BMG is out. TaP Music is in. That’s the major headline coming out of the BBC, which has confirmed its plans for Eurovision 2022 in Torino.
BBC Studios, which produces the BBC’s coverage of Eurovision, will now collaborate with TaP Music — the global music publishing and management company behind global stars like Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Ellie Goulding. Love me like you do, indeed!
The press release states that the collaboration will “choose a song and act that will represent the United Kingdom in the biggest and most watched music contest on the planet.”
UK: BBC confirms Eurovision 2022 collaboration with TaP Music
Ben Mawson, TaP Music co-founder, wants to leverage the UK’s many musical assets. He says:
“We’re really excited to be teaming up with the BBC for this event and will use Eurovision to authentically reflect and celebrate the rich, diverse and world-class musical talent the UK is globally renowned for.”
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Ben doesn’t just know Eurovision through the telly. He shares two children with his long-time partner Mirjam Weichselbraun, a co-host of Eurovision 2015 in Vienna. They met in 2013, so we imagine he was in the Wiener Stadthalle.
Artists including Elton John, Mel C and Ms Lipa have all publicly supported TaP Music in their bid.
Dua said: “I’m happy to lend my manager to the cause. I’ll be cheering them on!”
Kate Phillips, Controller Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC, is well-aware that 7.8 million people in the UK tuned in for the grand final in 2021 — making it the most-watched edition since 2014. Crucially, it was also one of the most popular entertainment programmes for younger audiences on the BBC with 1.5 million 16-34 year olds tuning in.
“In the UK our love for Eurovision is as big as ever and we have grand ambitions for the 2022 Contest, so we’re really excited to announce this collaboration that will enable us to tap into some great music talent.”
Suzy Lamb, Managing Director for BBC Studios, said: “BBC Studios are proud to once again be producing the coverage of the biggest music competition in world. We’re excited to be collaborating with TaP Music. Their expertise in managing world class artists and finding huge international hit records speaks for itself and we look forward to working with them on the UK act and song for the 2022 contest.”
The announcement brings an end to the BBC’s short-lived partnership with music company BMG, which it announced in September 2019. That resulted in the selection of James Newman for Eurovision 2020 and, following its cancellation, his re-selection for Eurovision 2021. His song “Embers” finished last with zero points from both the public and professional jury.
So was BMG to blame or the BBC? Well over the summer Swedish Eurovision maestro Christer Björkman told the Eurovision Legends podcast that ultimately the BBC has to shoulder the burden of failure.
He said: “Well, it could be BMG. But on the other hand, if they don’t know what they should be looking for… I mean if the input they get is ‘don’t take it seriously’, I don’t know. In the end, it is the BBC. Because if they had a person who was responsible for this, a little like me, that person would tell BMG ‘no, that’s not good enough, on the level we’re supposed to be’. And I would show them clips of at least 20 songs in the last two, three years that are valid from the competition and say ‘this is where you have to be’. It has to be original, it has to be up to date, it has to have an air of the year you’re in. Oh, this makes me really fired up, I have to tell you. I mean seriously, seriously.”
The BBC’s Eurovision coverage is a BBC Studios Entertainment production, commissioned by Kate Phillips, Director of Entertainment. The Executive Producer and Head Of Delegation is Andrew Cartmell, and the series producer and Assistant Head of Delegation is Lee Smithurst. Suzy Lamb is the MD for BBC Studios Entertainment. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown.
Are you excited about this new partnership? Do you think the BBC will manage to tap some major talent? Let us know in the comments box below.
Hi again, I wrote the last blogg a month or so ago. Just watched one of the Norwegian Eurovision semi- finals on NRK. This is one of many which are being shown over the next month. Entertaining to watch and results came at the end of the show. Well done to Norway for starting their Eurovision exposure so early. After the show I switched to Latvia’s Eurovision semi-final. That too was great to watch and it showed that Eurovision was really taking off in that country too and it’s only January!! So….what have the UK done so far? ……Absolutely nothing!… Read more »
In 2022 we are heading for exactly the same scenario as this year. ie. Music company taking over saying they will choose artist and song for Eurovision. It doesn’t matter who sings the UK song, we just need a good song. Also, BBC need to push TaP Music to pull their finger out. We need to know singer and song now so UK can promote the song across Europe. Part of the problem last year was that the UK released our song far too late. We need to promote now! I have composed a Eurovision song. It is entitled ‘You’re… Read more »
getREBBI an artist ehat writes original songs and is a super singer
Why am I having stong Global Records and Romania flashbacks? Especially giving Mel C’s passage about “the best pop music in the world coming from the UK”. A pity, since I loved some entries from UK in the 2010s and do think they were treated unfairly point-wise… But if they are going to give us a generic pop song I won’t defend them this time… On the other hand, I’m not usually exited at all when it comes to asking Swedes’ opinion, but Mr. Björkman does have a point here when he says the song “has to have an air… Read more »
All this hype and then they give us a song that you hear at shopping malls lol. when are they going to learn that THIS is their exact problem?? No one cares about all this name dropping. Becuase X person’s one time songwriter is writing our entry that means we will win.. or sending blue and bonnie tyler means we will win. GET A NEW STRATEGY UK.. people only care about what you provide in those 3 mins on stage
Of course we have been here before, but some level of change creates an opportunity for improvement. I think we have all allowed ourselves to excited before having our hopes brutally crushed many times, so I will simply wait to see how this pans out. One reason for optimism is that two winners in a row now have very quickly become very successful and critically acclaimed. Måneskin and Duncan are taken seriously and have even received a lot of attention in the USA. Record execs must be aware that is they play this right and genuinely send something they work… Read more »
Oh, it’s gonna be some no name, let’s be real. But at least I’m hoping for a good song
Let’s hope both ends of the BBC-TaP partnership learn from the mistakes of the BBC-BMG partnership and actually give us something we can sink our teeth into in Turin.
I mean, after the double zero in Rotterdam, there’s nowhere to go but up for the UK, but that doesn’t mean they should settle for ‘scoring points’ as their target for 2022.
Reading British media sites today, they are all wording it as if Dua Lipa will be the UKs next representative.
That will not be happening.
Whoever it will be, probably will be a new signing for tap or write a few songs for the group, ala James Newman with BMG.
Didn’t we just see this movie last year? I’m sure we just saw this movie last year. It ends with a generic pop song that’s not nearly interesting enough to vote for, sung by an “up-and-coming” artist with a great personality, marginal talent and zero stage presence, all presented by the BBC’s crack staging team, the guys who heard a song called “Embers” and immediately decided that hanging giant bobbing trumpets from the ceiling would be a great idea, because, you know, there were trumpets in it. Creativity, you see. If y’all are getting excited about this announcement, y’all are… Read more »
It is possible. You just need that one artist and song. The Netherlands don’t have a great production team either (well okay, Hans Pannecoucke did one great staging with The Common Linnets) but we won anyway. Just because there was that one song that was going to win even if it had been performed in complete darkness or in a monkey suit.
Let’s hope they do not pick someone like Ellie Goulding. I believe she wouldn’t win Eurovision, at least not on the merits of simply being Ellie Goulding. The last few winners were complete unknowns outside their own country (or in the case of Duncan Laurence, even in his own country). Pick a really talented young singer/songwriter or band, someone whom young viewers can get excited about. I’m sure there’s more than enough of those in Britain, you just have to find them and convince them to go to Eurovision… preferably with a not-too-boring song.
I don’t think that being a well-known person can prevent you from winning, as it is about the song, the staging and the quality of the performer.
Of course, a fresh face wouldn’t hurt anyone, but not when that means ruling out established artists. Plus, Eurovision isn’t all about winning 🙂
u don’t need known names to do well at esc. netta and dunce had a grand total of zero released songs before they were selected. pick ellie goulding with a bad song and you’ll still end at the bottom. pick some unknown singer with huge charisma and the right song and you’ll end up on top.
Ellie was good all until she has started injecting some… uhm… stuff into her face. A no from me.
Exiting news, hopefully they will have a fresh perspective, and it will set a positive president (like I was hoping Embers would).
I really enjoyed Embers, but it’s problems were that James isn’t a strong enough performer, and the staging was very dull. But why on the latter? I thought the team behind it were very well established and experienced-did they just have a poor idea?
The staging team seemed to prioritise the stadium audience experience over the TV audience. It’s a mistake we seem to make a lot.
It is if you want votes from the viewers in 40 countries
It’s called “phoning it in”.
Anyone but the Frock Destroyers basically…
So looking at the artists signed to the label on their website, ruling out non UK acts and any that are popular already there are 7 that might be in the running. Chelcee Grimes, Claudia Valentina, Daniel Blume, Grace Carter, James TW, Jenay Faith and Zola Courtney. I think any of these would be good.
Listening to some songs on You Tube from each of those acts my favourite is James TW. He is a singer songwriter who hasn’t had a UK top 40 hit but has supported Sean Mendez on his world tour. For me he would be perfect.
Even though I doubt they will do better than bottom 5 again it is still a huge step forward. I hope it means it will be a fresh young up and coming act with current sound…
We all thought that BMG were a huge step forward too and look how that turned out. It’s not a good sign that Tap’s star act, Dua Lipa, didn’t even know about Festivali I Këngës.
Of all the A-list artists that signed to TaP, I genuinely think Ellie Goulding might give it a go. Despite not being on the 2010-2015 kind of fame, her songs do quite well on the charts, radio and streaming platforms.
The era of her last album – which is absolutely amazing (I recommend listening to ‘Love I’m Given’) – ended around a year ago, so IF she is selected, it might be the start of a new era/album cycle.
I also failed to mention that her tour wrapped up last sunday, so there aren’t any schedule conflicts for as far as I know 🙂
ellie goulding would be a dream come true but i’m not gonna hold my breath for it
Please no. Ellie was good all until she has started to inject… uhm… stuff into her face.
Don’t f**k this up once again please
But you know “Europe hates the UK”. What is the plan for that?
lana del rey is queen stream her new album blue banisters this friday <33
God Bless Christer Bjorkman.. He’s so right! Wish the UK luck, I’m actually always rooting for them believe it or not! Tap is great, but connect an artist to the song who actually believes what they’re singing and has presence.. Then people will notice the UK and vote..
Bismillah, TaP Music shouldn’t mess this up for the UK next year. Maybe they can shock everyone and send in Bring Me the Horizon or Coldplay?
Let me predict: UK will send an average quality song and end up in the bottom. Russia will send a literal cheese just laying on the stage for three minutes, scores top 5 results.
Of course it’s the song that matters or what?
Russia Top 5 like in 2021, yeah?
My point is people do t vote for the UK even if they have songs that makes them deserve a better placement. Russia the opposite.
Russian artists have huge fanbases in ex-USSR countries. People tend to vote for familiar sounds and familiar faces. Send Dua Lipa and I’ll consider voting.
While I see that this is a repeat of the same formula last year, I’m kinda glad that BBC is sticking to their guns and is trying again like I said before and is experimenting with a new label (although, I do wish they added more labels though). While I doubt we are getting an A-Lister or even a B-lister singer, I do kinda see a major revamp in the PR and staging department with this considering how this label is responsible for one of the biggest stars in the UK, so I am kinda excited and nervous what TaP… Read more »
I doubt we are getting an A-Lister or even a B-lister singer
Pancake, there aren’t enough letters in the alphabet!
I can’t wait to see how this turns out! Hope the very best of luck to the BBC team.
Exciting news! Whoever they send we can be sure the song would be competent and not a joke act.
The press release is nearly a carbon copy of the one for when they originally announced the 2020 BMG Collab. It’s the BBC all fart no s**t as per usual! It’ll be some Z-list singers 3rd cousin and the song will sound like it was from 1990 with a staging budget of £1. You can hate and dislike but you all know this will be what happens. Maybe we’ll get 25th this year and it’ll be job well done back at the BBC!
You must be fun at parties…
You must work for the BBC with that outdated retort.
The shade is real 😀
I don’t care about all the cautiousness and skepticism – I choose to view this as a positive step forward. You can’t win without a winning attitude!
The last time we had a “big collaboration” we ended up with Lesley Roy and we all saw how that ended up.
I’m very hopeful my country can pick itself back up next year and make an impact on the scoreboard. Going with a label is great and I am looking forward to seeing who will fly the flag for us next year. Despite the poor result I was really proud of James and our song in 2021 and as a brit used to poor results that’s all I ask for.
I am also looking forward to the innevitable few delusional eurofans who think Dua Lipa is actually going to represent us because she’s connected to TaP music haha.
I don’t see how this particular collaboration is any different from the one the BBC had with BMG.
the difference will be more obvious through the end product released by them next year.
does this mean they will send dua lipa???
Likely no.
well, as BBC mentions those big names themselves, could their representative artist even be Dua Lipa or Ellie Goulding herself? Anyway, whoever is chosen, he/she/they should surely be a good performer (not just a singer/songwriter, but also a performer), and the song should be good enough and suit the artist the best.
I think this is positive. At least they have a track record for finding current tracks and packaging artists. I’m not expecting Dua Lipa but an up and coming artist that could fit in the current music scene with a good modern track would be a huge step forward.
Just when I was ready to write off the United Kingdom for Eurovision 2022, could this partnership seriously turn things around? The quotes in this article do sound promising, but we’ll wait and see. I didn’t think the BBC were going to learn anything from the 0 point result this year, but maybe this was the wake up call they needed and they’re willing to do anything to not let that happen again. I hope this partnership with Tap turns out a better result for the United Kingdom, but I think the label should take a more active role.
I’m not getting my hopes up until I hear the song. I do it every year and it just ends in Gjon’s tears
Fair enough to be cautious and skeptical.
I think the Uk have finally woken up and they needed to because uk have the biggest music industry in Europe and somehow ended being one of the worst in the Contest and we could try and blame Brexit all we wanted when you send average at best songs don’t be but hurt you dint do well but maybe this is the step in the right direction good job bbc
the key word here is “diverse” if the uk can send something “diverse” and different, then their fortunes can and will turn around. im looking forward to see where this goes. another thing i have been thinking about is if they use this collaboration towards a national final. and no, im not talking about “you decide” or some trash like that. for example, if they use these tap artists to perform and compete, even in a one night show of 8-16 acts, that will at least get some sort of buzz and idk if it was some sort of contract… Read more »
Approaching anything with a positive attitude is a good start. The proof will be all in how the song and staging turn out. Partner with whoever you want to, it won’t mean anything if you don’t bring the goods. Best of luck, UK. Rooting for you!
They should send Dua Lipa, she could perform a sexy dance song like Efendi did this year!
I think she could do better than that…