Montenegro: Nina Žižić will ultimately represent the country in Eurovision 2025!

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In an official announcement, Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2025 has been confirmed! The announcement took place in the morning show “Dobro Jutro Crna Gora” and Nina Žižić will take the stage in Basel after NeonoeN’s voluntary withdrawal. Nina Žižić, who finished second in Montesong 2024 with her song “Dobrodošli”, has been selected to represent Montenegro at the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

How was Nina Žižić selected?

Nina Žižić’s path to representing Montenegro at Eurovision 2025 comes after her second-place finish in the Montenegrin national selection, Montesong 2024. Upon hearing about Neonoen’s decision to withdraw, RTCG approached Nina to take over. Nina expressed her willingness to step in as the country’s representative even before the official announcement of Neonoen’s withdrawal, making her the natural choice for the Eurovision spot.

This will be Nina Žižić’s second appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest, having previously participated in 2013 as part of the duo Who See.

Why Did Neonoen Withdraw from Eurovision 2025?

Neonoen’s unexpected withdrawal from Eurovision 2025 came after a dispute over their song’s eligibility. The band faced possible disqualification due to having publicly performed their Eurovision entry, “CLICKBAIT”, before the September 1, 2024. RTCG had begun an investigation into the matter after a video surfaced showing the band performing their song at the Kulture Zabjelo festival, well ahead of the official deadline.

Despite this investigation, Neonoen voluntarily decided to step away from the Eurovision process, releasing a statement expressing their wish to avoid further complications. The band made it clear that their decision was not based on the outcome of the investigation but rather a desire to focus solely on their music. They also acknowledged that their victory in Montesong was legitimate and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to represent Montenegro.

“Dobrodošli” is now Montenegro’s entry for Eurovision 2025 and all eyes are now in Montenegro to see if that ultimately emerges to be a better choice than “Clickbait”.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Montenegrin participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Basel!

Source: RTCG

Montenegro: Announcement on Eurovision participation to take place tomorrow!

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RTCG, the public broadcaster of Montenegro, will eventually announce its Eurovision representative for 2025, tomorrow in the broadcaster’s morning show! Read more

Montenegro: Festival organized transparently, very significant contribution of Vladana Vučinić

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Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) has issued a statement regarding the public address of their esteemed colleague Vladana Vučinić, artistic director of the Montesong festival. They emphasized the need to highlight her contribution and the achievements of the festival.

Vladana, with her energy and lion-like work ethic, carried the enormous burden of this project, successfully realizing one of the most significant musical events of the year. She did so on behalf of RTCG, demonstrating dedication and professionalism that inspired the entire team involved in this demanding endeavor.

For the benefit of the Montenegrin public, it is crucial to stress that Vladana led the entire project without any financial compensation.

Despite her withdrawal from RTCG, Vladana’s contribution remains immensely significant. We hope our collaboration will continue, as the Public Media Service relies on the dedication of its members, and Vladana exemplified this through her work.

Addressing the issues Vladana raised, we affirm that the festival was organized transparently and supported by the Association of Entertainers, which covered most of the costs. Furthermore, it is essential to note that the script and the selection of the presenter were outside RTCG’s jurisdiction.

The mistakes that occurred during the festival do not detract from the positive impression it left on the audience. On the contrary, they serve as an incentive to improve future editions and raise standards even higher.

It is time to focus on evaluating the work, effort, and creativity of all participants. By showcasing positive examples, we can collectively build a stronger and higher-quality platform for promoting domestic art and culture. In this sense, Montesong has proven that Montenegrin music is vibrant with talent and ideas that deserve attention and support.

We thank all partners, performers, and audiences for their support and trust. RTCG remains committed to supporting projects that promote our artists and cultural scene, both locally and on the European stage.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: RTCG

Montenegro: Vladana Vučinić resigns from RTCG due to ethical concerns!

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The aftermath of Montesong 2024, Montenegro’s national selection for Eurovision 2025, has been marred by controversy and uncertainty. The selection process, which was meant to bring Montenegro’s first representative to Eurovision in three years, has taken an unexpected downward spiral, culminating in the resignation of Vladana Vučinić from RTCG, the country’s national broadcaster.

The reasons behind Vladana’s resignation

Vladana Vučinić, a Creative Director at RTCG and a co-host of Montesong 2024, took to Instagram to explain the reasons behind her resignation from the national broadcaster. In her statement, she emphasized that her decision was based on a moral obligation:

Due to such insinuations, which only harm everyone, I am taking this opportunity to inform you that I announced my resignation to RTCG the day after the end of Montesong, because I felt a moral obligation.

In addition, I would like to remind you that the Public Service of Montenegro is obliged to present to the public anyway available data and thus answers to the question questions, which I hope he will do.

– how and in what way Montesong was financed?

– who and in what way presented the whole in front of the RTCG this project?

– did anyone receive special fees?

– that RTCG’s obligations were exactly according to the contract, in terms of script, production, presenter, etc.?

– that there were mistakes and that something should be done about it, so that this festival could continue in the future.

When things are done transparently, there is no need to hear about them, because it only casts a shadow over months of hard work, and Eurovision again puts in a negative context what is happening in the last musicians in Montenegro and their promotion in Europe.

Personally, I take my hat off to the guys from NeonoeN, I think it’s a fair move and I’m honestly sorry that those with a message that is current will not represent CG.

Whoever it is, good luck – we don’t really need to make a drama about everything. One good thing in all of this is that for a short while politicians and politics are put on the back burner, that we have a stage, to which the Public Service and other media must give a little more space.

Hence, moral obligations led to Vladana Vucic’s resignation from RTCG, implying that she was uncomfortable with how things were handled. She also called for transparency, something that maybe was not present during Montesong. The lack of transparency was what created all these unnecessary rumors and damages the reputation of those involved, especially the artists and performers, and casts a shadow on months of hard work. It also affects Montenegro’s representation at Eurovision, potentially harming the country’s image in Europe.

In a more hopeful tone, Vladana emphasized that the focus should remain on the music and the artists, rather than drama or politics. She urged the RTCG and the media to give more attention to the arts and culture, promoting music and talent rather than fueling unnecessary controversies.

Until know, there is no further notice on who will represent Montenegro in Eurovision 2025, as we are waiting for the official announcements by RTCG.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Montenegro: Neonoen withdraws from Eurovision 2025

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Montenegro’s journey to Eurovision 2025 has taken an unexpected turn, as the band Neonoen announced their decision to withdraw from the competition. This leaves the national broadcaster, RTCG, with the task of selecting a new representative. The decision follows intense discussions surrounding their selection and the controversies surrounding the Montesong festival, where they emerged as winners.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη NeonoeN (@neonoen_official)

Neonoen’s Statement

In their official announcement, Neonoen emphasized that their decision to withdraw was made “in the best public interest and with the desire to put an end to uncertainty.” They stressed their commitment to music and their intent to avoid conflicts that detract from the essence of their artistic work.

They specifically stated:

“We simply do not want to be part of any stories outside of music, nor do we wish to promote our work through such means.”

Their decision was accompanied by expressions of gratitude towards RTCG, the organizers of Montesong, fellow musicians, journalists, and fans who supported them. They also made a heartfelt mention of their families, who stood by them throughout the process.

The Events Leading to the Decision

Neonoen found themselves at the center of discussions after performing a version of their song Clickbait prior to its official presentation at Montesong. Although the band pointed out that this performance did not breach any rules or influence the competition’s outcome, the uproar surrounding it seems to have played a decisive role in their withdrawal.

In their statement, they noted:

“It is a fact that there have been many similar examples in the past, and the EBU has always decided that these songs could compete.”

Despite the justifications and support they received, Neonoen chose to distance themselves from debates they believe do not serve the music.

The Future of Clickbait

Their song, Clickbait, which has already garnered attention as a “modern social phenomenon,” as the band describes it, will continue to be released as a single.

Supporting Montenegro’s New Representative

While stepping away from Eurovision, Neonoen expressed their full support for Montenegro’s future representative, stating:

“Now let’s all come together to support Montenegro at Eurovision!”

Who Will Represent Montenegro? Nina Žižić?

The question of who will now represent Montenegro at Eurovision 2025 remains unanswered. A logical favorite appears to be Nina Žižić, who was both a fan favorite and the runner-up at Montesong, just behind Neonoen. However, RTCG has yet to make an official announcement.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops!

Montenegro: No decision for NeonoeN and “Clickbait” yet!

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No decision has been made yet for NeonoeN group and their song “Clickbait” and if they continue to be the participation of Montenegro in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, depsite the fact that the final decision is expected whithin the day.

The national broadcaster of Montenegro, RTCG, posted an update on the case through their official account on Instagram.

“RTCG and UEUI requested the opinion of the European Broadcasting Union — the organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest — about whether NeonoeN in the newly created circumstances fulfills conditions for performing in Basel next year.”

“We want MONTESONG to remain a symbol of transparency and quality, in accordance with Eurovision rules. All decisions will be made in cooperation with the EBU. There will be no hasty decisions. That’s why it is important that everyone show patience and understanding at this moment.”

“The Podgorica rockers have confirmed last year’s song performance. They said: ‘We were not aware that a performance before September 1 was against the competition rules. We will respect every decision of the organisers and the EBU!”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Montenegro: NeonoeN comment on the possibility of being disqualified from Eurovision 2025.

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Just a few days ago, the band NeonoeN with their song “CLICKBAIT” won Montesong and the ticket to Basel, Switzerland, as they were selected to represent Montenegro at Eurovision 2025.

However, the national broadcaster of Montenegro, RTCG, confirmed the news that the winning band had presented a different version of the song “CLICKBAIT” before September 1, 2024, which violates the contest’s regulations, and if this is proven, NeonoeN may face disqualification.

The band, following the disclosure of this news, responded via social media, defending their victory and expressing their support in case another artist is chosen. Specifically, NeonoeN wrote in a post on their Instagram account:

Thank you to our colleagues and everyone who reached out to us. We are happy that you know that “CLICKBAIT” won under fair conditions and we had no advantage because we presented one of the versions of the song to a small audience in the past, when Montesong wasn’t even under consideration yet.

As we have already said, we love and appreciate all the participants in Montesong. We will respect any decision and are ready either to represent Montenegro to the best of our ability in Basel, or to support Nina if the decision is not in our favor.

Honestly, we expect and hope that NeonoeN and “CLICKBAIT” will impress at Eurovision and present Montenegro in the best possible way. After all, the EBU has dealt with similar situations in the past and always resolved them the same way.

Once again, THANK YOU all.

What will happen if NeonoeN is disqualified from Eurovision 2025?

Nina Žižić, who came second in Montesong with her song “Dobrodošli” (“Welcome”), could replace NeonoeN if they are disqualified from the contest. However, in the past, EBU has faced similar situations without canceling any participation. For example, after the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, a public performance of an earlier version of Jamala’s winning song “1944” from May 2015 was discovered. The video had been viewed by a few hundred people before it was published. The EBU then determined that the published video did not give Jamala’s song an unfair advantage in Eurovision 2016, and therefore no sanctions were imposed. A similar incident occurred with the 2019 Eurovision-winning song “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence, and the decision was similar to Jamala’s case.

You can listen to the song “CLICKBAIT” by NeonoeN below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJgSe4zKNxc&ab_channel=ESCRock

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

SOURCE: euromix

Montenegro: Are NeonoeN at risk of being disqualified from Eurovision 2025?

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Is there a possibility that the band NeonoeN and their song “CLICKBAIT” will be disqualified from the 69th Eurovision Song Contest?

As it was revealed via the official accounts of the national broadcaster of Montenegro and Montesong on Instagram, there is a possibility that “CLICKBAIT” and NeonoeN will be disqualified as representatives of this Balkan country. Specifically, the national broadcaster of Montenegro RTCG will investigate a video in which the band is seen performing their song at last year’s Kulture Zabjelo festival, that is, before September 1, 2024.

The final decision will be made tomorrow on whether “CLICKBAIT” will remain Montenegro’s entry for Eurovision 2025, following consultation between RTCG and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

In the event of the band’s disqualification, the second-place finisher in the Montesong 2024 ranking, Nina Žižić, will most likely take over the representation with the song “Dobrodošli”.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Montenegro: Detailed results of Montesong 2024

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The Montenegrin national selection for Eurovision 2024, Montesong 2024, concluded with 16 competing artists. The final result was determined by the combined votes of the professional jury and televoting, each accounting for 50% of the total score. The winner of the evening was Neonoen with the song “Clickbait,” who will represent Montenegro in Basel at Eurovision 2024.

Results Table

Position Artist Song Jury Votes Jury Points Televote Votes Televote Points Total Points
1 Neonoen “Clickbait” 54 10 443 10 20
2 Nina Žižić “Dobrodošli” 59 12 316 7 19
3 Baryak “Dva srca” 25 3 476 12 15
4 Đurđa “To ljubav je” 26 4 328 8 12
5 Kejt “Obala raja” 45 7 152 2 9
6 Tina Džankić “Nova” 34 5 154 3 8
7 Isak Šabanović “Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto” 24 2 241 5 7
8 Milena Vučić “Škorpija” 48 6 49 0 6
9 Tamara Živković “Poguban let” 39 6 107 0 6
10 Glumci Bend “San” 4 0 288 6 6
11 Verica Čuljković “Čuješ li” 6 0 168 4 4
12 Nemanja Petrović “Među zvijezdama” 18 1 109 1 2
13 Luka Radović “Kada dođe maj” 5 0 147 1 1
14 Anastasija Koprolčec “Kraj” 9 0 57 0 0
15 Dolce Hera “Repeat” 8 0 84 0 0
16 Bend 9 “Stop War” 2 0 143 0 0

Televoting Results

The televote rankings, based on the number of audience votes, were as follows:

  • 1st place: Baryak with 476 votes.
  • 2nd place: Neonoen with 443 votes.
  • 3rd place: Đurđa with 328 votes.
  • 4th place: Nina Žižić with 316 votes.
  • 5th place: Glumci Bend with 288 votes.
  • 6th place: Isak Šabanović with 241 votes.
  • 7th place: Verica Čuljković with 168 votes.
  • 8th place: Tina Džankić with 154 votes.
  • 9th place: Kejt with 152 votes.
  • 10th place: Luka Radović with 147 votes.
  • 11th place: Bend 9 with 143 votes.
  • 12th place: Tamara Živković with 107 votes.
  • 13th place: Nemanja Petrović with 109 votes.
  • 14th place: Milena Vučić with 49 votes.
  • 15th place: Dolce Hera with 84 votes.
  • 16th place: Anastasija Koprolčec with 57 votes.

Montenegro: With Neonoen and “Clickbait” in Basel!

The winner, Neonoen with the song “Clickbait,” received strong support from both the jury (2nd place) and the public (2nd place), securing the top spot overall. The song stood out with its modern aesthetic and captivating performance, earning the opportunity to represent Montenegro at Eurovision 2024.

The public favorite was Baryak with “Dva srca,” receiving the highest number of televotes but finishing 3rd overall due to a lower jury score.

Nina Žižić with “Dobrodošli” narrowly missed victory, as a higher televote score (an additional 8 points) could have resulted in a tie with Neonoen. In such a case, the jury’s preference, per Montesong rules, would have awarded her the win.

Stay tuned for all updates related to Eurovision 2024!

Montenegro: With Neonoen and “Clickbait” in Basel!

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Tonight the national final of Montenegro took place for the selection of the country’s participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Montesong 2024 was held in Podgorica, at the Voco Sports Hall with a total of sixteen competing artists.

Montenegro will return to the contest after two years break. The last time they participated was with Vladana who finished 17th in the semi-final and did not qualify to the grand final.

The presenters of the national final were Marko Todorović and Vladana Vučinić.

The Show

The show started with Danijel Popovic, a well-known Montenegrin artist who went to Eurovision for Yugoslavia back in 1983, performing the beloved Yugoslav song “Džuli” (Julie), that got the fourth place. Vladana Vučinić also performed her song “Breathe” , but the Italian version. Afterwards, the hosts took us through a deep-dive of Montenegrin Eurovision history, showcasing all the iconic moments. After even more history, and a special shout-out to Basel, the show began.

Before the voting started, the hosts joked about Montenegro not having a place where Eurovision could be hosted. Because of that, they jokingly hoped for the second place. While people were voting, Sergej Ćetković performed “Moj Svijet”.

After the the voting closed Emmelie de Forest performed her winning song “Only Teardrops”.

The order of performances was as follows:

  1. Anastasija Koprolčec – “Kraj” (The end)
  2. Tina Džankić – “Nova” (New)
  3. Nemanja Petrović – “Među zvijezdama” (Among the stars)
  4. Bend 9 – “Stop war”
  5. Tamara Živković – “Poguban let” (Fatal flight)
  6. Luka Radović – “Kada dođe maj” (When May comes)
  7. Đurđa – “To ljubav je” (That’s love)
  8. Kejt – “Obala raja” (Coast of paradise)
  9. Nina Žižić – “Dobro došli” (Welcome)
  10. Neonoen – “Clickbait”
  11. Isak Šabanović- “Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto” (Summer, summer, summer)
  12. Glumci Bend – “San” (Dream)
  13. Dolce Hera – “Repeat”
  14. Baryak – “Dva srca” (Two hearts)
  15. Verica Čuljković – “Čuješ li” (Do you hear?)
  16. Milena Vučić – “Škorpija” (Scorpio)

Voting

The winner of Montesong 2024 was determined by a 50% jury vote and a 50% public televote. The jury consisted of seven members, who awarded points (1 to 7, 8, 10, and 12) to their ten favorite songs. These points were then combined to give an overall jury result, which were converted into points from 1 to 7, 8, 10, and 12.

For the public vote, voters were able to submit only one vote per phone number. Voting was done via SMS and the cost was 1 Euro. Voting opened for 20 minutes, and the total votes were then converted into points from 1 to 7, 8, 10, and 12

Results

The voting was formed by 50% jury vote and a 50% public televote. The jury results were:

The jury awarded with 12 points Nemanja Petrović, Baryak, Nina Žižić, Neonoen and Milena. The winner of the jury vote was Nina Žižić.

The public gave the 12 points to Baryak. The number of televotes was announced by the televote supervisor and was in total 2233 votes.

The winner was Neonoen with “Clickbait”. They got 10 points from both the televote and the jury.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about Montenegro’s participation in Eurovision 2025, in Basel!