It will be Christer Björkman?

According to Swedish Aftonbladet Christer Björkman could very well be the new responsible for the Eurovision Song Contest. After the news we could report earlier this week about Svante Stockelius resigning from his post within EBU, name guessing has started about who will be the next in line.

Christer Björkman has been the man behind the new and successful Melodifestivalen format in the beginning of this decade. The article in the Swedish newspaper has not been confirmed, but it does state as well that SVT, the Swedish broadcaster, already has other names in mind that could replace him in case he would move on from Melodifestivalen to Eurovision.

Read the article here(in Swedish).

 

EBU changes 1 October rule to 1 September rule.

At the EBU Reference Group Meeting it has been decided that the so called 1 October rule will change into a 1 September rule, meaning that this year's Eurovision season will actually start tomorrow. This means that songs participating in the Eurovision Song Contest may actually be released as off 1 September in the year preceeding the actal contest year. Belgian broadcaster RTBF was one of the demanding broadcasters.

It has also been decided that there will be 24 contestants in the 2011 Eurovision final, and not 25 like in recent years, as Germany was not only the winner last year and organiser this year but also one of the so called Big Four countries that are always entitled to get a spot in the final.

.... and a bit of leather

In an interview with the Schlagerboys (do visit their revamped site), Norwegian mr. Eurovision Per Sundnes promisses key changes and schlager for the 2011 Melodi Grand Prix. Read the entire interview here.

Edsilia Rombley gave birth to a daughter

On 13 August, Edsilia Rombley and Tjeerd Oosterhuis became the proud parents of Imaani. Mother anc child are doing well. Edsilia represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 and 2007. Thinking about who represented the United Kingdom in the year Edsilia first took part in the contest, we don't really have to think long about who inspired the couple, when thinking of a name for their daughter.

Responsible for 26 Eurovision productions.

The Upcoming Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be the last Eurovision production under the supervision of Svante Stockelius (54). Stockelius has been responsible for all Eurovision projects since 2003. In his years the Eurovision Song contest has grown from a one night show to a series of three shows. Before his position with EBU he was the architect for the present successful format of Swedish Melodifestivalen. The search for a successor will shortly commence, and is likely to be completed before the end of the year.

Source: Eurovision.tv

 

RTBF lets money determine the candidates' chances....

The Belgian selections for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 will start on 1 October. RTBF in collaboration with Akamusic will then launch a website on which all candidates can upload their entries. RTBF wanted to start the selections in May already, but was stopped by the European Broadcasting Union.
From 1 October, Belgian artists can upload their entries for the Belgian selections for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, written by Belgian composers in French or English, on the website of RTBF and Akamusic. Until 31 December 2010 at noon all candidates have the time to gather € 20,000 from the visitors of the website who want to fund the production of the song.

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Eurovision Party Coming Up!

If you missed the 3minutes party on 12 June in Utrecht, there still is hope. We are going to be back in Utrecht, to be enjoying yet another night filled with Eurovision tunes. A group of fans from all around Europe, called ESCnation, will be gathering in the city in the centre of the Netherlands in the last weekend of October. So join them and us for a Eurovision party on 30 October, organised by 3minutes.me and ESCnation. And the good thing: It is free!

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Nadja Benaissa guilty of deliberately infecting someone with HIV

German pop singer Nadja Benaissa was found guilty of deliberately infecting someone with HIV. In 2008 Nadja participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of German No Angels. The court has imposed a suspended sentence of two years on her. She also has to perform 300 hours of community service. The verdict is consistent with the demand of the prosecutor.

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...in organising the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Four German cities have now officially declared themselves willing to organise the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Hannover are the four that are left. They were all amond the 11 cities that earlier declared themslves interested. All interested cities had to deliver thair plans to organising broadcaster NDR by yesterday. Within a month a decission is expected. According to local press Tempelhof in Berlin, Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf and the Messehallen in both Hamburg and Hannover are most likely to be the locations in those four cities. Source: NDR