ESC Insight’s Ben Robertson investigates if Junior Eurovision is a good or a bad thing for the artists involved. Do they look back on it as a positive or negative experience or do they feel it helps or hinders their progression to their future careers?

Ever since a 14-year-old Sandra Kim squeaked her way to a Eurovision win, the Eurovisionista has been keen to sneer at anyone of a tender age even attempting to get up and have a sing-song. Ahead of Junior Eurovision, Roy Delaney looks at nine child stars who have not only made it big as tots, but gone on to be pretty successful adults as well.

Ben Robertson has the latest news from across the Eurovision world in the ESC Insight Newsletter.

One of the important considerations around the music and presentation of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is the target audience. The mid-teen targeting of JESC means that the impact of many of the Contest’s innovations will be lost on the Carola-fuelled fans of the Adult Contest. Debbie O’Hare sets out the musical scene for the benefit of anyone who watched Barbara Dex singing live.

It’s just over two weeks until the 2014 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Malta. ESC Insight will be heading to the island of song (and our second shipyard of the year) to cover the event. Kicking off our coverage, Dr Paul Jordan looks at the contrasting views of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest across the continent.

We have new songs, drama in Denmark and updates from across the continent in this week’s ESC Insight Newsletter