From ABBA to Celine Dion, many artists that have taken part in Eurovision went on to slay the big stages worldwide. And while Eurovision 2020 did not go forward as planned, many songs charted in their respective countries and beyond. However, we can’t help but wonder if any artists would’ve become mega-stars had the contest been held.
As part of our 2020 VMAs, Vision Music Awards, we asked you to vote for the act you thought was the Most Likely to Succeed Commercially after the contest.
There were 41 countries that selected representatives for Eurovision 2020. Some did so internally, while others held national finals. But by the time the EBU announced the cancellation of the contest on 18 March, all countries had selected an entry. While the artists didn’t get to perform on the Eurovision stage, it’s fun to imagine who would’ve broken through as the new worldwide sensation. Now, in most Eurovision years, this doesn’t happen, but who do you think had the best chance to do that?
These are the results, based on 4,524 votes from our readers.
VMAs 2020: Daði & Gagnamagnið win Most Likely to Succeed Commercially
Number one in the poll went to Daði & Gagnamagnið from Iceland, who received 11.94% of the vote (540 votes in total). That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as their song “Think About Things” has indeed done well globally.
While still not a worldwide hit per se, the song charted at #34 in the UK and received praise from some international stars. The Icelanders have been reselected to represent Iceland in the 2021 contest, so perhaps the big break is ahead of them. Time will tell.
Daði & Gagnamagnið join an esteemed list of previous winners of the Most Likely to Succeed Commercially VMA, who have gone on to top the charts at home and abroad. These artists include Italy’s Mahmood in 2019, Belgium’s Blanche in 2017, Australia’s Dami Im in 2016, Belgium’s Loïc Nottet in 2015 and The Netherlands’ Common Linnets in 2014.
Getting the silver medal are Russia’s Little Big. They scored 9.99% of the vote, with 452 readers casting their vote to them. Russia’s rave-pop band has already become super successful all over Eastern Europe, but winning Eurovision could’ve given their career a massive boost.
Their song “UNO” overtook Netta’s “TOY” and became the most-viewed video on the Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel. It also charted in five European countries.
In third is Bulgaria’s VICTORIA, to whom you gave 370 votes (8.18%). Her Billie Eilish-style track “Tears Getting Sober” topped the betting odds tables at the time of the contest’s cancellation, but didn’t reach as much chart success as this poll’s top two.
Peaking at #2 in Bulgaria, the young singer would’ve hoped to chart in more countries had she won. Her song has a professional and American feel to it that could’ve certainly done well globally.
Rounding out the top five are Lithuania’s The Roop and Romania’s Roxen, with 250 (5.53%) and 233 (5.15%) votes respectively. Both artists were favourites to win the contest at different points in time.
The Roop’s earworm “On Fire” did well in many alternative contests for Eurovision 2020 and was many of our readers’ #1. Lithuania even dreamt of a first-ever win at the contest. Romania’s Roxen and “Alcohol You”, meanwhile, was a dark horse to potentially take the trophy home to Romania, also for the first time.
Full results: Most Likely to Succeed Commercially
- Iceland: Daði & Gagnamagnið – 540 votes (11.94%)
- Russia: Little Big – 452 votes (9.99%)
- Bulgaria: VICTORIA – 370 votes (8.18%)
- Lithuania: The Roop – 250 votes (5.53%)
- Romania: Roxen – 233 votes (5.15%)
- Malta: Destiny – 232 votes (5.13%)
- Germany: Ben Dolic – 214 votes (4.73%)
- Italy: Diodato – 174 votes (3.85%)
- Sweden: The Mamas – 171 votes (3.78%)
- Switzerland: Gjon’s Tears – 151 votes (3.34%)
- Serbia: Hurricane – 150 votes (3.32%)
- Greece: Stefania – 134 votes (2.96%)
- Azerbaijan: Efendi – 117 votes (2.59%)
- Israel: Eden Alene – 114 votes (2.52%)
- Norway: Ulrikke – 112 votes (2.48%)
- Armenia: Athena Manoukian – 110 votes (2.43%)
- Australia: Montaigne – 109 votes (2.41%)
- Albania: Arilena Ara – 93 votes (2.06%)
- United Kingdom: James Newman – 73 votes (1.61%)
- Spain: Blas Cantó – 70 votes (1.55%)
- Ukraine: Go_A – 64 votes (1.41%)
- Latvia: Samanta Tīna – 61 votes (1.35%)
- Belgium: Hooverphonic – 54 votes (1.19%)
- Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy – 48 votes (1.06%)
- Ireland: Lesley Roy – 47 votes (1.04%)
- Denmark: Ben & Tan – 43 votes (0.95%)
- Poland: Alicja – 43 votes (0.95%)
- Czech Republic: Benny Cristo – 36 votes (0.80%)
- France: Tom Leeb – 36 votes (0.80%)
- Cyrpsu: Sandro – 34 votes (0.75%)
- Austria: Vincent Bueno – 30 votes (0.66%)
- Croatia: Damir Kedžo – 26 votes (0.57%)
- Portugal: Elisa – 20 votes (0.44%)
- Finland: Aksel Kankaanranta – 19 votes (0.42%)
- San Marino: Senhit – 17 votes (0.38%)
- Slovenia: Ana Soklič – 17 votes (0.38%)
- Estonia: Uku Suviste – 15 votes (0.33%)
- Belarus: VAL – 12 votes (0.27%)
- North Macedonia: Vasil – 12 votes (0.27%)
- Moldova: Natalia Gordienko – 12 votes (0.27%)
- Georgia: Tornike Kipiani – 9 votes (0.20%)
What do you think of the results? Will Daði & Gagnamagnið continue to succeed commercially after Eurovision 2021? Sound off in the comments below!
No surprise Dadi won this due to the success of Think About Things, even radios here in the US played that song.
Yes, the Icelandic guy will probably get another hit this year with his ESC entry. Last year’s song was surprisingly a hit, first it went viral and the impossible happened: UK radio playlisted it and it became a streaming hit! It’s also big in Ireland, both markets are not very friendly with ESC entries.
Little Big have also the potential to go…big with their catchy and poppy tunes.
Victoria has this Billie Eilish vibe which is attractive to mainstream media.
I believe Destiny has the most commercially produced song as well as a song you would hear on the radio. I think Malta should be in top 3 *in my opinion *
I agree. It is my 3rd behind Armenia and Iceland, and I think it would have won the jury.
Destiny’s song is very radio-friendly so yes it could’ve been a hit.
Ben is one of the most popular singers in Czechia, he has over 800k followers on ig and million views on YouTube! He should be in the top 5
As I myself have mentioned, I agree. There’s a massive market for his like right now And it would be interesting to see that in ESc.
Just because he’s well known in CZ, it doesn;t mean he should be in top 5. I don’t think he has the potential to succeed commercially unless he got a big song this yea.r.
I’m sorry, but Athena at 16th and Benny at 28th is ridiculous. Athena should be in the top 3 and Benny in the top 10. The market for these 2 acts is massive and is gravely underestimated in my opinion. Little Mix, Ariana, Megan Thee Stallion, Normani and K pop acts are massively adored contemporaries in the case of the former, and I have told fans here of at least some cases of me getting fans of these acts to listen to Athena and Chains On You, (also she is about to release a ballad, and I have continued to… Read more »
Athena is lovely but she’s a mix of a number of pop stars including Eurovision alumnus Eleni Foureira.
It’s easy to compare her to Foureira because she’s a sexy Greek not representing Greece (and one can compare Dolla being a dancehall-type song to her), but, in terms of Chains, the ESC entries that it was closest to were male ones Rhythm Inside, Lie To Me, Origo and Soldi. It reminded me more of Little Mix, Ariana, Normani and Beyoncé. She isn’t exactly Tupac or Dave, but she presents her rapping in a very immersive manner and the vocals in the 2nd part of the pre chorus are very impressive in getting what they want.