News Archives - Page 153 of 271

Eurovision 2025: Millions Watch, Billions Online, Basel In An Economic Boom

June 26, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2025 shattered records with millions of TV viewers, expansion to new platforms, and tremendous economic success for Basel. Here are all the key figures and insights. Eurovision 2025, held this past May in Basel, Switzerland, was not only a thrilling spectacle for hundreds of millions of viewers - it also became a cultural, digital, and economic powerhouse. According to a recent impact report published by the research department of the EBU, this was one of the most significant editions in the competition’s history. More than 166 million viewers experienced the event via television, over 83 million watched content on YouTube, and for the first time, the gaming platform Roblox participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, offering a groundbreaking virtual viewing experience. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Beyond Ratings: A Global Cultural and Social Phenomenon The numbers are impressive, but the true strength of Eurovision lies in its unique blend of culture, technology, and a cross-border audience experience. The viewing rate...

Eurovision 2026 Production Team Revealed – Which Familiar Faces from 2015 Returns?

June 26, 2025July 16, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ORF has unveiled the production team for Eurovision 2026 in Austria, featuring several key figures who were also involved in the 2015 contest in Vienna. Austria at Eurovision 2026: Following the victory of JJ at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with the song "Wasted Love", the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, has officially begun preparations to host Eurovision 2026. The broadcaster has revealed the core team responsible for producing the event. Most of the senior team members were also involved in the 2015 contest in Vienna, bringing with them proven experience and a deep understanding of the mechanisms behind Europe’s largest music event. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Proven Experience at the Helm Heading the production will be Michael Krön, a chief producer at ORF, who will serve as the executive producer for the entire project, reporting directly to the channel’s management. Alongside him is Stefan Zechner, who previously served as show producer for the 2015 contest and has...

Maybe This Time? Evangelia Will Try to Represent Greece at Eurovision 2026!

June 26, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Greek-American singer Evangelia, who has attempted to reach Eurovision four times and narrowly missed out this year, declares she will not give up on her dream and will try again for Eurovision 2026. Evangelia, whose full name is Evangelia Psarakis, has become a familiar name in the Eurovision world. In recent years, she has shown remarkable determination in her efforts to represent both Greece and Cyprus, submitting songs to the selection processes of both countries. Some of these tracks have even been released as singles – such as "Ónira" (in English: "Dreaming"), which she submitted for Greece’s Eurovision 2022 selection, "Aphrodite" for Cyprus’s internal selection that same year, and "Pali" for Greece’s 2023 selection. In 2025, she once again competed in the Greek national selection, finishing second with her song "Vale", just two points behind Klavdia, who went on to represent Greece at Eurovision and placed sixth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In an...

Spain: The Spanish Eurovision Representative Will Be Chosen on February 14th

June 26, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The official dates for Benidorm Fest 2026, have been revealed! The festival will take place on February 10th, 12th, and 14th - plus, who is the acclaimed artistic director leading the competition? Benidorm Fest 2026 will once again serve as Spain’s national selection for Eurovision, marking its fifth consecutive year in this role. The grand final is scheduled for February 14th, with the semi-finals set for February 10th and 12th. The winner will represent Spain at Eurovision 2026 in Austria. During the press conference announcing the festival dates, the name of the artistic director was also revealed: none other than Sergio Jaén, who directed the winning Austrian entry at Eurovision 2025, "Wasted Love" by JJ, as well as several other successful Eurovision performances. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sergio Jaén – A Familiar Name in the Eurovision World Sergio Jaén is a highly respected Spanish director who will be responsible for staging Spain’s entry at...

Kyiv Missile Attack: Alyosha Survives by a Miracle

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Everything inside is shattered”: Ukrainian Eurovision star Alyosha revealed the extent of destruction to her Kyiv home after a deadly Russian attack, as she and her family narrowly escaped harm. During a missile attack on Kyiv last night (June 23rd), the apartment of Alyosha, Ukraine’s Eurovision 2010 representative, was severely damaged. The missile did not hit her building directly, but the blast waves tore the steel doors from their frames and caused extensive destruction. Despite the damage - she and her family survived. Her husband, singer Taras Topolia, updated that a nearby building suffered a direct hit - with many casualties reported. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Everything Inside Is Shattered” – Shock, Destruction, and Reactions from the Music Community Topolia’s post painted a grim picture: “Everything inside is shattered… The blast waves bent the metal and broke the doors from their locks. We are lucky - we are all alive.” The statement sparked a wave of solidarity from artists, including Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala,...

Angelina Mango Vanishes from the Spotlight: What Really Happened?

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Angelina Mango, Italy’s Eurovision 2024 representative, shares a deeply personal post about her breakdown, pressures, and recovery journey, sparking a storm in Italy and the Eurovision community. Angelina Mango, Italy’s Eurovision 2024 representative and Sanremo Festival winner, has published an especially personal and revealing post that left her fans stunned: “Really? It’s definitely not all roses.” The post, her first after a prolonged silence, has reignited the question of the personal cost that young stars pay for meteoric success and has stirred up a storm in Italy and the Eurovision world. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When Musical Ambition Turns into a Psychological Burden Mango’s post, published on social media, is not just a complaint - it is a genuine cry for help. It exposes the less glamorous side of the Sanremo and Eurovision worlds: relentless pressure, loss of privacy, endless comparisons, and impossible expectations. At the very peak of her professional success, Mango was forced to cancel all her performances due...

Graz, The City Coping with Tragedy Still Considers Hosting Eurovision 2026

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Graz remains in the running to host Eurovision 2026, despite a recent tragedy. Five cities still await the announcement on August 8th, 2025. Could the contest become a symbol of hope or an open wound? Despite conflicting reports and media speculation, the city of Graz in Austria has not yet withdrawn its candidacy to host Eurovision 2026. Following the horrific massacre in the city on June 10th, in which 11 people were killed - including nine students - voices have emerged calling for the city to abandon its bid on moral grounds. However, according to local authorities, no official decision has yet been made - and some suggest that Eurovision could actually become a “symbol of hope.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Between Public Mourning and Collective Hope The shocking shooting that shook Graz - and sparked a fierce debate in Austria over gun laws - also casts a shadow over the city’s cultural and public...

Between Iran and Israel: Barbara Pravi Reveals the Drama That Changed Her Life

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “In Iran, singing is a crime”: Barbara Pravi, France’s Eurovision 2021 representative, opens up about her Iranian-Jewish roots, her fears of extremism, and the pivotal drama that shaped her life. Barbara Pravi, France’s Eurovision 2021 representative who captivated Europe with her song “Voilà”, returns to the headlines - this time for a far more profound reason. In a personal interview published as relations between Israel and Iran reach a historic boiling point, Pravi reveals her complex identity: a Polish Jewish grandmother, a Moroccan Jewish grandmother, an Iranian grandfather who fled after the Shah’s fall, and a Serbian grandfather who opposed Tito’s regime. Her music, it turns out, is only part of the story. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); One woman, four worlds: What connects Parisian Judaism to Persian poetry? “I can’t ignore any of this, [...] My roots are who I am.” Says Pravi. While her grandparents’ homelands stand on opposite sides of the Middle Eastern conflict,...

Eurovision Reinvented: Major Changes Ahead – A New Trophy and Logo?

June 24, 2025July 16, 2025 by Guy Solo Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After yet another broken trophy, the EBU is reportedly considering a redesign of the Eurovision trophy and logo ahead of the 2026 contest. Is the glass microphone nearing retirement? Following the celebrations of Eurovision 2025, the iconic glass microphone trophy has broken—again. This time, the mishap befell Austrian winner JJ, who shared the damaged trophy on TikTok, revealing it in two separate pieces. "My suitcase arrived broken, so the trophy broke too," said the singer. "But don’t worry – it will be fixed." (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Why Is the Eurovision Trophy So Fragile? The Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s biggest music competition, is renowned not only for its performances, costumes, and drama—but also for its distinctive trophy: a glass microphone awarded to the winner. In recent years, however, the trophy seems to have developed a reputation for being delicate. JJ is already the fifth winner whose trophy broke: it previously happened to Nemo,...

Ed Sheeran Reveals: Eurovision 2025 and the Choice He Almost Made

June 23, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The world's most famous British pop star shares his favorite Eurovision 2025 song, reveals which close friend performed at the last contest, and discusses whether he might ever compete himself. One performance managed to touch one of the biggest pop stars in the world: Ed Sheeran, who, as he does every year, watched the Eurovision Song Contest. Sheeran revealed that his favorite song from Eurovision 2025 was Italy’s entry by Lucio Corsi. The song, which captivated the European audience, also excited Sheeran, who declared in an interview: "I loved it. It was the best song in my opinion." After the Italian performance, Louane - a close friend of Sheeran - took the stage, and he admitted to feeling uncomfortable about the timing. He also revealed whether he is considering competing in Eurovision himself. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Friendship Dilemmas and Musical Taste Sheeran’s choice of Lucio Corsi was not an obvious one. When asked about his preference, he confessed: "I felt...