European audiences have selected the first ten qualifiers for Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final during the first Semi-Final broadcast live from Copenhagen, Denmark.

The 10 qualifiers in alphabetical order are:

• Armenia: Aram MP3
• Azerbaijan: Dilara Kazimova
• Hungary: András Kállay-Saunders
• Iceland: Pollapönk
• Montenegro: Sergej Ćetković
• The Netherlands: The Common Linnets
• Russia: Tolmachevy Sisters
• San Marino: Valentina Monetta
• Sweden: Sanna Nielsen
• Ukraine: Mariya Yaremchuk

Artists from 16 nations competed for spots, which were awarded by viewers and professional juries representing each country. Each had a 50 per cent stake in the outcome.

EBU Executive Supervisor, Jon Ola Sand, said the 59^th Eurovision Song Contest promises two more excellent shows.

"Tonight's semi-final got the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest off to a flying start, with some wonderful performances from the artists and, of course, world-class TV pictures from Danish EBU Member DR,” said Mr Sand. “I'm eager to see the story of this year's contest unfold with the second Semi-Final on Thursday and the Grand Final on Saturday.” 

Thursday's second Semi-Final will see the line-up for the Grand Final completed. The Grand Final already includes the direct qualifiers representing France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the host country Denmark.

The running order of the countries represented in the Final will be determined by the producers of the shows. Viewers from the 37 participating countries will vote for their favourite songs via a pan-European televoting system, which will open after all the contestants have performed.

In addition, professional juries, comprising six representatives from each of those countries have a 50 per cent stake in the outcome.

It was the song Only Teardrops, sung by the Danish singer Emmelie de Forest that gave Denmark the chance to host this year's event. Emmelie has since become a household name and been topping charts across the continent since then. The shows, which are expected to be watched by more than 170 million fans in total, will be transmitted live over the Eurovision and Euroradio Networks to Europe and beyond by EBU Member, DR.

A complete list of competitors in the first Semi-Final can be found at eurovision.tv.