Netherlands: AVROTROS has decided not to pursue legal action in response to Joost Klein’s disqualification

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Following the dismissal of the accusations against Joost Klein, the Dutch representative for this year’s Eurovision, there has been a backlash in the country, with calls mounting to take the EBU to court. In this context, lawyer Gerard Spong argued that AVROTROS – the country’s public broadcaster – should file a defamation complaint against the EBU. However, AVROTROS does not plan to take such action, according to formal statements made by broadcaster executives to the ANP news agency.

The Dutch entry was disqualified from this year’s competition just hours before the grand final. According to the EBU the Dutch representative used abusive language against a member of the contest production crew.

More specifically, the Dutch broadcaster states that its purpose is not to obtain financial compensation but to contribute to improving the conduct of the competition.

We can’t undo what’s been done. Nor are we seeking to get richer through it. We want to make things better not only for the Netherlands but also for other countries.

At the same time, the representatives of AVROTROS mentioned, once again, that the country’s participation in the upcoming competition depends on the future decisions of the EBU on this issue. They stressed, however, that the broadcaster’s intention is to compete in Switzerland next May.

We’ve been clear from the beginning that things really have to change for us to be there next year. It depends on future EBU decisions.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding our favourite music competition!

Source: RTL

Italy: The regulations of Festival di Sanremo 2025!

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RAI has already announced Italy’s participation in Eurovision 2025. Festival di Sanremo will once again serve as the country’s national selection process for Eurovision 2025 and it will take place from 11 to 15 February 2025.

Festival di Sanremo will see minor changes in its format in 2025 along with a new artistic director, namely Carlo Conti, who will return to this role after eight years.

DAY 1  –  TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025

All the 24 participating songs in the “Campioni (Big)” category will be heard for the first time, and journalists from TV and electronic media will exclusively determine the first night’s results.

DAY 2  –  WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

The first 12 songs from the “Campioni (Big)” category will be performed on the second night again. The outcome of that night will be decided in equal shares by televoting and the voting of representatives from the Italian radio.

DAY 3  –  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025

The remaining 12 songs from the “Campioni (Big)” category will be performed during the third night and the results will be determined as in the second night (50-50).

DAY 4  –  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025 (COVER NIGHT)

The 24 competitors will sing a cover of a popular Italian or non-Italian song, and the outcome on that particular day will be decided by a triple vote consisting of 34% televoting, 33% press, TV, and internet jury, and 33% radio jury.

The special cover night award will also be given to the winner.

DAY 5  –  SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025

The 24 artists will perform again, and a three-way vote will determine the outcome on that night: 34% will be cast by televoting, 33% by the press, TV, and internet jury, and 33% by radio jury.

These results and the results from the first three nights of Sanremo 2025 will then be combined. The top five will then be determined by adding these results together (day 4 results will not be tallied).

A triple vote will be used to determine the winner after the top five either performs  their entries again or following the recap, as following:

  • 33% press, TV, and web jury
  • 34% televoting
  • 33% radio jury

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.

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: RAI

Cyprus: The song for Eurovision 2025 is ready!

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A few days before the official start of the season for Eurovision 2025, CYBC seems to have already advanced to a great extent its preparations for the contest. In the final phase of the discussions is the Cypriot public television with two male artists, who are based in Cyprus. Very soon and after the necessary paperwork is completed, the CYBC will make official announcements.

 

CYBC goes with a young talent from at Eurovision 2025

In our previous article you had read that the next Cypriot representative in the contest would be an artist based in Cyprus and with a guarantee that would allow him to stand worthy on the Eurovision stage.

Therefore, the CYBC evaluation committee concluded on the two best. These are male artists, with significant musical studies, but also with a strong artistic identity. Both cases are considered suitable for representing the country in this important music competition.

How was the choice made?

As you had read in our previous article, the CYBC evaluation committee decided between a short list, which included artists with the following characteristics:

To be able to stand on the demanding Eurovision stage
and as we write above to have its base in Cyprus

Two artists stood out and RIK is in advanced discussions with them, so that once the paperwork is completed, it will be able to make the first announcements within September, with the artist who will be finally selected.

The first details about the song

Every year CYBC chooses the song first and then chooses the artist. This year’s Cypriot participation could not be an exception to this.

The Cyprus song for Eurovision 2025 has already been chosen and it is signed by really great musicians. We will not talk about it, since we neither want to prejudge you nor accuse us of being subjective. But it is very special and fills the Cypriot delegation with more optimism than usual…

Cyprus will be represented with a strong and different song, but also with a project in general that will be discussed and perhaps even leave an era, since it will bring to the fore a great person from the past. But who is he? The answer will be given only in May, on the stage of the competition.

Until then, stay tuned to Eurovisionfun because the Cypriot journey to Eurovision 2025 will be particularly interesting this year!

Finland: Submission window for Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu now open!

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Having already confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2025, Finland has officially opened the submission window for Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2025 (UMK), the national final, through which the Scandinavian country will select their representative that will travel to Switzerland. Read more

Norway: Stig Karlsen steps down as Head of Delegation!

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Stig Karlsen, one of the most prominent Eurovision figures of the past years, has announced his resignation from his roles as project manager for MGP and HoD for Noway after ten years.

Stig Karlsen made his choice in response to an offer of a new position. In particular, he will handle Jannicke Mikkelsen’s communications and media during her SpaceX mission, making history as the first female astronaut from Norway.

Regarding his choice to withdraw from the Eurovision project, Stig Karlsen mentions:

10 years is a decent length of time for a project, and now this fantastic offer came up with a Norwegian astronaut, so now the time had come.

It is because of this job offer that I got. I believe that music and culture are a bridge-builder, and I also believe that the EBU will get the event back in order.

By October 1st, Stig Karlsen will begin his new responsibilities. This implies that he will carry on working for NRK until then, and it is likely that he will choose the MGP lineup for the next edition.

Karlsen’s successor is currently being sought after, and it is a difficult task given the position’s high level of responsibility.

Only once under Karlsen’s leadership did Norway miss out on the Grand Final, while in 2019, KEiiNO and “Spirit in the Sky” won the public vote.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: NRK

Eurovision Young Musicians 2024: Leonhard Baumgartner from Austria wins the 21st edition!

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Last night, the 21st edition of the Eurovision Young Musicians contest took place in Bodø, Norway.

Musicians from eleven countries competed for the grand prize, while the show was hosted by Silje Nordens and Mona Berntsen:

  • Armenia: Hayk Hekekyan – Oboe
  • Austria: Leonhard Baumgartner – Violin
  • Belgium: Mahault Ska – Piano
  • Czechia: Adam Znamirovský – Piano
  • France: Pierre-Emmanuel Hurpeau – Piano
  • Germany: Fabian Egger – Flute
  • Norway: Sebastian Egebakken Svenøy – Piano
  • Poland: Jeremi Tabęcki – Clarinet
  • Serbia: Bogdan Dugalić – Piano
  • Sweden: Hugo Svedberg – Cello
  • Switzerland: Valerian Alfaré – Euphonium

Following the voting of a four-member jury, the top three was as following:

  1. Austria: Leonhard Baumgartner – Violin
  2. Sweden: Hugo Svedberg – Cello
  3. Germany: Fabian Egger – Flute

Hence, Austria’s Leonhard Baumgartner emerged victorious in Eurovision Young Musicians 2024, marking both the nation’s sixth victory overall and the tenth time a violinist has taken home the trophy.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news! 

Vladana Vučinić: “This is the beginning of a new, successful era of Montenegro in Eurovision” | More ingo regarding the national final!

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It’s now official, Montenegro will return to Eurovision 2025 in Switzerland, and Vladana Vučinić, representative in 2022, made a few statements from her new role as Creative Director at RTCG, the country’s public television.

A few days ago, RTCG announced their plans for a new national final called “Montesong”, initially planed to take place before the new year. Regarding the return of the country, Vladana said:

“We are thrilled that Montenegro is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025. After several years of absence, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our country’s rich cultural diversity on the European stage. Our representative will be selected through a national competition called ‘Montesong’, which will be organised in collaboration with the Association of Performing Artists and Entertainers of Montenegro. This partnership is designed to encourage as many Montenegrin performers as possible to participate. Our goal is to promote new musical talents and reconnect with the wider European audience. We believe this will mark the beginning of a new and successful era for Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest.”

She also gave some more information regarding the highly anticipated national final:

“While composers can be from any country, the performers must be Montenegrin citizens. The lyrics of the songs must be written at least 51% in the official languages used in Montenegro. Composers are required to submit a final or high-quality demo recording of their song, up to three minutes in length, featuring the performer who will perform the song at the competition. The submission must include a five-digit code under which the composition will undergo the selection process. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2024.”

Those interested can find more information on RTCG’s official website.

The last time Montenegro took part in Eurovision, was in 2022, when Vladana performed “Breathe” in Turin:

https://youtu.be/L-ViRVRiGl0

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

Source: eurovision.tv

Baby Lasagna: “I condemn the actions of Israel’s government” | The artist’s post after his interview!

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A few days ago, the representative of Croatia in this year’s contest, Baby Lasagna, gave an interview to Croatian media, after which, there was a wave of reactions, both from the fans of the contest, and some contestants. Read more

Portugal: Festival da Canção confirmed as selection method for Eurovision 2025 | Submission window opened today!

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Officially confirming its participation in Eurovision 2025, Portugal has started its search for its next representative, who will travel to Switzerland! Read more

San Marino: The dates for the “Academy & Casting” stage!

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Una Voce per San Marino will return as the country’s selection format for the fourth consecutive year. Despite rumors claiming that San Marino’s participation in Eurovision 2025 is uncertain, the preparations have already started for RTV San Marino.

Meanwhile, casting dates for UVPSM 2025 have also been revealed. The Academy and Casting stage of the competition will be held starting from September until late January 2025:

  1. 26 – 29 September
  2. 17 – 19 October
  3. 14 – 16 November
  4. 12 – 14 December
  5. 9 – 11 January
  6. 23 – 25 January

UVPSM 2025 – the process

This edition of UVPSM will consist of three phases:

Registrations

The submission window for artists willing to represent San Marino in Eurovision 2025 is open and will remain open until December 31, 2024. There are no other specific rules regarding the submitted acts. There is a freedom of language, music style and territoriality.

Academy & Castings’ stage

The Academy is a gathering for education focused on entertainment-related topics, with the goal of studying and learning about the world of music.

The casting process entails the live, private audition to select the Semi-finalists, followed by the jury’s evaluation. The jury will choose roughly eighty contestants or more to advance to the next round.

This stage will take place in San Marino Outlet Experience.

Semi-Finals and Final stage

The eighty selected participants will advance to the final stage:

  • Four semi-finals will take place in order for the committee to select the artists who will directly advance to the Grand Final as well as those who will advance to the second-chance semi-final(fifth semi-final). The artists participating in the second-chance semi-final will also fight for a spot at the selection’s Grand Final. From each semi-final, two artists will advance directly to the Final of UVPSM 2025, while two more acts will be determined via the repechage semi-final.
  • Moreover, a sixth semi-final will be held between Sanmarinese contestants. Out of this semi-final, only one contestant will be directly advanced to the Grand Final.

In total, eleven acts will participate in the Grand Final of UVPSM 2025 and will claim the Sanmarinese representation in Switzerland.

The winner of UVPSM 2025 will be decided by a five-member jury. The winner of the selection will therefore have the right to represent the nation at the Eurovision Song Contest in terms of meeting the criteria of eligibility of RTV.

A notable difference compared to last year’s edition of UVPSM is that there will be no “established artists” category; thus, no invitations will be sent by RTV San Marino.

Despite this marathon session of a national selection, Megara, UVPSM 2024 winners, did not manage to qualify to the Grand Final, finishing fourteenth in the second semi-final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: sanmarinoRTV