Netherlands: In spite of recent communication between AVROTROS and the EBU, participation in Eurovision 2025 is still up in the air

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In a recent article on Basel’s selection as the host city for Eurovision 2025, Dutch public television asserts that the country’s participation in the competition is still up in the air, while confirming that during the previous two weeks, discussions regarding all matters of mutual concern have been held with the EBU.

The Netherlands was disqualified from the competition this year as a result of a complaint that a production worker had filed. When she attempted to take a picture of him, Joost Klein allegedly threatened her, based on what was reported by the media. In the end, the Swedish prosecutor decided to archive the case because of uncertainties and insufficient evidence.

Since then, Dutch public television has not confirmed its participation in the next contest, citing matters that require discussion with the EBU. Although it appears that the discussion has taken place, Dutch public television has not yet stated whether or not it participate in Basel in May of the following year.

The Netherlands’ participation in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is still up in the air. Artists are usually required to submit their entries to AVROTROS, the broadcaster in charge of the Netherlands’ entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, before the end of July. Nevertheless, because Joost Klein was disqualified from the previous edition, the submissions are still closed this year.

Following the events of this years Eurovision Song Contest, AVROTROS wishes to alter a number of the competition’s rules. In this regard, the broadcaster previously submitted a letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the Eurovision Song Contest. AVROTROS and the EBU have talked as well in the past two weeks, but the Dutch broadcaster will not yet be in a position to provide a firm response on their participation in the event next year.

If the Netherlands does not participate next year, it will be only the fifth time in the 68-year history of the contest.

Dutch Public Television

By 15 September, public broadcasters  have a deadline to confirm their membership to the EBU. After then, they  have a window of time during which they can cancel their participation without incurring any fees. Subsequently, the list of participating countries is announced by the EBU, and withdrawals are now subject to a nominal punishment.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the Eurovision 2025 developments!

Source: NOS

Basel Announced as Host City for Eurovision 2025!

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Basel has been officially selected as the host city for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, as announced just moments ago by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Swiss public broadcaster SRG-SSR.

Selection Process

Forty days ago, Basel and Geneva emerged as the two finalist cities in SRG-SSR’s selection process to determine the host for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Switzerland next May. After weeks of anticipation, the mystery has been solved, and Basel will welcome the biggest televised event in Europe next spring.

Dates

The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled for the second/third week of May. The first semi-final will be held on Tuesday, 13th May, the second semi-final on Thursday, 15th May, and the grand final will take place on Saturday, 17th May.

Venue

The contest will be hosted at St. Jakobshalle, an arena located in Münchenstein, near Basel. Primarily used for indoor sports and concert events, St. Jakobshalle originally opened in September 1976 with a capacity of 9,000 people. Following renovations, the venue can now accommodate up to 12,400 spectators and has hosted numerous concerts and sports events, including the Swiss Indoors men’s tennis tournament.

Statements

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest said:

”The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The Contest was born in Switzerland in Lugano back in 1956 and it’s great to be bringing it back to its birthplace almost 70 years later.’

Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders.

With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Basel reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional St.Jakobshalle venue and outstanding hospitality will ensure a memorable experience for delegations, artists and fans alike.

Following Contests in the Italian and French speaking parts of the country in 1956 and 1989 we’re also excited to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to German Switzerland for the very first time.

Together with Host Broadcaster SRG SSR and the city of Basel we will create a spectacular celebration of music on the banks of the River Rhine that resonates far beyond the stage.’

Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel said:

‘It is a great honour for Basel to be able to host the world’s biggest live music event! We are looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to present Basel to the world as a cosmopolitan city of culture in the heart of Europe. As an open city in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, we overcome borders of all kinds every day. This fits in perfectly with the Eurovision Song Contest. We are already looking forward to welcoming our guests from all over Europe: welcome to Basel!’

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, SRG SSR’s Joint Executive Producers of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, added:

‘We were impressed by the quality of the cities’ applications! All 4 cities, and especially Geneva and Basel in the final round, fought for the title of “Host City” with creative approaches and a very constructive approach. Such commitment is by no means a matter of course. Our thanks therefore go to all the cities that applied. We look forward to working with you to make the ESC an unforgettable experience for the whole population.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6ff8tNCY2M

What Do You Think?

How do you feel about Basel being chosen as the host city for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Netta predicts the host city of Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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With only a few hours left until the announcement of the host city for Eurovision 2025, there is a tradition that has been built up over the last few years, and we couldn’t miss out.

We’re talking about Eurovision 2018 winner, Netta. Fans of the contest are now relying on her, to know which city won’t host the Contest, having predicted it wrong every time.

It is now a tradition to wait for Netta’s decision on the respective host city. Netta’s previous (wrong) predictions were:

  • For 2019 she predicted Jerusalem, in the end the host city was Tel Aviv
  • For 2021 she predicted Amsterdam, in the end the host city was Rotterdam
  • For 2022 she predicted Rome, in the end the host city was Turin
  • For 2023 she predicted Manchester, in the end the host city was Liverpool
  • For 2024 she predicted Stockholm, in the end the host city was Malmö

This year, a day before the official announcement, Netta posted a video announcing her prediction:

@netta This time I’m getting it right #eurovision ♬ original sound – Netta Barzilai

The two candidate cities are Geneva and Basel. With Netta choosing Geneva, it’s only natural that the Contest will take place in Basel. There are only a few hours left until the announcement, and let’s see if Netta guesses wrong for the sixth time!

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

Greece: Is Marina Satti the reason for the change of the president of ERT?

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The electronic edition of Avgi , mentions in an article the reasons for the non-remaining of Kon/nos Zoulas in the position of President of ERT. In fact, the columnist claims that, among others, Marina Satti’s appearance at Eurovision 2024 was one of the reasons why Kon/nos Zoulas is saying goodbye to the radio station of Agia Paraskevi.

Marina Satti “fires” Kon/nos Zoulas from ERT

From the first moment, both Marina Satti herself and other contributors to the Greek participation mentioned in their statements that the President of ERT himself, Kon/nos Zoulas, was the one who convinced the popular artist to say yes to Eurovision .

It is no secret that Kon/nos Zoulas, since 2019 when he had assumed the duties of the President of ERT, had several times proposed to Marina Satti and her record label, to represent Greece in the Eurovision contest. Finally, Marina Satti represented Greece in Malmö last May, taking 11th place with ZARI.

Marina Satti’s infamous yawn at the press conference, immediately after the end of the second semi-final and when the representative of Israel Eden Golan was speaking, had provoked strong reactions, forcing even the government representative to take a stand, effectively emptying the behavior of the Greek representative.

Much has been written since then, but the displeasure of the goverment is a given. At the time, many considered Mr. Zoulas to be responsible, as he was the one who chose Marina Satti as Greece’s representative in the competition. Newspaper Vima wrote at the time that the government would like the country’s representative at Eurovision to be chosen in 2025 with the participation of the audience, wanting in this way to abdicate any responsibility that would exist in the selection of the artist.

For what other reasons is Kon/nos Zoulas leaving?

Of course, as you understand, this is not the only reason why Kon/nos Zoulas is leaving ERT. According to the article, the goverment had been deeply dissatisfied with the works of Mr. Zoula in the last period. From the operation of ERTNews which was never in the right place at the right time, to the difficulties to collect the remunerative fee and from the publications about the expensive mixed productions, to the refusal to proceed with the Collective Labor Agreements with the Unions of ERT workers.

And a small editorial

Regardless of one’s view of Marina Satti’s behavior in the competition, it is paradoxical if expected that what upset the government was a rude act by an artist and not the dramas and complaints that accompanied the selection of last year’s Greek entry . Perhaps even this simple incident shows the pathogenicity of the Greek state and the way it solves problems and situations.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: AVGI

Head of German delegation: “Some artists did not applaud the others in the green room for the first time”

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The head of the German delegation, Alexandra Wolfslast, spoke about the toxic atmosphere created even by some artists in the green room during Eurovision 2024 in Malmo. She characterized as worrying, that for the first time in the history of the competition, some artists did not applaud the others in the green room, while she added that this year’s event damaged the image of Eurovision.

Speaking on theeurotrippodcast, Alexandra Wolfslast described this year’s Eurovision and what happened in Malmö as disturbing and shocking.

“We knew about all the political stresses going on and it had an impact on the Eurovision Song Contest in a way it never had before.

“Eurovision is always political, even if we say it isn’t. For me, it was very shocking because I always thought the Eurovision Song Contest was always a safe zone.

“I always thought the greatest thing ever is that every country gets along with each other – the artists are respecting each other, cheering for each other. That dramatically changed last year. 

“Normally when artists come to the green room, everybody is applauding them and all of  sudden, some artists are not applauding other artists – I thought that was really disturbing. 

“I really hope that we do whatever we can to make sure this does not happen again. This harmed the brand in my opinion.

Alexandra Wolfslast argues that any political ramifications should be left out of Eurovision, since the contest cannot resolve any political differences that exist.

“We will not solve the geopolitical situation, that will last and we have to live with it.” 

The head of the German delegation, blames the artists as well, without naming any of them, for the negative climate that prevailed behind the scenes, but also for the situations that were created and affected the image of the competition. In this direction were also the changes adopted by the EBU for the future of Eurovision, wanting to leave this year in the past and politically sterilizing the venues of the competition to avoid similar situations in the future.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: eurotrippodcast

 

“Basel has a better chance of hosting Eurovision 2025” says the RTS contest’s commentator

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Jean-Marc Richard, who has been commentating on the Song Contest for French-speaking Swiss television station RTS for over 30 years, believes that Basel has a better chance of hosting the event than the other candidate city, Geneva. He told the news agency Keystone-SDA that interest in the Eurovision Song Contest is greater in German-speaking Switzerland.

It is true that the response in French-speaking Switzerland has increased since Fribourg’s Gjon’s Tears came third in 2021. However, German-speaking Switzerland is closer to English and the entertainment formats of Eurovision.

If Basel wins the bid, the St. Jakobshalle will become the main venue for the Eurovision 2025, according to President of the Government Conradin Cramer. The government estimates the costs at CHF 30 to 35 million.

However, if Geneva becomes the venue for the world’s biggest singing competition, the Palexpo exhibition center right next to the airport would become the venue. According to city president Christina Kitsos, the costs here are estimated at around CHF 30 million.

The future venue can count on a huge advertising effect. After all, 163 million people watched the three live TV shows from Malmö in Sweden last May – according to Swiss television, almost 800,000 in Switzerland alone.

On Friday it will be announced which of the two cities will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. At ten o’clock cet, the award will be communicated via the official channels of the Swiss national broadcaster and contest’s official social media.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: m&k

JoJo Siwa expresses interest to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest?

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A crossover that we never thought we would experience. American-based singer JoJo Siwa has expressed her interest to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Everything began when JoJo’s brand-new song “Yesterday’s Tomorrow’s Today” grabbed fans’ attention on TikTok with its retro Polish disco vibe. It’s even said (not confirmed) that the singer has indeed Polish routes. Then, videos started to pop-up on TikTok endorsing JoJo Siwa to represent Poland in Eurovision 2025.

But the story doesn’t end there. These videos caught JoJo’s attention and began sharing videos on TikTok in which she mentioned getting ready for Eurovision.

@itsjojosiwa❤️✨♬ Yesterday’s Tomorrow’s Today – JoJo Siwa

Furthermore, it seems that JoJo Siwa is being followed by both the official Eurovision account and TVP’s account on TikTok

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Who is JoJo Siwa?

JoJo Siwa is a media personality, singer, dancer, and actress from the United States. She first appeared as a dancer along with her mother on two seasons of the reality TV series “Dance Moms” in 2015 and 2016. Siwa joined Nickelodeon in 2017 and appeared in a number of TV series. She released a number of kid-friendly songs under Nickelodeon in 2021, including “Boomerang“, which has over a billion views on YouTube. In 2020, she was listed among the 100 most significant individuals worldwide on Time’s yearly list. Siwa’s post-Nickelodeon career began in 2024 with her debut extended play, “Guilty Pleasure“, which featured the hit song “Karma“.

Is it all a coincidence? Is it all just fans’ wishful thinking or an advertising scheme? Time will tell…

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Italy: Rumored artists for Sanremo 2025!

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The most prestigious music festival in Italy, Sanremo Music Festival, is four and a half months away. Festival di Sanremo also serves as the nation’s selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest.

After Amadeus, whose impact on the Festival has surely left a mark, Carlo Conti returns to lead the 75th edition of Sanremo’s Music Festival as artistic director. It’s rumored that Conti is attempting to persuade prominent figures in the Italian music industry to take part, so his task will not be simple.

Thus, considering the labels that artists are in, the initial rumors about Sanremo 2025 participants suggest the following singers:

  • TIZIANO FERRO
  • ELODIE
  • BLANCO
  • TANANAI
  • EMMA
  • MATTEO BOCELLI
  • GAIA
  • OLLY
  • TOMMASO PARADISO
  • BRESH
  • SUBSONICA
  • LA RAPPRESENTANTE DI LISTA
  • ALBANO & ROMINA
  • ACHILLE LAURO
  • IRAMA
  • COMA_COSE
  • THE KOLORS
  • SARAH TOSCANO
  • PETIT
  • MADAME
  • ALFA
  • FRANCESCO GABBANI
  • VIRGINIO
  • BENJI & FEDE

Not just their fame but also the songs these performers can bring to Sanremo are important factors for Conti. But there’s still a long time to go before the formal announcements are made.

Sanremo 2025 – the schedule

First Evening: 24 artists perform their competing song (top five is revealed in a random order)

Second Evening: 12 artists perform their song (top five revealed in random order)

Third Evening: 12 artists perform their song (top five revealed in random order)

Fourth Evening: Covers’ Night, the artists will perform in a duet. The results of this semifinal will NOT be included in the main competition

Final: 24 artists will perform their competing song. The top five in the combined rankings of all semifinals advances in the Superfinal and gets to perform again. Juries and televote will vote again to decide the winner.

Italian representation in Eurovision 2025

If any of the 24 competitors (along with their respective record labels) want to compete in Eurovision 2025, they must complete a special form by the beginning of the festival’s final night on Saturday, February 15.

If the Sanremo 2025 winner has previously signed the interest form, he will be automatically considered Italy’s representative in the Eurovision 2025. Should he decide not to compete in Eurovision 2025, the festival’s organizing committee will select an artist from among those who have signed the interest form based on its own standards, which may or may not include the final score ranking.

Although originally scheduled from February 4 to February 8, eventually the festival was postponed, a week later. Therefore, it will take place from February 11 to February 15 in the small Ligurian town.

The winner of Sanremo’s Music Festival in 2024 was the debutant Angelina Mango with her song “La Noia“, who ultimately gained the right to represent Italy in Eurovision 2024, placing seventh in the Grand Final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: allmusicitalia

Eurovision Cruise 2024: The biggest Eurovision party went back to Helsinki and Stockholm!

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Eurovision fans meet once again in Helsinki to celebrate with their favorite acts and party at the sea.  This year, the Eurovision Cruise departed from Helsinki to Stockholm.

In these three days in the Baltic Sea, Eurovision fans could party inside the cruise, meet their favorite Eurovision acts, sing at the Eurovision Karaoke, and of course, attend the live performances at night.

These are some of our highlights of this year’s Eurovision Cruise.

Suzy

The Portuguese representative had time to talk with Eurovisionfun about her experience performing for the very first time on a Cruise, the love fans have for her and Quero Ser Tua.  Find out some not so well known facts about Suzy in this exclusive interview

Suzy performing Quero Ser Tua

DQ

There was no drama with DQ, who not only performed at the Eurovision Cruise but was also one of the main hosts of the biggest Eurovision party at the sea.  In this interview, DQ talks about what makes a drag artist great, her memories in Eurovision, and which drag act she will give it 12 points.

You can also watch the performances of Silvester Belt, Poli Genova and Hera Björk in the links embedded below:

 

Poli Genova was the last act announced for the cruise.  Initially, Ari Ólafsson was scheduled to perform at the Eurovision Cruise.  Unfortunately, he could not make it, and the Bulgarian representative at Eurovision joined us instead.

Another interesting fact: during her performance, Hera Björk performed her 2024 song “Scared of Heights” in both English and the Icelandic version of her song.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news and updates about Europe’s favorite music festival!

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Switzerland: 431 songs for Eurovision 2025!

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The submission of songs to Switzerland’s internal selection for Eurovision 2025 has ended. A total of 431 songs were submitted, four more than last year.

The host of Eurovision 2025 Switzerland has already started the process of selecting the song and the artist, who will represent the country at home next May.

According to what Swiss public television announced earlier, 431 songs were submitted for Eurovision 2025. As in previous years, the entry will be selected through a multi-stage selection process involving both audience and expert panels.

In addition to a Swiss audience jury, an international audience jury will also take part in various rounds of selection to determine which artist will represent Switzerland and with which song. These audience panels will be supplemented by a 25-member international jury of experts, members of which have already participated in jury duty at some point for their respective countries at the Eurovision Song Contest. The featured song will be announced early in the new year.

Switzerland was represented this year by Nemo with The Code, taking first place in the competition and bringing Eurovision 2025 to Switzerland for the third time. The city that will host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be announced on August 30, at 11.00 Greek time.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: swissinfo