RTP (Portugal) announced rules for JESC 07 and repeats the last year's formula!

RTP, the Portugal broadcaster of Junior Eurovision Song Contest announced rules for the portugal national selection on 29/6.
The main points are:
1. The age of the participants must be between 10-15.
2. The childrens who want to participate have two months to write and compose original songs and send it to RTP channel.
3. After, twelve songs will performed in the live portuguese final.
4. The winner will be choosen via televoting system

All the rules translated from Portuguese channel:

FESTIVAL OF THE SONG JÚNIOR 2007 It consults the regulation and it participates! The Festival of the Junior Song is in return with the 2007 edition! If you are a young talent you do not wait more, consults the regulation the low e participates!

REGULATION
1. The Festival of Song JUNIOR 2007 has for objectivo to promote talentos young in the area of fast music, as well as the apuramento of one of them to represent the RTP in the Eurovisão Festival of Song JUNIOR 2007 to carry through in day 8 of December in the city of Roterdão in Holland.
2. 1 of July enters and 31 of August of 2007, the RTP goes to open national competition for selecção of 12 songs and respective interpreters who will go to constitute one end in great format of espectáculo of television. This end it will leave a winner who will represent the RTP in the Eurovisão Festival of Song JUNIOR 2007 in Holland.
3. The competition is opened the young that until day 8 of December of 2007 has ages understood between 10 and 15 years.
4. The authors of the songs (letter and music) will have to participate in the interpretation of the song as singers or musicians and therefore to also have ages understood between the 10 and 15 years in day 8 of December of 2007.
5. Each song cannot have more of the one than eight young in palco.
6. Each song cannot exceed the two minutes and forty and five seconds (2 ' 45' ') and must have a minimum duration of two minutes and thirty seconds (2' 30' ').
7. the letter of the song must be written and be interpreted in Portuguese.
8. The songs will only be considered whose letter and music never have been commercially edited, published or interpreted in public.
9. O(s) intérprete(s) will have to concur with a song (letter and music) with mixed voice and whose register could be amateur or half-professional. The support of the song the competition will have to be COMPACT DISC.
10. O(s) intérprete(s) will have to also send the letter of the song in digital support (COMPACT DISC) and a photocopy of its Ticket of Identity.
11. O(s) intérprete(s) will still have, together with the COMPACT DISC of the proposal of its song, to deliver to a DVD with actuação in Karaoke of a subject any to its choice where they are salient you endow them vocal and the interpretation. This writing must be amateur with quality.
12. To be able to correspond to the rules of the European Broadcasting Union for the Eurovisão Festival of the Song, the RTP will have to be detainer of some respeitantes rights to the winning song, in the national and international scope.
13. The selecção of the 12 finalistas songs will be carried through by a jury consisting of the RTP.
14. The voting in the 12 finalistas songs for apuramento of the winning song will be carried through by the process of "televoto".
15. To each song a telephone number will be attributed and will be successful the one that to get the biggest call number.
16. In the case of two or more songs to be with equal call number in the first place, the sattle of matter will have to become through private voting for the remaining interpreters, being been valid each interpreter or each song a vote. If to persist ties up to it, the final classification will be determined for the vote of the interpreter new.
17. After seleccionadas the 12 finalistas songs, these will be produced by a musical producer chosen by the RTP.
18. After produced, 12 musics will have to be mixed with the respective secondary voices (it will be case of this) resulting in one play back without main voices. The main voices will have obligatorily to enter in direct in the program.
19. All the instruments that will be in palco the order of the authorized interpreters and for the RTP cannot only be amplified, serving as adereços.
20. The young artists can already have actuado the ground as main interpreters or of support in a produced COMPACT DISC professionally, or can already have professionally been represented. They can have little signed a contract of writing for one edition single before this Festival of the Song, but this contract cannot afectar the cession of rights intended by the RTP.
21. The RTP will have to receive from the parents or people in charge of education of the authors of the song a declaration certifing that the song is original, that commercially was never edited, published, or interpreted in public and that was composed for the young artist.
22. Event during the assays is not allowed to the presence of the in charge parents/of education in the place it, nor in palco at any moment. In the last general assay with wardrobe and in the proper program, the in charge parents/of education will be able to attend espectáculo in place to assign for the production.
23. In the direction to preserve image of the young winning artists, the RTP, in the 12 following months to the Festival, she is detainer of its rights of image, having of being consulted for any share of commercial scope that with them if he intends to make.
24. He fits to the RTP to guarantee clothes to each intervening finalista.
25. All the intervening ones of palco of the winning song are obliged to participate in the Eurovisão Festival of the Song Junior 2007 in Roterdão in Holland between 1 and 9 of December. 26. During this period and as prémio, the RTP will support the trips and the stays of all the elements of palco of the winning song, including a companion for element.
27. They will not be able to concur familiar of employees of the pertaining companies for group RTP, duly warned disqualification of the song.
28. Any insult of the present regulation can take to the disqualification of the song the competition, after duly appreciated for the RTP. Omissive questions in this regulation will be evaluated and determined by RTP
29. The proposals of songs (COMPACT DISC), karaokes (DVD), the letter of the song (COMPACT DISC) and the photocopy of the Ticket of Identity must be sent stop:
RTP Festival of the Junior Song 2007 Department of Programs Recreativos Av. Marshal Gomes of the Coast, nº37 1849 - 030 LISBON
Source of News: http://www.rtp.pt/programas/index.php?article=1824&visual=4
Source of Picture: http://noticias.rtp.pt/web/rtp_nova_imagem/rtp/logotipos/rtp/v/RTP%20RGB%20positivo%20vertical.jpg

NTU Announced the 12 finalists ...

NTU announced the 12 finalists for the Ukrainian Eurovision junior song contest selection. The Ukrainian entry for Jesc 2007 will be announced at 29 September at the end of the live selection. The winner will be selected via televoting.

The Ukrainian national jesc 07 finalists by NTU:

1. Belik Vladislav, 14, Lugansk
2. Borodin Dmitry, 10, Donetsk
3. Shust Yarina, 14, Brody
4. Dmitrienko Valeriya, 13, Kiev
5. Schegelskiy Nazariy, 14, Kamenets-Podolskiy
6. Barabulya Kristina, 12, Kirovograd
7. Galitskaya Ilona, 12, Nikolaev
8. Grossu Alina, 12, Kiev
9. Karaschuk Vlad, 10, Kiev
10. Petrik Victoriya, 10, Nerubaiskoe
11. "Fresh Art" band, 14-15, Vinnitsa
12. Ivanova Marietta, 11, Kiev


Source: http://1tv.com.ua/euro/childeuro/euronews/07/06/05/17/30.html

Bulgaria announces selection procedure for Belgrade

Bulgarian broadcaster BNT has revealed the plans for the selections for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.
Songs can be submitted until 24th September.
The winner of the Bulgarian selections will compete in the final in Belgrade next year, thanks to the good result of Elitsa and Stoyan in Helsinki.

source www.12points.tv

Eurovision 2007: Evridiki gives an interview to CyBC

source www.oikotimes.com

Sarbel and Sakis Rouvas Down Under

Sarbel, this year's Greek representative at the Eurovision Song Contest will be touring Australia next month together with popular Greek singer Natassa Theodoridou. Sakis Rouvas,who represented the country in 2004 and hosted the 2006 contest will be visiting Australia as well for a single concert in April 2008, together with Antonis Remos.

Sarbel will be performing in Melbourne on July 6 at the Metro Night Club, and at the Westgate Entertainment Complex on July 7. The following week he will be in Adelaide on July 13 at the HQ Headquarters and in Sydney, at the Enmore Theater on July 14. More information on tickets and booking can be found here.

Sakis Rouvas will also be visiting Australia for a single appearance at the Melbourn Vodafone Arena on Saturday 12 April 2008, together with popular Greek singer Antonis Remos. The four-hour concert is expected to sell out due to the popularity of the two singers. Tickets will be available from October 1 at ticketek. More information can be found here.

source www.esctoday.com

Marija cancels trip after hospitalisation

Marija Serifovic has been forced to cancel her trip to Norway where she was supposed to be performing tomorrow night at the Eurovision Memory Lane concert in Oslo in front of an estimated 5,000 crowd tomorrow night. Marija is currently hospitalised after straining her vocal chords and will not be able to travel to Oslo.

The producer of the memory lane event told Gaysir website "this is very sad, especially for a young talent such as Marija. She has promised to come to Norway this autumn but until then, she has to rest her voice". He went on to wish Marija a speedy recovery to the problem which is most likely down to her gruelling schedule since winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki. Marija played at the Budva festival on Sunday before seeking medical help after pain in her throat.

Although the contest winner will not be travelling to Norway, this year's home entrant, Guri Schanke has stepped in to fill the breach and will be performing tomorrow night. We are also promised some surprise appearances in what is expected to be the largest Eurovision Memory Lane event so far.

source www.esctoday.com

Two semi finals in 2009!

At the annual EBU press conference, the supervisor of the contest, Svante Stockselius, among other things explained about the future of Eurovision.

The format currently in use will be in use one more year. After that, a two semi final system will be introduced. Exactly how everything around this will be solved is not yet decided, but what Svante made very clear is that the way the countries will be divided into the two semi finals will be decided by a draw and not by time-zones, in spite of rumours that have been circulating the media. If the big four countries will participate in the semi-finals or not is yet to be decided.

The preliminary dates for next year's contest are 22nd and 24th of May.

source www.escnation.com

Nana Mouskouri on This Morning ITV

Nana Mouskouri who came 8th the Eurovison Song Contest for Luxembourg in 1963, appeaerd on ITV 1 at 12:15 - 12:30 Today. Nana is considered to be one of the most successful female singers in history, reportedly having sold over 350 million records world-wide. Now, the 72 year old legend, after 45 years of stage , has decided to say Farewell with an extensive world wide tour.
Her appearance on today's This Morning show, was to promote her performances this October in the UK as part of her 4 year farewell tour. The tour began two years ago in Scandinavia and it will take her all over the globe. She has played Germany, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Asia as well as parts of Europe.

Nana came on in a Black dress with a red jacket, She was introduced with a exclusive clip of her performance back in 1963, at the Eurovision Song Contest. She then was interviewed by the 2 hosts which commented on her fluency in 5 languages, and her 1350 songs all in 11 different languages!

She then talked about her Fairwell tour, which Nana described more as a Thank you tour. The tour started in Germany and will end in Greece.

Nana then talked about her childhood and growing up in Nazi occupied Greece. "Children need to be heard and by singing I was heard".

Nana was congradulated by the hosts, for not changing her image to fit with modern sterotypes, but as a one off, Nana tried on several new pairs of designer glases for the show, including DKNY and a nice pair of Red spectacles.

Nana said "I never thought that I would grow that old. It is better really to stop while you are standing well on your feet. I just want to be proud and in very good form and thank the audience for all this love." Nana's fluency in manylanguages; Greek, French, English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese has enabled her to reach audiences all over Europe, the Americas and even Asia.

The Show ended with a quick reminder about Nana's Thank you tour, coming to London in October. At various dates at the Royal Albert Hall. You can book tickets on Nana's Website.

source from esctoday.com

Greece: Mad video music awards held yesterday

The Mad Video Music Awards 2007, took place yesterday, 25th of June, in Athens, Greece. Many Greek Eurostars performed live on stage and Helena Paparizou, Sakis Rouvas and Michalis Hatziyiannis were amongst the night's big winners. Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yancoulov, this year's Bulgarian representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest won the Bulgarian MAD TV Best video clip award.

Many Greek Eurovision stars and hopefuls participated and performed live at last nights' MAD TV Awards show. Elena Paparizou, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, appeared on stage with her 70’s black style dress. She was the one to start the show and she performed her new song “Mi figeis”.Michalis Hatziyiannis, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 for Cyprus with the song “Genesis”, was actually the big winner of the night, walking away with a total of four awards. Michalis also performed on stage with Reamonn, the famous German band, singing the greek-english version of Tonight(Simera).

Tamta who participated in this year’s Greek national final with the song “With love”, sang Mika's Relax-Take it easy, remixed with her new single "Agapise me".

These are wining artists in this year’s Mad music awards:

• Best dance video clip: Sakis Rouvas for the song “Ola giro sou girizoun”
• Best pop video clip: Mihalis Hatzigiannis for the song “Ola I tipota”
• Best Greek (laiko)video clip: Peggy ZinaBest video clip by a male artist: Mihalis Hatzigiannis for the song “Ola I tipota”Best video clip by a female artist: Helena Paparizou for the song “Gigolo”
• Best video clip: Kostas Kapetanidis,director of Elena’s Paparizou nr.1 video clip 2005
• Best video clip of the year: Mihalis Hatzigiannis with the song “Ola I tipota”
  Best dressed artist in a video clip: Helena Paparizou for the song “An eixes erthei pio polly”
• Best video clip by MAD-TV Bulgaria: Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov
  Best artist of the year with the most played video clip: Michalis Hatziyiannis with the song “Ola I tipota”

Source esctoday.com

Winner for JESC Romania 2007 is:

Winner for jesc Romania 2007 is: 4 Kids - Sha la la


This is a strong dance song. A member of the band is Alina Ieremias -Romania 2005 brother. They are dressed in red.
The show is chatchy and a Eurovision style song.

Good luck Romania!

TVR decide for Junior Eurovision now!

01. În jurul lumii (Mera Alexandra)
02. Fetiţa deocheată (Trupa A+)
03. Zbor (Loică Andrei)
04. Bum, bum, bum (Ghiţă Karina)
05. Mă dusei ziua la coasă (Trupa Fifty – Fifty)
06. Mama nu ştie (Mateiuc Alexandra Gabriela)
07. Suntem mereu OK (Trupa Chic)
08. Duby Duby (Trupa D @ D )
09. Putem fi prieteni (Lazăr Ovidiu)
10. Rebele (Trupa R.B.L., Iaşi)
11. Rock şi Cha Cha (Trupa Iforti)
12. Trece (Niculae Norina Sânziana)
13. Sha-la-la (Trupa 4 Kids)
14. Asta-s eu (Pânzaru Stănescu Iulian)

Source www.TVR1.ro

San Marino wants to participate in Esc

The microstate of San Marino is one of the last European countries never to have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, it seems that this could change in the next few years - Sammarinese broadcaster SMRTV has confirmed to esctoday.com that they are watching the Eurovision project with a possible participation in mind.
SMRTV considered joining in 2007, but its stockholders, many of whom are related to Italian broadcaster RAI, decided not to support the idea. Whether they will have changed their minds in a year seems unlikely, but SMRTV is aiming to participate at some point over the next few years, according to a spokesperson for the broadcaster.

San Marino is a tiny country surrounded entirely by Italy, and is often reported as being the world's oldest republic. Success for microstates has happened in the past - Monaco won in 1971, for example, and Malta has had 4 top 3 placings to date, the most recent coming in 2005 when Chiara placed 2nd.

As Italy is not participating in the contest, and seems unlikely to return in the near future, San Marino could act as a representative for the Italian language and music tradition in the contest in their absence. As a debuting country, San Marino would have to start in the semi final, should they enter. esctoday.com will keep you up to date on all potential new and returning countries as it finds out the information!

Source: esctoday.com

Promo Video! Eurovision JESC Cyprus 2008

Enter Georgia !Bosnia & Herzegovina withdraw from JESC

Georgia's participation in this year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest can be considered as a lucky break for the new Eurovision enthusiast country as it was made possible by the withdrawal of Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Originally, there had been 19 applications for this year's JESC in Rotterdam with Georgia being the 19th. As the rules of this year's contest dictate that a maximum of 18 countries participate, Georgia was excluded. But a sudden withdrawal of Bosnia & Herzegovina made it possible for them to take part after all.

The final list of participants is as follows (in alphabetical order):

1. Armenia (ARMTV)
2. Belarus (BTRC)
3. Belgium (VRT)
4. Bulgaria (BNT)
5. Cyprus (CyBC)
6. FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)
7. Georgia (GPB)
8. Greece (ERT)
9. Lithuania (LRT)
10. Malta (MTPBS)
11. The Netherlands (AVRO)
12. Portugal (RTP)
13. Romania (TVR)
14. Russia (RTR)
15. Serbia (RTS)
16. Spain (TVE)
17. Sweden (TV4)
18. Ukraine (NTU)

Source from esctoday.com

Constantinos Christoforou in support of Bryan Adams

source: oikotimes.com

Bryan Adams will be in Limassol for a concert on June 29 at the Tsireio Stadium. The preparations for the concert have been undertaken for two months now with technicians and managers from London and Milan. Their wish was for a well known Greek artist to open Bryan's concert. And the name decided: It will be Constantinos Christoforou.

Constantinos who recently won the award of Best CD Single of the year in the Cyprus Music Awards has represented Cyprus three times. In 1996, 2002 (leader of boy band ONE) and 2005. The decision of Bryan Adams' management team to have Constantinos as opening act in his concert reached Constantinos himself who accepted as he felt honoured, loveradio.gr reports.

Constantinos therefore will open Bryan Adams concert with the songs Thes Na Kanoume Schesi and She's No Fool a song which came second in the 2005 Cyprus Song Selection. This is the second Greek Cypriot artist in support of a well known artist. Evridiki will open Evanescence concert this Saturday in Athens.

Local media claim Despina Olympiou in talks with CyBC

The Cypriot media discuss for days now the potential participant of Cyprus for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest representation. According to the claims, Despina Olympiou is in discussions with CyBC to represent the country in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade.

CyBC has made no official statement on the story and it is not really expected to do so. Though the name of Despina Olympiou might give an explanation to our previous article on why Michalis Hatzigiannis is not any more gaming with ERT for Greek representation in Belgrade for the 2008 Eurovision edition. Michalis Hatzigiannis and Despina Olympiou are a couple in life and it wouldn't be nice for both of them to represent 'competative' countries in an ESC edition.
Source from oikotimes.com

Moldova to make participation decision in October

The Moldovan broadcaster TRM is one of the poorest participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, something which nearly caused the country to pull out of the 2007 edition held in Helsinki. In the end, however, a compromise was reached stating that Moldova would participate as long as its representative paid the fees connected with the contest themselves.
However, another part of the agreement was that should Moldova enter the Top 10 in Finland, TRM would refund the participants' expenses - something which did indeed happen after Natalia Barbu placed 10th with Fight.
This means that TRM did not actually save any money and since their financial situation has not improved in the meantime the same doubts about their participation in 2008 remain the same as last year. TRM will consider their budget before making a final decision on participation in Belgrade in October of this year.
As Natalia Barbu finished Top 10 in 2007, Moldova is one of the countries prequalified to the 2008 final by right. The next in line for prequalification, should they withdraw, is Bosnia & Herzegovina, who finished 11th.

Georgia to participate in Junior Eurovision

Georgia, for the first time ever, will participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest which will be held in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands on December 8, 2007. Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) will present the Georgian participant, who will be selected through a national contest.

In addition, the song, which will be performed at Junior Eurovision – 2007, will be revealed through a competition as well. The essential precondition for entrants is to sing a song in the Georgian language. Children between ages of 10 to 15 will be eligible to participate.

The national contest will be held in three tours. All applications will be discussed during the first tour. Then the regional casting of participants will be held with the 12 best ones being selected. At the final concert, a person, who will depart for Rotterdam, will be revealed.

Deadline for submitting applications is July 10. The selection tours will be held under the auspices of Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Roelofs.

Svante Stockselius visits Belgrade and RTS

source : oikotimes.com

RTS REPORTSMarija Serifovic's win at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest has brought much joy to the people of Serbia, but it also implies obligations and responsibilities. Svante Stockselius, the supervisor of the ESC, has come to Belgrade to provide the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation with the details of the tasks to be performed. Mr Stockselius talked to the head people of the RTS, visited the Sava Centre and the Expo Centre, the possible venues for the press centre and the fan club, and the Belgrade Arena where the 2008 ESC will take place.

Mr Stockselius was very impressed by Belgrade. 'It is a beautiful city, full of greenery. I was given a wonderful reception. The Belgrade Arena is impressive. It is neither too big, nor too small, which is perfect because we need a certain amount of intimacy, ' said Mr Stockselius. The supervisor of the ESC is satisfied with the way things are going. He pointed out that the RTS should be aware of the fact that there is a lot of work to be done. The RTS Entertainment Department will have the leading role in carrying out the project.

The Cyprus Music Awards 2007 winners

The Cyprus Music Awards 2007 winners

Last night the second edition of the Cyprus Music Awards took place in Nicosia, Cyprus. The show attended by many Greek and Cypriot Eurostars some of them performing on stage. The show will be aired by Sigma TV next week while a Greek TV station will also air it within the month. Here are the gatherings of awards which the Greek and Cypriot Eurostars got last night.

Best Newcomer - Tamta
Best Song Of The Year - Constantinos Christoforou - Stasou Ena Lepto
Best Female Singer - Evridiki
Best Male Singer - Michalis Hatzigiannis
Best Album - Michalis Hatzigiannis - Fili Kai Echtri
Best Single - Michalis Hatzigiannis - Ola I Tipota
Best Video - Anna Vissi - Everything

Καλώς ήρθατε στο νέο ανανεωμένο EUROVISION - CYPRUS

To ESC-CY ανανεώθηκε για να προσφέρει στους αναγνώστες του ένα καλό περιεχόμενο. Το νέο ESC-CY παρέχει στους αναγνώστες του exclusive multimedia (φωτογραφίες , ήχο και βίντεο) . Το ESC-CY σας υπόσχετε ότι θα καλύψει σημαντικά γεγονότα που αφορούν την Eurovision και Junior Eurovision.

Μείνετε συντονισμένοι για να μαθαίνετε πρώτοι ότι αφορά την Eurovision.

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Malta won't withdraw

Many rumours have been circulating on the Internet about the possible withdrawal of several countries for 2008, one of the most popular ones being Malta. However, the Maltese broadcaster has confirmed today that Malta will be present in Belgrade, despite having to start in the semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year.
Estonia, who have so far failed to qualify on every single occasion since the semi final was introduced, will also be playing in Belgrade, although ETV are considering their options for Eurolaul, the national final.
Montenegro, who failed to qualify in 2007 on their first attempt as an independent state, have also confirmed their presence in Serbia.
The continued participation of the Czech Republic, however, is more of a confusing matter. After coming last with only one point on their first ever participation, with one of the country's most successful bands, it is as yet unknown whether Czech broadcaster CT will be willing to finance another entry in 2008. However, while esctoday.com awaits confirmation from CT itself, the Czech Eurovision site is still being updated with Eurovision news in Czech, suggesting a continued interest.

Mihai Traistariu builds career

Mihai Traistariu hopes to work with famous producer Tommy Motolla, but the Romanian artist who finished 4th the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest is exploring all his options. That’s why he has also applied to take part in the L.A. Awards, and he is also currently participating in the international New Wave Festival where he is a finalist for that contest.
If anyone in Romania doubted Mihai Traistariu when he declared his intentions to succeed in the international arena, the singer is working to prove them wrong. He is taking many small - but steady - steps on his way to realizing his career dreams. Naturally his 4th place finish in Athens introduced him to a larger audience. Now, he is taking part in the New Wave Festival where he has qualified for the finals in Latvia with the highest score from the semi-final round. This exposure will only benefit him should he attempt to represent Romania in another Eurovision Song Contest.
However, Mihai has recently said that his biggest dream is to make a career overseas in the USA - although he had not tried to get in contact with any US-American managers until a very well-known producer from Portugal and a good friend of Tommy Motolla heard his song contest entry Tornerò during a shopping trip. The Portuguese producer contacted Mihai and suggested they record two songs for Motolla. These songs are finished, one of them is a duet with the famous female Romanian singer Nico (who also took part in various Romanian national finals) and now he is waiting for the producer to visit Romania: ”He will come in the 1st of July to listen to the songs and to find out the results. It’s a formality that has to be done”, Mihai declared.
The singer has also applied to take part in the L.A. Awards. Many prominent international singers like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas and Anastacia first attracted notice at these awards.
Next week Mihai will be visiting Norway with his girlfriend, perhaps he's also looking for a little summer vacation.

Azerbaijan not joining after all

Despite earlier indications to the contrary, AzTV has in fact been denied active EBU membership at the EBU meeting on the 15th June 2007. This means that Azerbaijan cannot enter the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 to be held in Belgrade, Serbia.
The EBU decided that AzTV was not seperate enough from the Azeri state, which is one of the requirements for active membership. However, Arzu Abdullayev of AzTV has confirmed that AzTV will apply again for active membership in January 2008, and if that application is successful, then Azerbaijan may debut as early as 2009.
esctoday.com is currently collecting information from active EBU members all over the European broadcasting area, and will bring you a full rundown on the status of each country's participation later this summer.

Hanna & Evridiki to support Evanescence

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest artists Hanna Pakarinen and Evridiki have been chosen to be the support act of the American alternative rock band Evanescence. The band will be performing tonight at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland and next Saturday, 23rd of June at Karaiskaki Football Field in Athens, Greece.
The successful American band Evanescence is currently on tour in Europe, promoting their second album The Open door. The 13-track album was released last October and in its first week of sales earned the first ranking on the Billboard 200 album chart. The band’s debut album Fallen sold almost 15 million copies worldwide and for 43 weeks got a position on the Billboard Top 10.
Evanescence perform tonight at the Hartwall Arena, in Helsinki, Finland, at 19:00 CET and Hanna Pakarinen, Finland’s representative at the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest will be the support act. The band will introduce for the first time their new guitar player and drummer, Troy McLawhorn and Will Hunt, who replace former John LeCompt and Rocky Gray.
Next Saturday 23rd of June another artist from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Evridiki, Cyprus' representative, together with Dimitris Korgialas will support the band at their concert in Athens, Greece. The event takes place at Karaiskaki Football Field.

20 June 2007...

New esccy site on 20 June 07 back...

Greece ... explore your sences!

Hellenic Republic - Ministry of Tourism - Greek National Tourism Organisation

In Greece, you are standing at crossroads of cultures, colours and civilisations, you feel the grandeur of history and the warmth of being at the southernmost part of Europe, you discover the evolutionary process of thought, influence and experience.
A country with a uniquely affluent historical past, inhabited by people gazing confidently and optimistically into the future.
A country that although statistically small, is huge in its diversity.
A landscape that has given us thousands of postcard images but remains incredibly vibrant and impossible to capture.
Greece is a country of beautiful contradictions, a constant journey in time, from the present to the past and back again.
Walk through the olive groves, through ancient sites. Move to clusters of sparsely inhabited islands. Roam from beaches to rocky mountains and explore the breathtaking scenery.
In Greece the fusion of images becomes more than imagery and turns into reality.
Explore your senses in Greece ...

More info in : http://www.gnto.gr/

The results of esc radio awards

The voting is closed and the results are online now

During the week June 1-7, the world-wide listeners of escradio.com had the chance to vote for their favourites from this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki. And here are the results:

- BEST SONG 2007 - "I Love You Mi Vida" (Spain) , written by Tony Sαnchez-Ohlsson, Rebeca Pous del Toro, Thomas G:son & Andreas Rickstrand, performed by D'Nash

- BEST FEMALE ARTIST 2007 - Magdi Rϊzsa (Hungary)

- Best MALE ARTIST 2007 - Kenan Dogulu (Turkey)

- Best GROUP 2007 - D'Nash (Spain)

Congratulations to all the winners!

For the complete results in all four categories please visit http://www.escradio.com/awards2007

The winners will be contacted and the awards will be handed over as soon as possible.

The Romanian participants for Junior Eurovison 2007

Here are the participants in the Romanian national selection:

01 Zbor- Loică Andrei

02 Bum, Bum, Bum - Ghiaţă Karina

03 În Jurul Lumii- Mera Alexandra

04 Putem fi prieteni - Lazăr Ovidiu

05 Duby Duby - D@D Denisa Trofin & Dragoş Bistriceanu

06 Mă dusei ziua la coasă - FIFTY-FIFTY

07 Fetiţa deocheată - A+

08 Suntem mereu - OK CHIC

09 Ăsta-s eu - Pânzaru Stănescu Iulian

10 Spune da - Ciornea Ioana Veronica

11 Rebele - R.B.L.

12 Trece - Niculae Norina Sânziana

13 Sha-la-la - 4 KIDS

14 Mama nu ştie - Mateiuc Alexandra Gabriela

15 Rock & Cha Cha - IPORTI

Jesc Russia 2007: Alexandra Golovchenko

Sabrina to attend OGAE Portugal birthday party

Tonight at 21.00 OGAE Portugal are celebrating their 10th anniversary at Aldeia do Meco with a big party where everyone is welcome. Popular Portuguese Eurostars have confirmed their participation, among them Sabrina, this year's Eurovision Song Contest participant.

Tonight at 21.00, at Fiéis ao Tacho Restaurant, (Rua da Praia do Moinho de baixo, Nº44, Aldeia do Meco, about 30 km from Lisbon), OGAE Portugal are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a party that promises many surprises.

Sakis Rouvas : Will he do it again?

Sakis Rouvas, or just plain Sakis to all of his numerous fans, spoke to Love Radio about his opinion of this year's winner, about Verka, Cyprus, Sarbel, about his own experience in the contest and whether he would like to give it another shot in the future. Sakis, represented Greece in 2004 with Shake it, hosted the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens and there are many who wish to see him back on a Eurovision stage some day.
Talking about this year's winner, Marija Serifovic, Sakis said that what he liked about her was that: "She showed she knew exactly who she is and what she wanted." and he continued to say that he felt Molitva was a song that had "power" and a deserved winner. As for Verka, the runner up, the popular Greek singer said that he found the act extraordinary and highly humorous. Sakis continued to comment on Evridiki's placing on the semi final: "I was shocked when Cyprus failed to make it to the final! I never expected this song by Evridiki and Korgialas to stay behind. As my envelope in the semi final, back in 2004, was opened ninth, I kept hoping until the very end that there would be an envelope that said Cyprus!"
Then Sakis was asked his opinion on this year's Greek entry. "Sarbel is really radiant, he seemed to love what he was doing, he did it with joy and power and that came across to people. The result was satisfactory as well" he answered. But when asked if he actually liked Yassou Maria, Sakis became evasive: "I've heard better songs, and worse of course. You can never be 100% sure which song is the ideal one to represent your country."
Sakis was then asked to look back and comment on his experience at the Eurovision Song Contest. "It was one of the most exciting times of my life, I would certainly do it again just because of that." Sakis laughed off the rumours that have already started circulating about him having agreed with ERT to represent Greece next year in Belgrade: "No, I haven't agreed. Currently, I have other priorities but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it. I also feel that other artists must be given a chance to experience it as well. When my colleagues- even very well known ones- ask me if participating is worth the trouble I tell them "Don't think about it, just go!"
After the release of his film, Alter Ego, Sakis is headed for Los Angeles for a much needed vacation and to continue his training as an actor with the famous Hollywood acting teacher Howard Fine who coached him for his first film. Sakis will be back to do a number of summer concerts in Athens, Thessaloniki and Cyprus.

Hande Yener poised for Turkey 2008

It seems that Turkish broadcaster TRT may be the first to select its representative for the Serbian Eurovision Song Contest of 2008, as reports suggest that singer Hande Yener will be flying the flag for Turkey in Belgrade.

The singer, speaking to reporters mere days after Kenan Dogulu's sensational fourth place in Helsinki, explained that TRT officials had approached her just two days after the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest final. The contract between her and the station should be finalised within fifteen days, and the plan is to send her to Serbia with a song in English.

ESC Radio Awards 2007 voting starts(From June 1-7)

ESC Radio have announced the launch of their 2007 Awards voting period. Fans will have the chance to vote for their favourites in four categories. The voting starts online on Friday June 1 and closes on June 7.
From June 1 and for a week, Eurovision Song Contest fans will have the chance once more to vote for their favourites from this year's contest in Helsinki in the following categories:

1.Best Song 2007
2.Best Female Artist 2007
3.Best Male Artist 2007
4.Best Group 2007

You can cast your votes here http://www.escradio.com/

Marija Serifovic back in Greece(Athens and Thessaloniki)

Marija Serifovic, this year's Eurovision Song Contest winner, is returning to Greece after her last visit during this year's winner's tour organised by the EBU.
Marija will be in Thessaloniki on June 10 where she will spend the entire day at HELEXPO, the city's exhibition center, as a guest at the MODA SALONICA, Balcan Fashion Fair. Afterwards, she will travel to Athens where she will stay until the 12th. The schedule for her Athens visit will be announced shortly, so stay tuned!

Eurovision vote-rigging attempts allegations revealed

Over two weeks after John Demanuele made allegations of vote-rigging attempts involving a number of countries including Malta just days before the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, no action has yet been taken.

During a discussion programme on a local TV station, Demanuele, the vice-chairman of the Maltasong Board, revealed that persons representing Georgia had a meeting with the Maltese delegation in Helsinki, where the Eurovision was held, in what he claimed to be an attempt to agree on how many points the two countries will be awarding to each other.

During the same programme a week later, Robert Abela, the Maltasong Board chairman, confirmed the incident but said that the account given by his second in command may have been slightly mistaken

“Can you give us points?”
But when reacting to the allegations during the same programme, three former Maltasong Board chairpersons, Gejtu Abela, Charlo Bonnici and Grace Borg, insisted that such “dealing” and negotiations for votes before Eurovision contests have been going on for years. “This is nothing new. These things have been going on since the Eurovision contest started” said Bonnici, now a top government official.


John Demanuele explained: “I can say today… Georgia, the new comers in this year’s Eurovision, we had a meeting, and they told us ‘we are new here… how many points are you going to give us? Can you give us points?’ We replied, ‘we cannot give you points because we use televoting’. They replied, ‘so we won’t give you any points.’ Full stop”.Later on, he explained that the conversation took place during an informal dinner between the representatives of the two countries. "They asked us, 'can you promise us any votes?' We answered 'no, we have televoting'... now it could have either been an innocent question, or else he was testing the waters".

Israel IBA wants once again to withdraw from Eurovision

Yediot Ahronot started the IBA soap opera earlier than ever this year. The newspaper claims that the general manager of IBA asked the board to approve his decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest. This contest is not fitting to his vision for the IBA future the newspaper continues. Instead of IBA, Channel 2 and Channel 10 eventually will restore Israel in the Eurovision family in the near future. Every year the issue with the possible Israeli withdrawal is a trend during the summer. Israel participates since 1973 and has three victories: in 1978, 1979 and 1998.