Earlier this week, when the European Broadcasting Union confirmed the sad news that Eurovision 2020 was cancelled, it left one question — what would happen to all the songs intended for the show? Now the EBU has confirmed — the 2020 songs can NOT be held over until the next edition of the song contest.
The EBU announced the decision today on its social media accounts and website.
Following the cancellation of #Eurovision 2020 we’d like to share some news with you from @EBU_HQ. pic.twitter.com/LVxLKYR6lg
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 20, 2020
The EBU also confirmed that it was “exploring alternative programming, but not a competition, to help unite and entertain audiences around Europe during these challenging times.”
They explained, “It is our intention with this programming, and on our online platforms in the coming months, to honour the songs and artists which have been chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.”
This news follows an earlier claim from German television executive Thomas Schreiber that there could be a “Europe-wide offer from the EBU for all 41 countries that would have taken part in the ESC this year.”
Eurovision 2020 songs cannot be reused in 2021
And it’s this potential show that has led to the decision not to allow the 2020 songs to be held over for the next edition.
The Eurovision Reference Group decided that “in accordance with the Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, this year’s songs will not be eligible to compete when the Contest returns in 2021.”
This news will be disappointing to some broadcasters and artists who had hoped to carry over their 2020 entries for the next edition.
Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2020 singer VICTORIA had earlier written on Instagram, “we, the 2020 #Eurovision artists, should be allowed to perform our songs in 2021.” Following today’s news, VICTORIA quoted from the song, writing “In time my wound will be a scar”.
in time my wound will be a scar ?https://t.co/kGBMuT4dg5
— VICTORIA (@victoriageorge_) March 20, 2020
The EBU also clarified that participating broadcasters were free to send whoever they liked to the 2021 edition of Eurovision — either the 2020 artist or a newly selected one.
Some broadcasters have already confirmed that they will invite their Eurovision 2020 artist to again represent the country at Eurovision 2021, while others have confirmed that they will hold their usual national final for 2021.
What do you think? Should broadcasters be allowed to use their 2020 songs next year? What sort of Eurovision show would you like to see this year? Tell us your thoughts below!
[…] factor in all this was the fact the EBU won’t allow artists to re-use their songs from 2020 in 2021. Christian Blenker — ARD’s Eurovision boss at the time — told the German web site ESC-Kompakt […]
Eurovision 2021 needs to have all NEW songs. – Otherwise it would be a very dry show for Eurovision fans.
The 2020 artists all got great exposure anyway. Sorry kids, thats life.
Well I remember reading that Eurovision is a commercial event. Broadcaster have to pay for rights to broadcast. It could be possible that you have to pay that you could participate. That means that it is not so profitable to run the event without show and tickets. Plus there may be issues with licensing videos to broadcasters. It could be difficult to copyright what is already in youtube. So it could be as simple as: no profit – no Eurovision.
Organize the Eurovision Video Contest and put the winner of this competition to the final of ESC 2021.
If Lithuania wins this competion, then there will be 7 countries with automatic qualification to the grand final of Eurovision 2021 final (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Lithuania).
This should be 100% televoting.
They should either use the songs in 2021’s postcards or, idk, make a mashup of all the songs so the artists can sing as an the interval act. I agree with this idea because, by the time ESC 2021 arrives, we’d be tired of most of the 2020 songs (been listening to them nonstop), but I do believe they should be honored in the actual contest somehow, not just through this alternative programming.
I am sorry, but this so wrong against artists, viewers, listeners and broacasters. At least release a Eurovision 2020 cd with these songs and dvd with music video, interviews, and some extras. Please.
I’m getting really tired of the EBU. I fully understand why the contest was cancelled. Public safety is the most important thing. But they need to do something for these artists (including songwriters) because they just robbed them of an opportunity
Yeah, wild prediction: next year’s winner is going to be a big uplifting ballad about how to stay strong during hardship. Possibly from Italy.
I will miss many songs, but I think the biggest missed chance is Lithuania. It was not my no. 1 favorite, but this was their year hands down. They FINALLY had the chance to top We Are the Winners :DD Great if The Roop will be back, but I doubt they will find something that’s as much a phenomenon that On Fire would’ve been. We kinda saw it already.
What if they did a charity event. The artists from ESC 2020 will preform their song, and between the acts they would present a charity the viewers could donate to. This would of course happend after the pandemic is over.
Why people are so serious that Eurovision will be held in 2021? We still dont know where this with virus is going.
i didn’t like that many songs selected this year but the ones i did, i liked A LOT. it really sucks that they won’t get a chance to compete for an eurovision title, but hopefully some sort of event honouring these songs can be arranged, considering they have another year to arrange everything.
I can understand why the competition isn’t going ahead in May. But not allowing artists use the same songs next year doesn’t seem right. I’m beginning to think a digital competition should have been arranged for some point later in the year. People need escapism for a few hours to get away from current circumstances. Stay safe everyone and try to be positive.
Honestly the EBU should have considered a digital contest using a mixture of the already released music videos and final revamps, and use a jury/public voting system like in JESC with the online voting. Yes, while the winner in this format won’t host the next Eurovision, it won’t waste the already released songs (which angers me thinking of not hearing ‘On Fire’ and ‘Tears Getting Sober’ in a Eurovision capacity), and allows a consensus to which song could have won this year.
Has anyone here already heard Slovenia’s revamp? It’s beautiful! 🙂 It’s such a shame we won’t be able to see it performed at the Eurovision stage.
The first positive news for a while for me ! I had an appointement in Rotterdam and tickets for semi final but didnt LOVE any of chosen songs … hope to be there in 2021 😉 and Better songs !
Guys what dont you get from what they said? They are f*cking cancelling the contest to KEEP YOU SAFE, even holding the contest without audience THERE ARE F*CKING PEOPLE WHO WORK BEHIND THE F*CKING CAMERAS. Also, the contest WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THEN THERE WOULDN’T BE ENOUGH TIME TO ORGANIZE THE NATIONAL FINALS AND THE WHOLE CONTEST. F*cking Germany didn’t know if they will hold a national final or if they choose someone directly until February and you think that the whole contest would be organized in just some months? Also albania holds its… Read more »
SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!!!!!! IF WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR ANGER ABOUT THIS CANCELLATION, WE WILL!!!! DON’T FLAMING TELLS US WHAT TO DO. ?????????
Well quite outrageous. They dismissed all that effort of 41 countries!? It is just outrageously unfair towards artists, countries and all of us.
If it is about the rules, rules can be changed. There was a rule to organise Eurovision every year in May and it was broken this year, so all rules can be changed. Especially now, to honor the songs, the artists all that effort.
All countries should be invited to use their ALREADY SELECTED songs which didnt have a chance to compete.
After this decision, I really hope they come up with a special show later this year where every act is invited to perform their song but without choosing a winner (so basically Eurovision without the voting). Just so they are at least able to have performed their song and to give them a little bit of justice. Especially after the difficult times it would be nice to see all the countries reuniting and celebrating together again. I also think it doesn’t have to be necessarily held in the Netherlands but anywhere where it’s possible. Whatever the EBU decides, I really… Read more »
https://youtu.be/1qdBc0-p4ww
This was Ahoy yesterday.
Ducth artists, Davina Michelle or Snelle performing in Ahoy. No audience of course.
Are we even sure ESC will return in 2021? All Sand said was that it will return, not that it will in 2021. We might be looking at a longer cancellation. Or a permanent one. For all we know 2019 might have been the last ever…
this is just fearmongering and speculation with nothing behind it
Denis, please get a life, your comments are becoming more and more annoying by the day.
Denis, wtf is your problem?
I’m glad with the decision to call for new songs in 2021. I’m also glad that this year’s artists will get some kind of showcase. I can imagine many many people here being “over” a lot of the songs in 14 months time. Hopefully with so many singers known already, it will spur on song writers to submit lots of very strong tracks.
Hey, good point but the official Instagram page @eurovision has evidently made statements about the 2021 edition on their latest post 🙂
Nobody can’t stop Sweden winning.
Double negatives don’t work in English. You’re literally saying that everybody CAN stop Sweden winning. And honestly I’m totally ok with it.
Completely unrelated but OMG SPOILER ALERT FOR ELITE
THEY MENTIONED MADONNA AND SPAINS FLOPS AT EUROVISION 2019 ?
After this decision, I really hope they come up with a special show later this year where every act is invited to perform their song but without choosing a winner (kind of like the preparties but bigger and broadcasted on TV). Just so they are at least able to have performed their song and to give them a little bit of justice . I also think it doesn’t have to be necessarily held in the Netherlands but anywhere where it’s possible.
I’m glad a lot of countries are keeping their singers but I’m still disappointed with the EBU. “Repondez-moi”, “Alcohol You”, “All My Love”, Tears Getting Sober”… all of them deserve to step on the Eurovision stage. All of them were countries that have never won before. And imagine being so close to winning but in the end not even participating like THE ROOP or Dadi.
So sad to hear this tbh. But I hope this allows those coutries and even the ones with worse songs to try better. It’s going to be difficult to top “Repondez moi” though.
I don’t believe it will be difficult to top “Repondez moi”, the reason being is that the artists and composers will have plenty of time to write new material and brainstorm together. I am sure a “diamond” will come out of it. 🙂
Guys don’t blame EBU on this matter. The ones I’m blaming are the broadcasters who clearly said: “we will have our NFs and so potentially a new artist and therefore new song for 2021”. EBU only did what seemed to be fair for those new 2021 artists + songs because the 2020s artists + songs would have a huge advantage over them. Even if some of the audience might have not heard the 2020s songs before the Eurovision, you can’t deny that at the very least the promotions of these songs would be clearly unfair to the new ones. It’s… Read more »
No the ones to blame is us! We are irresponsible and carry the virus around! That is why it is spreading…if we are going to be really honest here…
To be fair ultimally the blame is on the Chinese government.
Seeing all these countries confirming their 2020 artists as their 2021 artists makes my heart melt!
They fully deserve to go in 2021!
Finland send Ciciolina !!!! Just change little bit ….make it less ABBA 2.0 sound and u will slay ……or bye
Yea right. Because Finland can’t send anything other than Cicciolina anymore. Get over it already.
I said just my opinion, if u don’t like it, don’t coment or dont read it, but u seems like you cant handle opinion from others people
And I disagreed. Then I presented my opposing opinion. If you can’t handle people disagreeing with you, don’t comment anything in the first place.
Off topic but what happens to the expensive fee broadcasters paid to take part in ESC 2020? Will EBU pay them back or will it be money thrown in the lake?
Probably a new, completely undeserved chateau for Sand.
Chains Chains Chains on Jona Ola damnnnn.
Wasted money probably. Same with the money invested by the Netherlands. I still think the EBU could have try harder to stage Eurovision later this year.
And all the money all delegations invested in producing and preparing and everything.
National finals..
Or like Gjon already had travelled to Stockholm to work with Sacha in his staging for example.
Off topic but…….Montaigne or Dami im?
Dami I’m plz
Montaigne. Dami has proven something, Montaigne needs her chance.
Montaigne deserves it. Though I think they will stage a new Australia Decides.
Dami was great and had her moment. Let Montaigne to prove.
Australia has a lot of artists as well that want or need that chance
Strange to blame the rules when they can be changed.
They’re just using the rules as a shorthand for all the reasons those rules are there in the first place.
Absolutely correct decision.
If you can’t come up with a new song for the whole year, give way to other participant.
True
I’d plagiarize myself if I were some of these contestants.
Exactly, just change it a bit. Change the title On fire to Desire, add some new lyrics etc.
I know right. The Roop MUST be selected again with a similar song. My biggest fear is that singers who got uptempo songs this year will get ballads and vica versa. They have to remember that 90% of people who watch Eurovision haven’t even heard their entry this year so they can most definitely try the same genre next year.
On 1.april lithuanian delegation will tell if they will choose The Roop or not, The lead singer from The Roop said he want participate at ESC for 2021 BUT he also hoped for the same song – on fire
This is good news!
But the participants remain
Only from Sweden may there be a new representative character.
Other countries keep participants 2020, but there are doubts about Uku
So many stupid decisions EBU made. They can make a special edition with videos or performances in national studios with one host in Netherlands, voting etc. Extraordinary situation = extraordinary edition. Better than no edition. People and artists will be happy. And next year create normal edition with new songs, the same / new artists (decision by broadcasters) and make it in Rotterdam and everyone will be happy. OK, situation is bad, but we are talking about virus with mortality about 1 – 3%. Do we really stop every options because of it?
“OK that’s like virus, I like respect it..” Vanessa Hudgens sends regards to you.
”Let them eat cake”
1-3% mortality with a potential infection rate of 80% – which means between 0.8-2.4% of the entire population at risk of losing their lives. That could be people you don’t know, but it could be your mates, it could be your parents. In the medium to worse case scenarios modelled by epidemiologists, you will likely know someone who has died of COVID19 this time next year. Performances in 41 countries would involve hundreds and hundreds of people across europe coming into unnecessary contact to build stages, light studios, rehearse, film, produce, dress and do make-up. So yes, you do stop.
Thinking about it I don’t understand why is it more important that the Netherlands doesn’t lose the chance of hosting a big show, rather than the contest taking place even as a video contest format and we get a winner. I mean the stage is not even set up, i get that the Dutch have already thrown so much money into it but so have all the delagations already. It’s so confusing. All these efforts from the artists are going to waste this year, so that the contest can take a place in Rotterdam next year and doesn’t go to… Read more »
i hate video format
It’s better than nothing
It was never a ‘dutch’ decision, it was the european broadcastibg corporation
I never said it was decided by the Dutch. However the decision was definitely in favor of them not losing the right to host, rather than the artists having a moment.
Probably because of money. Eurovision is commercial contest. Why they invited Australia? Because it was profitable to do so. Sure they do send skilled artists and good songs, but money probably had an important role. After all they do not invite the rest of the world. First its difficult to get money for showing videos that are already on the internet. You can not copyright them and you cant license them to national broadcasters. More so tickets. No audience – no tickets. Of course we should consider that organizing the contest costs money, but its still commercial event targeted at… Read more »
Thankfully.. there isn’t any of the songs I’ve listened to more than twice tbh .. hopefully 2021 will be a much stronger year
And what if they come back with worse songs?
Robyn means to stay positive… Why always choose the negative side.. about 80% of the comments here are negative, moaning, complaining, bitching, aggressive etc.. Yes it’s a big let down that Eurovision 2020 is cancelled but i’m sure we get an amazing outstanding complete Eurovision 2021 in return! There will be lot positivity and fun to look out for.. I know it’s hard at the moment, but there is light at the end of the tunnel….
Really? They couldn’t have made this one exception and allowed broadcasters to send the same songs if they wanted? I’d rather they don’t honour this year’s songs (I’m sceptical how they’re gonna do this) and allow them to return next year. They could just produce a documentary on the history of Eurovision and broadcast that instead?
VICTORIA (and Bulgaria) is back for 2021!! 😀
Oh really! 🙂 – I expected them to withdraw because she can’t use the same song
i hope she can have a similar new song:)
Yes, I’m glad, that’s the sporting spirit!
Tornike for Georgia also confirmed!
I think it’s obvious that we need new songs. It would be weird to have a contest with songs that were revealed more than a year ago. It’d be so boring and not exciting at all.
Plus I only liked Switzerland, Lithuania, Denmark, Malta (and Finland, Norway a little).
In case we wait for this different programme to honours this years artists, for me it could be even the contest of videoclips, where about winner only televoters can decide. Money from our votes would be given for fight against COVID-19.
Of course it wouldnt be the same as normal, our lovely ESC, but we should show that music unite us, and unite all european countries with this virus
i know this 100%. When Corona is over people will be negative and bitter in next season to. Im so over the negativity in here. Be happy for something sometime! Are you all this negative all the time in real life to? just moaning and bitching all the time. on EBU, on Sweden, on Björkman, on Sand.
To be fair in the case of Bjorkman it’s justified.
wrong
Disgusting. This decision is extremely disrespectful to all the work already done by these artists (not to mention hundreds of hours put in by producers, sound engineers, PR teams etc). No amount of “honouring” these songs on your stupid social media accounts will ever make it up for them. If you are a creative person yourself you will surely understand the devastation they’re experiencing right now. Also, if you think it is easy to have your mind “reset” after such mental disaster and start composing yet ANOTHER great song — well, do I have bad news for you. Shame, EBU.
so we should cancel Melfest in your opinion? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Some like 6 weeks of melfest like i do. The mamas can get a spot in a semi.
Absolutely. New game, new fun.
I am talking about ESC, not Melfest which has nothing to do with this situation. My opinion: EBU should have left the option to keep the chosen artist AND their song for countries that are happy with their current choices. If Sweden decides to send the new Melfest winner to ESC — so be it, but it shouldn’t an ultimatum as it is right now.
thats bad because if many send ballads then a country can wait to last and send a banger.
It’s the right decision m, by next year the songs may sound a little outdated and overplayed. It would then result in remixes or tweaking them. This would then spoil the original song. The Eurovision Song Contest should do something with the songs this year. In my opinion they could have had a Eurovideo song contest, where they were purely judged on the song and video. They could have still followed the scoring system and allowed the SF & then finals to take place. At least the songs would have still been used.
They don’t allow songs when they cancel it because of Coronavirus but allowed songs before Sep 1 to enter NFs in the past.
Songs that were commercially released before September 1 are not allowed. There is something in the language of the rules from which exceptions have been made due to technicality, such as recorded performances that were not well viewed previously or that they were performed in front of a smaller audience.
Also, not all the 2020 acts will be returning so the likelihood of all 41 songs taking part more than a year after their release is already out of the window.
this could’ve been the year for Bulgaria. Can we keep her for Bulgaria and also Roxen for Romania? PLSSSSSSS
Also I’m happy that Switzerland and Belgium are sending their original artists back again.
I’m also happy to give france another chance with another song (not sure if the artist shouls be repeated), also to repeat Ukraine’s NS, and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. I’d love to see Jeangu again, Dadi, and Sandro.
I am sorry, but this seems just plain cruel. So the EBU is perfectly able to have a program with all the songs, but without the contest. One by one we will be presented with the sad artists whose Eurovision dream the EBU simply crushed. Hope and pray that all the national broadcasting cooperations will protest, so that this depressing wake of a variety show is turned into a worthy and toned-down version of that wonderful music competition Eurovision truly is. All the amazing songs and artists are already ready, please let the corona-stricken European audiences vote for the ones… Read more »