JJ, representing Austria and winner of Eurovision 2025, is not stopping – already setting himself a new goal: winning a Grammy. He speaks openly about his overwhelming success, reactions from around the world, the surprise from Israel, and his views on the competition’s new voting system.

As the one who brought Austria its third Eurovision victory with the song “Wasted Love”, JJ became an overnight sensation in the international music industry – and he has no intention of stopping there.

JJ Reveals His Future Ambitions

JJ, also known by his real name Johannes Pietsch, secured Austria’s third Eurovision win in history when he triumphed in the final held in Basel, Switzerland, with the song “Wasted Love”. With 436 points – 258 from the juries and 178 from the public – JJ became one of the most notable winners of the last decade, especially considering he ranked only fifth in the semi-final. Austria’s surprising victory resonated among music fans and the media, making JJ an international star overnight.

JJ does not hide his ambitions. “My next step is to win a Grammy”, he declares proudly. After capturing Europe’s heart, he sees himself leading world music forward.

On Yuval Raphael’s Success: “I Didn’t Understand What Was Happening”

JJ shares that he did not follow the voting for Israel in real time. “I was focused only on myself,” he says, but after the contest, he was astonished to discover how many points Israel had received. “It was surprising,” he admitted, “I didn’t understand what was happening.” When asked about public criticism of the voting system, including calls from the Spanish national broadcaster RTVE to re-examine the system, JJ – for a change – chooses diplomatic language:

“Eurovision changes every year. This time, the focus was on the artists’ mental health – maybe in the future, this will also be addressed.”

A Triumph for Music

JJ joins a distinguished list of Eurovision winners from Austria: Udo Jürgens in 1966 and Conchita Wurst in 2014. However, he brings a new spirit – a blend of classical and modern music, an extraordinary soprano voice, and international exposure thanks to Eurovision. According to experts in the field, JJ’s victory may pose new challenges for future artists, who will need to demonstrate even greater uniqueness and creativity.

JJ’s Eurovision 2025 win marks a defining moment for Austria and European music. With high ambitions, criticism of the voting system, and an active Eurovision fan community, the future looks promising – for both artists and audiences.

Austria at Eurovision 2025

JJ, 23, is the opera singer who represented Austria at Eurovision 2025 with the song “Wasted Love”, after being selected internally by the local national broadcaster ORF. JJ won Eurovision in first place after receiving 436 points in the grand final – 258 from the jury, placing first, and 178 from the public, placing fourth. This included 8 points from the Israeli public and 6 points from the Israeli jury.

JJ’s victory marks Austria’s third win in the history of the contest, following the wins of Udo Jürgens in 1966 (“Merci, Cherie”) and Conchita Wurst in 2014 (“Rise Like a Phoenix”).