KOSOVO 🇽🇰
The Serbian national broadcaster reports that five broadcasters had worked for over 18 months to get a vote on Friday, to change the rules for membership of the European Broadcasting Union. The vote if it had passed, would have seen the requirement for membership of the ITU removed, paving the way for Kosovo to apply as a full member of the EBU.
Ngadhnjim Kastrati, the Director General of RTK, spoke on last nights evening news, and expressed his disappointment in failing to get the rules for EBU membership changes. The vote which was initiated by five broadcasters, would have seen the removal of a clause requiring ITU membership. Had ITU membership requirements been removed, RTK would have been able to apply for EBU membership.
An attempt to change the EBU’s statute was started years ago by former RTK director Mentor Shala, with a great support from the Albanian representative and managed to gather five signatures in order to the EBU’s statute continued to change in order to enable RTK to be a fuller part of the EBU, but something else happened, despite being prepared to receive the necessary votes,
UKRAINE 🇺🇦
In a recent interview Jamala clarified that she had nothing to do with MARUV not signing the Eurovision contract and therefore not going to Eurovision. She feels upset as fans consider her responsible for this and she claims she supported MARUV with her voting and with her guide how to sing better her national final bid entry. Following her meme-tastic comments during the Vidbir Final, Jamala is the latest in a line of Eurovision stars to call out the gruelling schedule during Eurovision week, especially in regards to press interviews.
“Honestly, in my opinion, that is the hardest thing about Eurovision. Not to sing, not to perform, to give interviews every time. There’s a lot of interviews and you have to be ready to answer any question.”
SWEDEN 🇸🇪
Swedish broadcaster SVT has revealed that the submissions window for songs competing in Melodifestivalen 2020 will be open between August 26th and September 13th. Interested artists and composers have until 11:59pm on September 13th to submit their entries. The broadcaster also notes that their aim is for “at least 50% of the selected entries to be written by female composers/lyricists, or by a team consisting of both male and female composers/lyricists”. More information on the rules can be found here.
SCOTLAND 🏴
Scottish broadcaster BBC Alba has confirmed that they will not participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest this year. However, they have also not ruled out a potential debut in the junior contest next year in 2020. They have also confirmed that they are in discussions with the EBU in regards of potentially seeing them in 2020 and are also using their experience in Eurovision Choir for future potential Eurovision events.
AZERBAIJAN 🇦🇿
ITV has confirmed to INFE Azerbaijan that they will not be participating in the 2019 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster did not provide a reason for their withdrawal, however the country returned to the contest last year after a 5 year break, and was represented by Fidan Huseynova with her song “I Wanna Be Like You”. She finished in 16th position.
EUROVISION 2020 🇳🇱
The race to find the city that will host Eurovision 2020 has once again shortened, as Breda drops out of the race, becoming the third city to do so. The Hague and Leeuwarden dropped out in June, and as July starts, Breda leaves the race. The city has decided not to submit its bid, citing financial difficulties associated with hosting the event. This leaves Amsterdam, Arnhem, Maastricht, Rotterdam, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht in the race to host.
