Dear EBU, Dear Reference Group
We send our wishes of good health to you in these hard times.
We are writing collectively, to express our sadness and disappointment, about your decision to not allow songs to be carried forward to 2021’s Eurovision Song Contest.
We, of course, understand the reasons for Eurovision not taking place in May 2020, and agree that this is the right decision. We also agree that it is right that you have allowed delegations to decide whether or not they take the same artist forward to 2021, as this is the honourable thing to do.
However, that leaves, Songwriters, Song Producers, Publishers and those that started the creative process, all putting in so much work and creativity, as the only ones who are not included and allowed to compete in 2021. We as a group are not allowed to enjoy the fact that we won national finals and have been selected, or that we won an internal competition. Chances are lost for us, yet everyone else has been considered and allowed to get a second chance.
It also means, that all of these creative people, are unpaid for their hard work, as everything to this point is done speculatively, a songwriters reward comes through seeing their work performed and earning royalties from that. This highlights to us as a group, that we are at the bottom of the pile, unthought of when these decisions take place.
We just have to look closely at the name of the contest, “The Eurovision SONG Contest”, to understand that the song is central to the competition, and without songwriters, producers and publishers, their would be no songs.
So many of us are disheartened by this decision, as we have input so much already, but we have no protection over our work.
Let’s also remind ourselves, that the songs are released because we agreed to abide by delivering our works to you by the deadline of March 9th, so they can be included on the Eurovision YouTube Channel.
The same rules you are claiming now, that make them invalid for next year’s ESC. This is not fair at all! We would have never released this songs otherwise and would have use it differently!
We do understand that your decision has come from a hasty place in a very difficult time.
However, the simple solution we feel, is for the 1st September rule, to be changed, for this one year only, and for delegations to be allowed to choose whether they want to use the same songs or not, in the same way you have allowed them to choose the same artist.
We ask you to consider this once more and consider giving us the same rights as you have given others.
Kind regards
Songwriters, Producers, Publishers
Updates
March 26, 2020
The momentum behind this is growing and it proves that people finally see how much the songwriters have been overlooked. My energy is drained after these long weeks but seeing your collective response keeps me moving forward.
24 Comments
I was involved in writing and producing the song 'Cleopatra' for Azerbaijan. I personally think that the hard work of the songwriters, producers and publishers, the ones who contribute the songs in this SONG contest, are overlooked in this decision by the Reference Group.
my name is Tony Cornelissen I have written for ESC in the past and this year I am producer and co-publisher of Cleopatra (Azerbaijan). I understand this is a unique situation that we are all in, unfortunately. But I have the feeling that the organizer of this global song event does not have a good idea of what and who actually contributes to the basis and quality of this event. But I also doubt whether the organizer knows what investment risk has been taken by the people in this petition. This requires some improvement. So ESC hear these voices and get to work on this seriously.
Dear EBU, I co-wrote "Cleopatra" with Alan Roy Scott and Luuk van Beers which is now represented by Azerbaijan and Efendi - it would be amazing if they had the choice of using the song if they want to and to all the other songwriters, producers, and creative/admin teams who worked so hard as well , just to give all of us and the artists this choice and chance would be truly incredible. Stay safe in these times and take care of your loved ones, Best, Sarah Lake
Greig Watts / Dwb Music- Publisher For Cleopatra-Azerbaijan Please reconsider this decision. Not only is it unfair to not allow the songs to go forward to 2021 when artists and everyone else does, but also you should consider the quality of next years songs, will we be able to organise camps like normal? Will delegations be able to afford to pay for out again, having lost so much this year, the world is already such a different place. So many of us are already disheartened by the decision, we need our work protected otherwise many will not be motivated to provide great songs anymore.
Please consider to change this decision. There is so much work and passion invested by the songwriters and producers here and this is what we’re trying pay our bills with.
Please consider being flexible on the rules under these extraordinary circumstances - our hard work has turned from dream to devastation.. Your consideration is greatly appreciated, thank you.
I absolutely, wholeheartedly agree with the Petition and with all the comments of my fellow Songwriters 100%! I can't say anything more, as it has been stated clear enough. This decision is unspeakably unfair, disrespectful and just downright unheard-of! We creative ones who put in all the hard work, our time and Energy, our hearts and Souls and emotions into so many Beautiful Songs are now being treated like trash. I allow myself to kindly ask - even strongly demand, for me, and all others involved, be that Songwriters, Producers, Publishers, anyone, justice and Fairness for all!
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Dear EBU, Dear Reference Group
We send our wishes of good health to you in these hard times.
We are writing collectively, to express our sadness and disappointment, about your decision to not allow songs to be carried forward to 2021’s Eurovision Song Contest.
We, of course, understand the reasons for Eurovision not taking place in May 2020, and agree that this is the right decision. We also agree that it is right that you have allowed delegations to decide whether or not they take the same artist forward to 2021, as this is the honourable thing to do.
However, that leaves, Songwriters, Song Producers, Publishers and those that started the creative process, all putting in so much work and creativity, as the only ones who are not included and allowed to compete in 2021. We as a group are not allowed to enjoy the fact that we won national finals and have been selected, or that we won an internal competition. Chances are lost for us, yet everyone else has been considered and allowed to get a second chance.
It also means, that all of these creative people, are unpaid for their hard work, as everything to this point is done speculatively, a songwriters reward comes through seeing their work performed and earning royalties from that. This highlights to us as a group, that we are at the bottom of the pile, unthought of when these decisions take place.
We just have to look closely at the name of the contest, “The Eurovision SONG Contest”, to understand that the song is central to the competition, and without songwriters, producers and publishers, their would be no songs.
So many of us are disheartened by this decision, as we have input so much already, but we have no protection over our work.
Let’s also remind ourselves, that the songs are released because we agreed to abide by delivering our works to you by the deadline of March 9th, so they can be included on the Eurovision YouTube Channel.
The same rules you are claiming now, that make them invalid for next year’s ESC. This is not fair at all! We would have never released this songs otherwise and would have use it differently!
We do understand that your decision has come from a hasty place in a very difficult time.
However, the simple solution we feel, is for the 1st September rule, to be changed, for this one year only, and for delegations to be allowed to choose whether they want to use the same songs or not, in the same way you have allowed them to choose the same artist.
We ask you to consider this once more and consider giving us the same rights as you have given others.
Kind regards
Songwriters, Producers, Publishers
Updates
March 26, 2020
The momentum behind this is growing and it proves that people finally see how much the songwriters have been overlooked. My energy is drained after these long weeks but seeing your collective response keeps me moving forward.
24 Comments
I can only wholeheartedly agree. Such a decision making process can not happen behind closed doors , with disregard to the creatives, who will be hit harder by this decision, than the higher ups at EBU are obviously aware. Please listen!
I was involved in writing and producing the song 'Cleopatra' for Azerbaijan. I personally think that the hard work of the songwriters, producers and publishers, the ones who contribute the songs in this SONG contest, are overlooked in this decision by the Reference Group.
my name is Tony Cornelissen I have written for ESC in the past and this year I am producer and co-publisher of Cleopatra (Azerbaijan). I understand this is a unique situation that we are all in, unfortunately. But I have the feeling that the organizer of this global song event does not have a good idea of what and who actually contributes to the basis and quality of this event. But I also doubt whether the organizer knows what investment risk has been taken by the people in this petition. This requires some improvement. So ESC hear these voices and get to work on this seriously.
Dear EBU, I co-wrote "Cleopatra" with Alan Roy Scott and Luuk van Beers which is now represented by Azerbaijan and Efendi - it would be amazing if they had the choice of using the song if they want to and to all the other songwriters, producers, and creative/admin teams who worked so hard as well , just to give all of us and the artists this choice and chance would be truly incredible. Stay safe in these times and take care of your loved ones, Best, Sarah Lake
Greig Watts / Dwb Music- Publisher For Cleopatra-Azerbaijan Please reconsider this decision. Not only is it unfair to not allow the songs to go forward to 2021 when artists and everyone else does, but also you should consider the quality of next years songs, will we be able to organise camps like normal? Will delegations be able to afford to pay for out again, having lost so much this year, the world is already such a different place. So many of us are already disheartened by the decision, we need our work protected otherwise many will not be motivated to provide great songs anymore.
Please consider to change this decision. There is so much work and passion invested by the songwriters and producers here and this is what we’re trying pay our bills with.
Please consider being flexible on the rules under these extraordinary circumstances - our hard work has turned from dream to devastation.. Your consideration is greatly appreciated, thank you.
I absolutely, wholeheartedly agree with the Petition and with all the comments of my fellow Songwriters 100%! I can't say anything more, as it has been stated clear enough. This decision is unspeakably unfair, disrespectful and just downright unheard-of! We creative ones who put in all the hard work, our time and Energy, our hearts and Souls and emotions into so many Beautiful Songs are now being treated like trash. I allow myself to kindly ask - even strongly demand, for me, and all others involved, be that Songwriters, Producers, Publishers, anyone, justice and Fairness for all!
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I can only wholeheartedly agree. Such a decision making process can not happen behind closed doors , with disregard to the creatives, who will be hit harder by this decision, than the higher ups at EBU are obviously aware. Please listen!