EBU announces changes in order to secure Eurovision's conduct no matter what the circumstances are

EBU announces changes in order to secure Eurovision's conduct no matter what the circumstances are
Thursday, 18 June 2020

  • The EBU announced today some new changes regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, in order for the competition to take place no matter what circumstances prevail. 

    Three days after the three Dutch host broadcasters (AVROTROS, NOS, NPO)  confirmed the dates of the next contest will take place, EBU has revealed that it is introducing some significant changes to the competition in order to secure its sustainability and longevity. 

    With convid-19 outbreak creating a totally new situatuon that led to this year's cancellation of the event, urging the same time organiser and producers to make the necessary amendments that will adjust the contest's conduct to the new circumstances and secure it will run smoothly each year not matter what conditions come up. 

    In order to make true the needed flexibility and having in mind this year's lessons,  the new executive supervisor of the contest, Martin Österdahl unwinds the modifications in the event's rules and says: 

    "As organizers of the world’s largest live music event we are determined and united in our mission; to bring back a Contest, a new winner and a handover to a new Host Broadcaster. These elements are in our DNA and part of our legacy."

    And continues confirming EBU's determination by saying: 

    "It is my mission, as I step into the big shoes left by Jon Ola Sand, to ensure the Eurovision Song Contest remains agile but true to its traditions, its values, and its history. When we bring the Contest back in 2021, we are bringing it back for good."

    EBU

     Pre-recorded backing vocals allowed 

    One of the first changes to be implemented will be the the allowance of pre-recorded vocals during the on stage performances. All delegations that wish to provide backing vocals for their lead artists, will have the option not to include vocalists in their team on the spot by recording the supporting vocals in the track that will be performed on stage. 

    This way, EBU claims, that the deleagations will number less people reducing the travel cost , the artists will have a chance to carry out more ideas for their final performance while technically it will ease things for the host broadcasters. Although the new change is entirely optional leaving to the delegates to decide whether they want on or off stage vocals or even both, the pre-recorded track cannot include Lead Vocals, Lead Dubs and/or any other vocals that effect or replace the Lead vocals. 

    With the possibility of more changes open for the future, EBU will be looking over the circumstances and conditions in the months to come and will be taking the necessary measures in order to secure that the Eurovision Song Contest will never experience again one more cancellation. 

     

    Sietse Bakker: "We have to work out different scenarios, we have to think of how we can make the Contest happen no matter what."

    Within this framework and reflecting the same intentions, recently Sietse Bakker, the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Executive Producer has shed light on upoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. You can watch in the following video Bakker's thoughts on the 2020 experience and how the 2021 edition will unfold taking into account this year's lessons: 

    Source: Eurovision.tv