The Hungarian public broadcaster MTVA announced the 30 acts chosen to take part in ‘A Dal’ the popular National Final show. The entries were chosen internally by a professional jury: •Elmaradt pillanatok – Gájer Bálint •Morning Light (Reggeli fény) – Marge •This Is My Life (Ez az életem) – Musicfabrik •Break Up – Lil C •Karcolás (Rise Again) – Polyák …

The Albanian broadcaster RTSH released the names of the 16 participants taking part in Festivali i Këngës 52, the Albanian National Final show. On December 26 & 27 eight songs will be performed each night and unlike a normal Semi Final where some songs are eliminated, all acts will perform on the big Final night scheduled December 28th . Running Order …

Just as the former Yugoslav countries have been shocked by the pro-Nazi chants by Croatian football player Josip Simunic, a new scandal flares up, involving a former Eurovision entrant! Simunic, after Croatia won the qualifying game for the World Cup in 2014 against Iceland, walked onto the stadium field and chanted a pro-Nazi chant used in the Croatian puppet state …

In yet another surprising Eurovision twist, RTV SLO has announced today that Slovenia has actually submitted their application for participation in Copenhagen! The unexpected news was published on the broadcaster’s website, noting that they sent in their application at eve of the deadline. However, the confirmation is only semi-official. Just like last year, the Slovene broadcaster is using one of …

With only one day left before the EBU’s deadline for broadcasters to announce their participation in the upcoming Contest, some countries seem less likely than others to participate. One of them is, sadly, Slovenia. The Slovene-based (and also Slovene-speaking) website Eurovizija has been publishing rather bleak articles in the past week. One entitled “Black Clouds over Eurovision and the Entertainment Programme …

Maltese broadcaster PBS has announced the format for their national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 via Eurovision.tv. PBS is now taking submissions, of which 20 will be chosen to compete in a semifinal, compared to last year’s 24. From there, 14 entries will be chosen to compete in a final. The event will take place sometime in January …

Croatia will not be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, national broadcaster Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT) announced earlier today.  HRT cited a lack of funds and a difficult economic situation regarding their withdrawal from the next competition. However, the announcement asserts this is only temporary; HRT says that they aim to improve upon previous results and reach a better place in the …

The content of this editorial does not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of ESC United, its editorial board or its readers. Once news broke on Twitter of Conchita Wurst’s participation in Copenhagen for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, I immediately knew that I could expect tons of unwarranted hatred for Austria’s choice. When someone who doesn’t look like the …

Every year around the end of August, thousands of Eurovision fans have successfully battled through a severe Post Eurovision Depression Syndrome, some have just been released from rehab, while others have made their first payment on the new liver they decided to purchase back in 2011 when they discovered they had to plan a trip to Azber…Azberbaja…Baku! To Baku! Yes, …

For the first time ever, EUROVISION LIVE CONCERT will be held in Portugal. For three days, several artists associated with Eurovision or the National Final show Festival da Canção. The show will take place from September 5th to 7th in the city of Setubal. The event will beging with a concert called “Portual – O Pais do Fado) which is …