Ahead of Eurovision 2022, the BBC handed the reigns over to TaP Music — the company behind Ellie Goulding and Lana del Rey, to choose its Eurovision song and artist. Now, following their successful launch of Sam Ryder into the Eurovision stratosphere, the company has been invited back to do it all over again for the 2023 song contest.
“We are thrilled that Ben Mawson and Ed Millett plus the team at TaP will once again bring their unrivalled expertise to work with the BBC and BBC Studios to find an act and song to represent the UK at Eurovision,” says the BBC’s commissioning editor Rachel Ashdown.
“I hope we can find another artist who will not only be a brilliant ambassador for Eurovision but like Sam will sing their head off with a stand out song.”
Ben Mawson and Ed Millett from TaP Music spoke as one, issuing this statement:
“TaP are very excited to be back working with the BBC to select the UK entry for Eurovision 2023. Last year we wanted to change the narrative around the UK and Eurovision to something much more positive. We focused on what Eurovision is all about — we found a brilliant artist, an unforgettable song and an incredible person in Sam Ryder – we’re so proud of his fantastic success, coming 2nd in the competition and then achieving a number 1 single.”
Prior to confirming Sam Ryder as the Eurovision 2022 artist and singer, TaP released his single “SPACE MAN,” allowing the song to get air time and marinate in the minds of fans. This let the public get to know the song without any Eurovision-related branding (and, let’s face it, without the stigma that had, for so many years, been attached to British entries at home). It’s not clear if they’ll pursue a similar strategy this year.
TaP’s stable of artists is vast and rich, with names like Chelcee Grimes, Dope Lemon, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, London Grammar and more. Who stands out to you? Let us know in the comments box below!
Is there still time to submit a song
Just say you want PoC regardless of song quality. This is a song competition, not a charity for anyone
UK would be out of TOP 5 without war in Ukraine, juries pushed sonjard UK in voting because EBU wants to UKnhost contest next year . Ukraine would be out of TOP 10 without war .
Thanks for the update
Regarding the UK. That is my opinion as well, PP77. But it’ll be very unpopular here. On the other hand, Ukraine would still have sneaked into the lower TOP10. Methinks.
Unrelated, but it’s sad news about the Queen- has she ever commented on the contest? And of all the times it’s been held in the UK, has she ever been invited?
Apparently Charles is a fan of Eurovision, not sure about the Queen.
The Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, met Sam Ryder at Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee concert, where she reportedly told him that the royals had followed his Eurovision journey with interest.
The UK need to send Musical Youth.
There have been Black people in You Decide that simply didn’t deliver. They should pick the artists based on the song, not their skin colour.
Nobody disagrees with that, it’s about everybody getting an equal chance.
I mean we did have our first ever non-white spokesperson this year
2022 was simply lucky for UK. Also, EBU pushed BBC’s luck by erasing votes of 6 countries and giving high points to UK. They didn’t give only 2-3 points, oh no. EBU, on behalf of Georgia, Romania, San Marino, Montenegro and Azerbaijan gave only 8, 10 and 12 points, securing UK’s high ranking and knowing the runner-up will be the 2023 host. UK must have complained and even threatend to withdraw for their lack of success in the past 20 years. 0 points few years in a row (from both juries and televote)… But that will happened again, after 2022… Read more »
What a sore loser! Don’t be envious like that! Uk did better than Spain deal with it… moral winner and real runner-up of 2022… but LOL! Never sorry. You have forgotten that your Spain is a big 5 member too maybe…so your theory doesn’t make sense as your entire comment. #Jealousy…..
The main ‘luck’ Dida, was that they did indeed find brilliant ambassador for Eurovision who sung his heart out with a memorable song and performance!
Do you think that he would have finished in the same position if he had performed Embers or One Last Breath?
He might have done so Jofty. I think he would have had a better chance with One Last Breath.
Agree
SPACEMAN was a bloody good song sung by a bloody good singer, Sam Ryder, Dida,
Spain received points from those juries as well (San Marino even gave 10 points to Spain). Also, the jury results are not random or based on the EBUs taste. They’re generated based on the results of the other countries in their pots in the allocation draw back in January (that’s why Azerbaijan and Georgia voted exactly the same).
Sooo instead of blaming the countries commiting fraud you blame the algorithm? Do you think all votes are fake for that matter? Because spain or UK would have gotten second place even without the voting scandal you know that right?
The only thing that should enrage TVR is the fact they’re an absolute joke and a national embarrassment, instead they’ve still got clueless people writing nonsense on their behalf.
And what about the 12 points for Spain givenby San Marino ???????????????
Will Spaniards ever get over it already? You remind people of the turkish fandom that still hasn’t gotten over the fact that Lena won over maNga
HAH! Spain didn’t even get 2nd place so how can they be the moral winner. Give it up. The Spanish televote at Benedormfest didn’t even want Chanel!
utter rubbish
Spain was never gonna win and in a regular probably lower than 3rd lol. Be grateful ya’ll flop for once.
I’m so pleased to hear this. Their main objectives should be finding someone with:
– A fantastic voice
– Charisma on stage
– A great song
Tap – please stick to this recipe and don’t forget the importance of staging!
2008 l, too. Btw
Jade from 2009 had an astonishing result with Andrew Lloyd Webber. UK is more diverse than any other country in the contest.
Why has the UK’s colonial history with India never been reflected?
UK is more diverse than any other country in Eurovision?
France:
2021 – First Generation Iranian
2019 – First Generation Moroccan
2016 – First Generation Tunisian
2014 – Two First Generation Algerian + one Zairean
2012 – Indonesian
2010 – Congolese
UK:
Two members of Blue
Finally it is pointed out that France always brings so diversity. It is a good representation of the melting pot contemporary French society is.
One thing: I noticed you mentioned (probably for the sake of your statement) only non-European nations and ethnicities. But there is more. For example, Barbara is close to her Serbian background as much as the Iranian background.
They had one in 2008. Why do you bring in the race issue? Sorry, but have to strongly disagree with you.
Personally I’d love to see a Scot represent the UK once more. The last time was in 1987 but hey, as long as we have an amazing song and act I don’t care.
So glad we’ve finally got this announcement. Makes total sense – why fix what’s not broken? I suspect TaP will choose someone who is up-and-coming again. Hopefully a woman, though. And something a bit more up-tempo. We’ve had a lot of ballads.
Is there something wrong with being white or something?
Is there something wrong with being British-Asian or something? I don’t remember any performers from that background representing the UK in the 65 years they’ve been in the contest.
Unless we count Cliff Richards who was born and raised in India and his family, though fully British, were also born and raised there for several generations when it was still a UK colony.
I suppose that’s one side of the imperial story. Wikipedia tells me the family moved back to England after Indian independence in 1947, though, he would have been very young.
It’s a good point Jonas, I’ve long advocated that the BBC Asian Network should be involved in the selection of the UK entry but there seems to be zero interest in the contest from that area. It works both ways.
Maybe if there was more visible inclusion interest would grow.
It would, but I think you need some interest in the first instance, and I haven’t noticed that.
Rina Sawayama, that is all! 🙂
For me, I would like to see James TW or Chelcee Grimes
I don’t think TaP are going to be restricted to artists currently under the label and will take a similar approach as they did with Sam.
I know we’re just basing it off one entry but it seems to me as if they might know a good song when they see it and aren’t going to close any doors. I think it’ll be an extensive search and (hopefully) another excellent submission.
…well, yeah. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’m glad the team at TaP and the BBC understood why they did well this year so specifically, since there have been too many instances where the UK makes a fluke comeback or left-hand result and takes the wrong thing away from it. They saw Jade Ewen’s result and didn’t think it was because the song was good and she could sing well, but because of the songwriters’ name recognition, which is how we got Waterman and “That Sounds Good to Me.” Then Blue got them back on the left-hand side… Read more »
UK better deliver like Italy, instead of doing another Germany 2018/19, France 2021/22. Same goes for Spain by the way.
France 2022 is a poor example tho, Fulenn is one of their best ever.
We’re living in the era of Big 5 dominance, baby. Come on Germany, time to do your thing…
Germany doing well at Eurovision. What an old fashioned idea. That’s so 2018!
I hope the Big 5 continue to have success, as a fan it makes me happy the UK, France and Spain are all on the top again! It also keeps the contest more exciting when pre-qualified songs do well and don’t stick to the bottom of the scoreboard. I’m hoping this year a semi final qualifier comes last, the last time that happed (iirc) was 2013
I didn’t like Space Man. I’m just fed up of UK sending pop songs. I want them to try with something else.
weird comment after the second placing last year, OK the tele-voters had it slightly lower in the ranks but clearly millions of viewers across Europe liked it and voted?
what would you suggest the UK sends?
They sent smth different in 2015 and flopped so
Happened to attend their concert in Athens. Unfortunately, they were overshadowed by Hooverphonic and LP. I’m not saying they wouldn’t be a good choice, but this was definitely not one of their best shows. Still, would be amazing to watch them perform in ESC.
I hope that it won’t have a Jade Ewen -> Josh Dubovie scenario again. That’s all I hope for. I think this alone is a solid choice logic-wise
excellent news.
BBC & TaP… Let’s do this!!
If the collaboration got to 2nd place in 2022, Ukranian war notwithstanding…there is no reason it can’t take the top spot in 2023. Bring it on! UK2024.
I fear that if the UK were to win 2023 (and therefore host twice in a row) it might put the BBC off of sending credible and competitive entries in years to come as a result of the hefty bill which would come with winning.
I also think there wouldn’t be as much excitement and momentum from the British public if we were to host twice in a year as well but I hope I’m wrong.
great that they collab with TaP again. TaP now seems to understand Eurovision.
.
just one more hope: a Melfest-like national selection show starting in 2024, with lavish production, as if Eurovision was hosted/produced, and high quality from each of the entries. they can still collab with TaP even if it’s through a national selection show.