TV show on Earth, it unites a continent and everybody gets to vote,” says Peter Settman , CEO and Creative Director of Brain Academy.

“We can't wait to introduce this wonderful competition to the biggest TV market in the world. TV/video audiences are getting bigger every year so this is the perfect time to bring this exciting show to the American public.”

The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956 with the aim of uniting nations and exploring new television technology. Since then, over 50 nations have taken part in this unique competition which reaches nearly 200 million viewers in Europe and beyond every year.