Martin Green will serve as the new Eurovision Director, after the European Broadcasting Union declared that it will make structural changes in the competition’s management following the extensive criticism of Eurovision 2024.
Following the previous announcements of intentions to make significant changes in Eurovision management after the events of Eurovision 2024, the European Broadcasting Union has now disclosed who will be the Eurovision Director – the new role that will oversee Eurovision 2025 in Basel. The new Eurovision Director will work alongside the existing Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl from Sweden, supervising his work and taking on a considerable portion of his tasks.
The new Eurovision Director who will start his job in November is the British Martin Green. Green’s track record as an executive producer of major events includes the ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Hull UK City of Culture 2017, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 and the BAFTA-winning Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Liverpool in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine.
Jean Philip De Tender, the EBU’s Director of Media and Deputy Director-General responded and justified the choice: “Martin’s experience, strategic thinking and creative energy will be invaluable to the song contest as we get set for the 2025 event and evolve into the future. The creation of this senior role and Martin’s appointment reflect how we’re building on the history and the strengths of a unique platform that celebrates the power of music to bring people together.”
Martin Green himself has stated the following: “The Eurovision Song Contest captures the imaginations of people across generations, countries and cultures. It remains a beacon of joy, artistry and diversity – and a testament to the inclusive power of public service broadcasting. Being asked to lead the event is a dream come true and I look forward to working with everyone involved to take the project and the brand into an exciting future.”
Role of the Eurovision Director
The new Eurovision Director will work alongside the Contest’s Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl, and take on some of his responsibilities. The Eurovision Director will report to and work with the Deputy Director General of the EBU, Jean Philip De Tender. Additionally, they will oversee the entire senior management of the contest and all officials involved in organizing the competition. They will serve as the brand manager on behalf of the EBU and, as such, will be responsible for the following:
Strategic Direction and Brand Management
- Defining short-term and long-term competition goals
- Overseeing the global presence of the brand
- Supervising marketing and communications
Management Interests
- Overseeing and driving the management of all stakeholders, internally and externally within the EBU
- Managing budgets and ensuring the “financial viability of the event”
Managerial Responsibility
- Actively participating in recruitment decisions with human resources
- Performance evaluations, compensation and benefits, and disciplinary issues
Spokesperson Duties
- Serving as a spokesperson for both the brand and the shows, except in exceptional cases where there will be an official spokesperson
EBU Liaison
- Reporting on all progress and relevant information that should concern the organization or things that could damage the brand
Broadcaster Relations
- Serving as a point of contact for consultation and answering questions for all broadcasters participating in the competition
Innovation
- Responsible for identifying trends, developments, and new services that can serve Eurovision.
Controversies and Challenges at Eurovision 2024
Eurovision 2024 in Malmö, as we know, was fraught with controversies, including protests against Israel’s participation, and the disqualification of Dutch representative Joost Klein. Many fans, as well as artists, expressed their protest regarding the EBU’s handling of these crises. The organization hopes that the changes we are seeing will lead to renewed trust in the brand and the competition, as well as preventing such events in future contests.
Source: Eurovisionfun
Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Switzerland, following Switzerland’s third victory in history with the song “The Code”, performed by singer Nemo. This will be the third time the contest has been hosted in Switzerland, after the competition was held there in 1956 and 1989.
