An ongoing dispute over music copyright in FYR Macedonia has resulted in an unusual situation with Junior Eurovision 2016. According to local media, when the JESC show is broadcast in FYR Macedonia, the audio of the Macedonian and Serbian songs will be muted.

This stems from a protest ban on playing local music on Macedonian radio and television. The ban has been put in place by the Musical Copyright Society of Macedonia (ZAMP) as a protest action against the Macedonian government granting a license to rival association SOKOM-MAP.

Broadcaster MRT had asked for an exemption from the ban for the broadcast of JESC, arguing that children should not be caught up in this adult drama.

But no response has been received from ZAMP, meaning that as it stands, the broadcaster will have to mute the audio of two songs. FYR Macedonia’s entry “Love Will Lead Our Way (Ljubovta ne vodi)” by Martija Stanojkovic will be silenced, as will the Serbian entry “U la la la” by  Dunja Jelicic.

The ongoing ban on broadcasting local music has also affected Skopje Fest, the popular music festival which sometimes serves as the national final for Eurovision. The 2016 holding of the long-running festival has been cancelled, due to the uncertainty that the ZAMP music ban has caused.

There is also speculation that the ongoing dispute may affect FYR Macedonia at Eurovision 2017, particularly with MRT’s ability to select an entry for the competition.

READ MORE JUNIOR EUROVISION 2016 NEWS

READ MORE FYR MACEDONIA EUROVISION NEWS

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oooops
oooops
7 years ago

If there is anything that should be banned, it is ZAMP

James
James
7 years ago

@escfan
Well the ebu has made exceptions many times to the rules on case by case basis. I don’t believe this situation has happened before . They absolutely should be disqualified from adult eurovision if they cannot resolve this by then…but this situation is more unusual in that there is no televote so essentially it doesn’t matter who shows it live or if songs are muted because the result is being internally decided anyway. I don’t see any reason why they can’t make a exception because of that.

EsCfan
EsCfan
7 years ago

I think they could be disqualified! Isn’t that against the rules?!

James
James
7 years ago

I guess altho it doesn’t affect the ebu too much for this one as there is no televote and the juries will still be able to hear the entries and vote accordingly so there’s no affect to the outcome of the competition. But it depends whether the ebu still object even if there is no televoters..I personally think they should make an exception for this and just allow it. Of course it’s a worry for Eurovision 2017 as you can’t mute an entry from another country when there is a televote.. if they can’t find a solution soon they will… Read more »

Lak
Lak
7 years ago

Just like Romania.. just without the debt part. I really hope Martija can stay, a child shouldn’t be affected by adults like this.

Lanti
7 years ago

Well in this case only the TV audience gets affected; they can’t vote anyways since it’s all jury vote this year.

khm
khm
7 years ago

@ooops, nothing, it’s just that they are competition to the mafia.

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Hhat is wrong with SOKOM-MAP?

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
7 years ago

If they are disqualified i would cry. I’m Dutch, but i think this song is amazing and is my favorite JESC song ever <3. I think that it would be REALLY unfair to Martija, as she was going to represent her country on a big stage, but 'adult- stuff' ruined it for her. I hope this isn't going to happen tho, and everyhing would be normal 🙂

beccaboo1212
7 years ago

I dunno how this is gonna work. Despite the fact that I’m not from Europe (I’m of British, German, and Irish descent), I didn’t expect the entries from Serbia AND Macedonia to be muted. 🙁

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

Haha the Macedonians won’t be able to hear their song and Serbia’s too. Serbia will probably still get 12 anyway.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

I’m so tired about these music copyrigth societies… like the SGAE in Spain. They are just a mafia.

tvfan
tvfan
7 years ago

@xESCx : Serbian equivalent of ZAMP supports ZAMP in the boycott. 😉

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

This is so childish…

KennyESC
KennyESC
7 years ago

If they mute Cyprus’s song instead of FYR Macedonia’s I will be happy because Serbia’s & Cyprus’s are horrible.

Just joking. (However Serbia’s & Cyprus’s songs are horrible for real imho)

Btw I’m scared EBU will disqualify them (from ESC too). I just hope they find a solution or at least leave JESC alone, they could easily have a Top 5 position this time and it would be SO dumb to be disqualified for this. :/

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

This is ridiculous indeed! Especially since they will not be able to listen to the amazing song from Serbia.

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
7 years ago

This is just simply ridiculous!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Every broadcaster should mute Serbia’s song, it succs so bad. Jokes apart, they should be disqualified for this.

Pollaski IV: A New Hope
Pollaski IV: A New Hope
7 years ago

Isnt it awesome when stuff gets ruined because of a beauracratic pissing contest?

johanleekens
johanleekens
7 years ago

I think they wouldn’t be allowed in the competition if there would be televoting, but this is ridiculous. If you can’t hear all the songs you shouldn’t participate
@xESCx, I think it is for all Former-Yugoslav countries

Poli(na) Genova
Poli(na) Genova
7 years ago

Does this respect the EBU rules??

xESCx
xESCx
7 years ago

Sorry can someone explain what Serbia has got to do with this?

DenizNL
DenizNL
7 years ago

That’s a real shame! Serbia and their song are for me easily the best and two of the most upbeat songs this year. Without those songs it’s pretty weird for the Macedonians.