This week’s Eurovision news has all the latest unfoldings from Kyiv and the songs revealed to go to Malta next month too. There is news from selections across the continent and the best articles we’ve seen across the internet.
Our Newsletter column, Robertson’s Reflection, editor Ben Robertson looks at the latest rule change to Eurovision in more detail. Now all associate members of the EBU, like Australia, Kazakhstan and many others, have a formalised way to be a part of the Song Contest. What changes will this make to the competition?
While still not giving a clear path to entry, this does at least formalise that the Reference Group can make the call on who can and who can not enter out of these other nations.
The wording might be a frustration to Australian fans. Still not confirmed as taking part in 2017, this rule gives the power for a Reference Group to cut Australia’s participation at any point they like. It would be hard to argue against last year’s 2nd place contestants not being allowed another shot, but this one year at a time focus means there’s little room for manoeuvre in Australia’s Song Contest strategy. Each attempt has got to deliver unbelievable positively and quality so it’s impossible to say no.
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I don’t think that the new rule will cut all Australians hopes to an 3th participation in row. all the contrary!! I think that EBU in certain way they legalized Australia to take part in ESC due their contribution & their powerful music industry and I don’t think that will fence to say no to them at this point. Maybe SBS hasn’t got the invitation until Eurovision Junior 2016 is finished.
Kazakhstan on the other hand, despite having a small part in Europe like Turkey and aspires to become a member of the Council of Europe since the 90’s, will have some difficulty entering because this country is not very attractive to standards EBU, besides when voting pattern, is already sung who where are going their top points – (Privet dear Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey!) but on the musical side, this country has many things to contribute as they have a rich and exotic musical scene and artists who could make notoriety as Zhanar Dugalova (The winner of Turkvision 2014) disclosing music that Europeans had never heard.
In the end I think it will weigh more the money, the history and reputation that has the down under had than the aspirations of a ex-USSR country unless if NTU invite both just to complete the participants and establish a new record.