In this week’s ESC Insight Newsletter we review the happenings from the first two preview events of the year in Riga and Moscow before journeying across the best news and not-news from another week in the Eurovision bubble.
As usual the Newsletter is joined by the column Robertson’s Reflection, where editor Ben Robertson gives his views on the latest happenings in Eurovision land. This week he discusses preview events. Good fun, perhaps, but rather than having five smaller events, why don’t we just have one amazing one each year?
My proposal to try and curb this merry-go-round is not going to be popular, and is going to need the EBU to step in (although remember the EBU does co-operate in particular with Eurovision In Concert at the moment, so this isn’t unfathomable). The EBU should commission one preview event each year. The catch is that this is something that OGAE clubs, together with broadcasters, can bid to host. It wouldn’t just remain in Amsterdam at a venue now far too small for capacity, but be an event that can rotate around the continent, and warrant moving to bigger concert halls. By focusing all fans and media to one location, we can do a full day of interview-ness and a huge concert that is fabulous, rather than lots that are a little bit sub-par.
Make sure to read the newsletter in full for all the 1000+ words of Robertson’s Reflection and the rest of this week’s news.
One amazing one each year? That would be called Eurovision… I like concept of the smaller previews across the continent. These are preview parties not the main event! They’re not supposed to be big and flashy.
I agree with Alison. The preview parties are just that – parties, not mini Eurovisions. No one – neither artists, media nor fans – is required to attend them. They’re just there for whoever wants them.
I’ve been really enjoying the coverage coming in from Riga and Moscow!