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SVT in crisis meetings for Melodifestivalen, after the newly imposed restrictions!

Tens of thousands of spectators who have purchased tickets for the Melodifestivalen tour shows held in February and March of 2022 are in danger of losing the opportunity to watch their favourite artists perform live.

It has become clear since the Swedish government and the Public Health Organization, imposed new strict guidelines concerning the pandemic, due to the new coronavirus variant spreading across the community.

According to information from Aftonbladet , back-to-back crisis meetings of the editorial staff of SVT, took place on Wednesday .

Aftonbladet contacted Melodifestivalen project manager Anette Brattström via text message and she confirmed the crisis meetings at SVT:

We have just received the information on the new guidelines in place and this is of course a challenge for Melodifestivalen 2022. We are currently having internal discussions with all the involved parties, in order to find a solution.

Tickets for the concerts are almost sold out

SVT is responsible for the television broadcast of Melodifestivalen, but Live Nation is responsible for the tour concerts and ticket sales. As early as Monday, Live Nation sent an email to its customers informing them that tickets for the Melodifestivalen 2022 concerts were almost sold out.

The new imposed measures

However, the new restrictions may mean that up to half of the tickets sold may have to be cancelled. On Tuesday, the government announced that any public events involving more than 500 people would require both vaccination certificates and social distancing rules of at least one-meter in all directions, between each group of visitors. In a theatre or arena, this also means in practice that every other row, seats must remain empty to ensure the one-meter social distancing rule.

The 2022 tour to be held in the same cities as in 2014

In 2014, Melodifestivalen was held in the same cities as in 2022. At that time, a total of 59,200 seats were available for the concerts.

Assuming that Melodifestivalen 2022 expects to gather around the same number of people in the arena again, this means that around 30,000 ticket buyers may be left without a seat, next year. In addition, there are two rehearsals open to the public every week, on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. This could mean that another 10,000 spectators may not have a place to seat.

A source from the industry with good insight explains:

This is how things are. Some situations cannot be avoided. We hope, of course, that the government will take action and be able to remove the restrictions by next year, but when it comes to Melodifestivalen, it is not easy to take a chance. The question is whether you can be icy cold, at least for the final and keep hoping that the situation will have changed by then.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments related to the Swedish national selection for Eurovision 2022!

Source: Aftonbladet

Italy: COVID-19 threatens Sanremo 2021 | RAI final decisions in January!

At the presentation of AmaSanremo, the competition through which 6 finalists for the Giovani category of Sanremo 2021 will emerge, the artistic director and presenter of the Festival, Amadeus, revealed that the final decisions of RAI will be announced in January, since no one can already knows what will happen with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amadeus said that both he and the RAI people are working to have a safe Sanremo from March 2 to 6, with the audience in the stands of the Teatro Ariston. Unfortunately, the evolution with the pandemic is such that nothing can be ruled out. Any decisions, however, will be made in January.

However, regardless of what will eventually happen and what RAI will decide, all the procedures related to Sanremo 2021 continue normally. Amadeus has already revealed that the interest in the Big category is twice as high as last year, from all record companies and independent musicians. He characteristically stated that among the candidates we will see well-known names, but also contemporary artists who are now making a success.

The director of RAI1, Stefano Coletta confirmed what Amadeus said, adding that nothing is a given at the moment and especially for the presence or not of the public, they will decide at the last minute, taking into account the epidemiological situation that will prevail.

We remind you that according to the recently announced Sanremo 2021 regulations, the winner of the big category will have the opportunity if he/she wishes to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. In case of refusal then RAI will select another contestant of the big category, most likely following the final ranking of the festival. The artists of the big category of Sanremo 2021 will be announced on the night of the selection of the 8 finalists of the Giovani category, in the Casino of the City of Sanremo, on the 17th of December.

The winner of Sanremo 2020 and the representative of Italy in Eurovision 2020 that was finally canceled, was Diodato with Fai Rumore:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogyi0GPR_Ik

Source: radioitalia

EBU: Reference Group meeting for Coronavirus and Eurovision 2020 tomorrow | Shots canceled for all postcards

Tomorrow, we probably will have some interesting news regarding the  Eurovision 2020 and the impact that the spread of coronavirus has. As the Czech Public Broadcaster’s official website for the contest announced tomorrow (17\3), the Reference Group is meeting to assess the situation and the new data.

While the pandemic is spreading elsewhere in Europe faster and elsewhere and with daily cancellations or postponements of major sporting and cultural events, the fate of the Eurovision song contest remains still unknown.

According to the latest EBU official announcement, any decisions will be made in April. Based on our own information, the EBU examines various scenarios, of course considering their legal dimension as well. Postponing the competition, however easy it may be in words, is a complicated process.

We do not think that tomorrow there will be a final decision on what is to come with this year’s competition. Both the Dutch organizers and the EBU are in close contact with the relevant health services, while considering alternative scenarios that may need to be implemented.

What is certain is that the postcard shootings that would take place in different parts of the Netherlands at this time will be postponed for the time being. If all goes well, what will become of the Ukrainian model of 2017, when the postcard shooting, was the first week of rehearsals.

 

Eurovision 2020: Parties Canceled in Riga, Tel Aviv and Madrid | Standby from London, Amsterdam and Moscow

With the coronavirus pandemic spreading to more and more countries, all events and events planned for the next period are canceled or postponed. Of course, the Eurovision Pre Party, held annually before the contest, could not be an exception in Moscow, Riga, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, London and Madrid.

Three of those have already been canceled, giving fans and reporters an appointment next year. The organizers of the parties in Riga, Tel Aviv and Madrid have decided not to risk the artists, but also those who wish to be involved, to cancel them at least for this year.

Amsterdam, Moscow and London are on hold waiting to see the pandemic unfold, to make their final decisions, always in cooperation with the health authorities. However, it is very difficult to imagine that these parties would not have the fate of the others that were canceled.

In the Netherlands there are even bans on people gathering more than 100 until early April, bans expected to continue in April. Russia and the United Kingdom still do not have such bans, and according to what their governments say they are not expected. But the question is who will travel in the midst of a pandemic when there are travel restrictions in most countries!

Italy: “Fai Rumore” on the streets because of the coronavirus

For a week now, starting in Lombardy, Italy has been in full quarantine due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as both outbreaks and deaths in the country have been increasing steadily.

Italy’s once-crowded streets are now reminiscent of a dead country, with its citizens unwilling to remain quiet for much longer, wishing to make “some noise” as the title of this year’s Eurovision entry, “Fai Rumore ”.

From the balconies, windows and ceilings of their homes, the Italians are trying to regain some courage because of the pandemic that has ravaged the planet, singing “Fai Rumore” while following the instructions of the state to stay in their homes ( #RestaACasa).

Diodato, for his part, shares via his Instagram account, posts by locals who reproduce “Fai Rumore” loudly on the quieter streets of Italy.

The lyrics of “Fai Rumore” fit perfectly into suffocating quiet Italy as the song refers to an unusual tranquility among people:

You make noise here
And I don’t know if it’s good for me
If your noise suits me
But make noise, yes
Because I can’t stand it
This unnatural silence
Between me and you.

https://youtu.be/TA57rugucwk

Eurovision 2020: This is EBU’s Plan B

Slovenia’s Public Television Managing Director Natalija Gorscak unveiled EBU’s  Plan B for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest. According to Gorscak, if the pandemic continues to spread, then this year’s contest is likely to be held by contestants interpreting their entries from their countries of origin in a television studio.

“At the EBU they are preparing as if Eurovision is normal. I am personally in touch with the administration, which has a plan B in which we will be more involved [the national broadcasters]. In Slovenia, this is supposed to be done in the TV studio.

If this scenario goes ahead, each member will broadcast their participation from a television studio. That’s what they think. Everything is under discussion, but in principle it acts as if Eurovision was in Rotterdam [as originally planned]”

Natalija Gorscak’s statements confirm the previous announcement by the EBU that any official announcements on the issue will take place in mid-April.

This proposed Plan B will be reminiscent of the EBU plan for Russia’s participation in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Prior to the competition in Kiev, Russia’s Yulia Samoylova was banned from entering Ukraine due to her previous appearance in the disputed region of Ukraine. Crimea. EBU offered Russia the opportunity to appear in the competition using a satellite link between a Russian studio and the main arena in Kiev. However, Russia preferred to withdraw from the competition.

However, it is more likely that the plan the EBU is considering this year will include video performance rather than live performances, as this would even have technical problems for the EBU. In addition, it proposes that the EBU will make every effort to make the contest as planned in May, possibly because logistical issues make it virtually impossible to postpone it for later.

Source:ESCXtra

 

Eurovision 2020: In Mid-April the decisions regarding COVID-19

Eurovision 2020 Committee have a meeting in Rotterdam today about the consequences that the spread of coronavirus may have on the smooth running of the 65th Eurovision Song Contest, two months from today in Rotterdam. Despite differing opinions, everyone agreed that the decisive decision on the fate of the contest would be made in a month from now, sometime in mid-April, since it is now too early to make any estimates about the spread of the virus and the its consequences.

Rotterdam’s chief tourism adviser, Wethouder Kasmi, said there was no reason to cancel Eurovision 2020.

“There is no reason to cancel Eurovision 2020. There will be a new review in mid-April on how things are going. By then we have time”

As the mayor of Rotterdam said, authorities are working closely with the national health agency and any measures they deem appropriate will be taken. So far, however, preparations for the competition are still underway.

There were also voices opposing the above, after Geert Koster, a council member, pointed out that it was irresponsible to bring so many people to Rotterdam when all the details of the new virus had not yet been ascertained.

Source:Eurovoix

 

Eurovision 2020:”We are doing everything to make Eurovision 2020 work properly”

With most of the delegations leaders in Rotterdam for the meeting, the producer of this year’s Eurovision song contest,Sietse Bakker,made a statement that accurately indicated his intentions. The contest should take place normally if the situation in the Netherlands is not derogated from the coronavirus.

“We are monitoring the situation, we are in close contact with all the relevant authorities and we are doing our best to ensure that the Eurovision 2020 song contest is held! Let’s be optimistic – we still have 2 months. We are thrilled to present what we have planned to the heads of delegations from the 41 countries participating in Eurovision 2020. Some of them have participated online, most of them are here with us at #Rotterdam!”

Sietse Bakker

A statement from the meeting was also accompanied by a photo:

The statements of the Eurovision 2020 producer practically mean that at this point of time everything is going smoothly and no action will be taken. Anything that is circulating on the internet to cancel the contest or to hold the door closed was solemnly denied. The time and the competent authorities will dictate the need for action whenever necessary.

Absences from the meeting of the Heads of Delegations

We remind you that apart from the Greek Head of Delegation, the Heads of Delegation of Sweden, Finland and Israel were absent as well.. At the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Jon Ola Sand and other union executives will attend the meeting, after a case of coronavirus identified as an employee of the organization has quarantined all workers.

We are anxiously awaiting the announcements of today’s meeting, which will of course be the official submission of the 41 EBU entries for this year’s competition.

Eurovision 2020: Today the Heads of Delegations meeting to be held in Rotterdam

In the shadow of the coronavirus, today’s annual meeting of the Heads of Delegations participating in the 65th Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Rotterdam. Greece, like other countries, will not attend, but will participate in the meeting online.

For the first time in its history, the contest  is so threatened

For the first time in many years the scenario is being planned for the Eurovision Song Contest not to be held on its scheduled date. The outbreak of coronavirus, which is increasing in all countries of Europe  we would say is a rate, has forced many governments to take action. in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Among these measures are the cancellation or closed doors of the organization of mass events, where there is a large concentration of people. A recent example of this was the DMGP 2020 in Denmark, which, although it was normal, did so without spectators.

Absences at the meeting

We are therefore keen to await the Heads of Delegations  present in Rotterdam today and any announcements / decisions regarding the possible impact of the coronavirus on the smooth running of the 65th Eurovision Song Contest on 12, 14 and 16 May in Rotterdam .

We remind you that apart from the Greek Head of Delegation which will be  absent, the Head of Delegation of Sweden, Finland and Israel have announced their absent as well.. At the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Jon Ola Sand and other ] executives will attend the meeting, as a case of a coronavirus identified as an employee of the organization has quarantined all employees.

We are anxiously awaiting the announcements of today’s meeting, which will of course be the official submission of the 41 EBU entries for this year’s contest.