Commonwealth Music Festival 1

This was the first Commonwealth Music Festival to be held.

The contest was organised by former assistant director James Kirk, who had served under Eliza Boterman and helped Hubert Fijneman in the eleventh and twelfth editions, and then Annie McLoad in the thirteenth edition. He started up a spin-off to the popular Lied van Liedjes show with focuses on Commonwealth nations. He wanted to use this show to encourage Commonwealth, and also worldwide countries, to join the Lied Van Liedjes contest.

The contest was hosted in London, England due to mass availability and as being the capital of the former Empire, and capital of the Commonwealth Realm.

8 countries participated in the first edition of the Commonwealth Music Festival. England, Scotland, Wales and Australia previously took part in Lied van Liedjes and signed up to join very quickly after it's announcement. New Zealand decided to participate early on by it's broadcaster. Malaysia entered the contest alongside Singapore, before Singapore withdrew. Canada joined, mainly in hopes of joining the proper Lied van Liedjes and Hong Kong was barely allowed to join. Northern Ireland wanted to join, but didn't submit in time alongside issues of an Irish participation despite not being in the Commonwealth. South Africa allegedly submitted an application, but they did not appear on the final list of participants.