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.
B
Bernarda Brunovic
6 years ago
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!
X
Xavier MICHEL
6 years ago
I remember Eurovision as a "song" contest. It's for me in the DNA of the competition. Having one of his songs selected is a kind of "Grail" for a songwriter. For almost ten years we have been offering songs, which sometimes arrive at the doors of the selection. For the first time, it's passed, our song will represent Switzerland !!! And… no. The disillusionment and the sadness are huge, on the one hand because our work and our perseverance will not be rewarded at their fair value (financially of course, but also recognition), and on the other hand because we feel, in a competition which is made for us and greatly by us, less respected than the performers that we try, day after day, to highlight. Magic works with the extraordinary combination of music, text and performer; to consider performers and songwriters differently in this very difficult context (for everybody!) is sending a very bad message.
Hoping that you will come back on this decision which we consider really unfair.
Regards,
C
Cesar Sampson
6 years ago
Featured
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!
A
Anne Tekstra
6 years ago
Yes!
L
Laueie
6 years ago
Please give writers the chance to get their songs heard, they worked very hard for this opportunity. Dont take it away from them
J
Jeroen Swinnen
6 years ago
I’m also part of a songwriting team competing in the 2020 ESC. (Co-writer and producer on the Swiss entry ‘Répondez-Moi’)
I agree 100 % with Boris and this petition.
I totally understand the fact that we couldn’t have a normal competition in 2020.
This unseen worldwide breakdown due to a virus we can’t control changes our world real fast, but as everyone suffers from this disaster it's extra painful to see how the EBU just throws all our hard work AND investments made last year in the trash.
Like it means nothing. It's unbelievably disrespectful towards all the songwriters, publishers, producers, labels,... who made this year's selection, and in my case I'm not sure I'm willing to keep investing time and energy in a contest that disrespects the people who are responsible for a large aspect of their contest. it's a SONGcontest and we co-write/produce the songs...
there were many options to prevent this to happen :
Give the same teams the opportunity to work on a new song, to avoid extra investments in selection procedures for suffering countries, or give the artists at least the option to continue with this year’s song if nothing better comes out of new songwritingsessions with the 2020 writingteam. that way the 2020 competition moves to 2021 and from there on we hopefully go back to "normal"...
Change the rules for once in 2020…
I even would have preferred an altered form of ESC 2020 :
BECAUSE it is a SONG contest we could have had a studio-version of the ESC where every country recorded a live version of their act (even at home!), and broadcast it. In days like these where almost everyone has to stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading, it might have been a pleasant, entertaining and uniting broadcast throughout all of Europe promoting the songs we wrote, produced, released. I think, next to being a (song)contest, ESC unites people… this one time it would have been virtually, but I really believe it could have worked and woul
M
Mahan Moin
6 years ago
Represent Wiibii Music - the song Cleopatra - Azerbaijan 2020 in Eurovison.
O
Orla Cullen
6 years ago
Signing for Alan ... songs selected for this year should be allowed to still be entries for next year
K
Kevin Lee
6 years ago
Cleopatra
L
Luuk van Beers
6 years ago
Featured
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.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
This is a SONG CONTEST and yet again we see another case of songwriters getting put last!!! We say NO MORE! The broadcasters and songwriters/producers (who work on spec and take a royalty YEARS LATER after the show has aired) have all invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid time to prepare for Eurovision 2020. I alone spent over 2 weeks of unpaid time working on my country’s song, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars that certain broadcasters have spent testing their song. For countries with less money, royalties from the tv show are the only compensation some writers will see! Are people aware of this? EBU, if you want to continue engaging with quality writers for you show, be very careful!!! Writers, producers and broadcasters who invested all their time and finances into this year’s competition, enough is enough. We need to be acknowledged and this needs to be amended IMMEDIATELY!!!
D
Dan Hammond
6 years ago
I think this is an exceptional situation that requires exceptional measures. We have worked so hard on these songs that we deserve being considered as well as everyone else involved. Thank you.
T
Tony Cornelissen
6 years ago
Featured
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.
A
Alan Roy Scott
6 years ago
As one of the 3 co-writers of "Cleopatra" the song for Azerbaijan for Eurovision 2020, I want to say i agreed with everything in this petition and am happy to add my name and reputation to it. It is only fair that the songwriters should be given the same opportunity under the circumstance of cancelation of this year's Eurovision as the EBU has already granted the artists, the choice for each artist and their country to decide to keep the same artist for 2021 or not., The rules have been changed to allow this to be so, then why not for us if you believe at all in doing the right thing and FairPlay. And in these out challenging of times for all of us, isn't it supposed to be about unity and supporting each other? The same "changing or bending of the rules" you have agreed to make for the artists should also be applied to the many songwriters who have worked long and hard for this, to have a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to be part of Eurovision !!! As for me personally, I am a 63 year old veteran American songwriter who has been writing songs professionally since 1979 and who has always dreamed of such a dream coming true, an "American with a Eurovision dream." And in pursuing this dream for many years, songwriters are the only ones who do NOT get paid for this whole journey, rather it is a labor of love where it is all done speculatively, with lots of time, energy, and our own $$ put in willingly to get there. We do not have a cushion or something to fall back on for starting from scratch. I realize there are much bioggervproblems i nthwcworld now for all of us that matters most and first and then reason why Eurovision had to be canceled which was the right thing to do. But then, please think of us songwriters too and our important position behind the scenes in the shadows, not just the broadcasters and artists in making such a devastating decision for all the songwriters involved.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
It is simply unfair to ignore the great amount of work, time and money which has been invested into creating the songs for Eurovision 2020. If the Song Contest should be representative of something, it should primarily be good music. However, if the decision to just discard every single song will not be changed, it creates an image of pragmatic money exploitation. Additionally, the deadline for the song releases has been set as a rule by the ESC itself. It appears rather pointless to now indicate this rule as a reason to not let the artists perform their song of choice; some performers may have saved their entry song for a later release. This is in no way the respectful handling of art which should be the most important responsibility of an alliance like the EBU.
I worked as a co-writer for the Bulgarian entry but wether one was involved in the production or not, it appears only logical to reconsider this rather thoughtless decision and to let each country decide individually if their song should compete or be replaced
D
David Yang
6 years ago
I am one of the composers and producers of Austria's song Alive by Vincent Bueno.
D
Dag Lundberg
6 years ago
Yeah guys please reconsider. Songwriters and producers worked hard on these songs.
S
Sarah Lake
6 years ago
Featured
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
G
Greig Watts
6 years ago
Featured
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 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!
I remember Eurovision as a "song" contest. It's for me in the DNA of the competition. Having one of his songs selected is a kind of "Grail" for a songwriter. For almost ten years we have been offering songs, which sometimes arrive at the doors of the selection. For the first time, it's passed, our song will represent Switzerland !!! And… no. The disillusionment and the sadness are huge, on the one hand because our work and our perseverance will not be rewarded at their fair value (financially of course, but also recognition), and on the other hand because we feel, in a competition which is made for us and greatly by us, less respected than the performers that we try, day after day, to highlight. Magic works with the extraordinary combination of music, text and performer; to consider performers and songwriters differently in this very difficult context (for everybody!) is sending a very bad message. Hoping that you will come back on this decision which we consider really unfair. Regards,
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!
Yes!
Please give writers the chance to get their songs heard, they worked very hard for this opportunity. Dont take it away from them
I’m also part of a songwriting team competing in the 2020 ESC. (Co-writer and producer on the Swiss entry ‘Répondez-Moi’) I agree 100 % with Boris and this petition. I totally understand the fact that we couldn’t have a normal competition in 2020. This unseen worldwide breakdown due to a virus we can’t control changes our world real fast, but as everyone suffers from this disaster it's extra painful to see how the EBU just throws all our hard work AND investments made last year in the trash. Like it means nothing. It's unbelievably disrespectful towards all the songwriters, publishers, producers, labels,... who made this year's selection, and in my case I'm not sure I'm willing to keep investing time and energy in a contest that disrespects the people who are responsible for a large aspect of their contest. it's a SONGcontest and we co-write/produce the songs... there were many options to prevent this to happen : Give the same teams the opportunity to work on a new song, to avoid extra investments in selection procedures for suffering countries, or give the artists at least the option to continue with this year’s song if nothing better comes out of new songwritingsessions with the 2020 writingteam. that way the 2020 competition moves to 2021 and from there on we hopefully go back to "normal"... Change the rules for once in 2020… I even would have preferred an altered form of ESC 2020 : BECAUSE it is a SONG contest we could have had a studio-version of the ESC where every country recorded a live version of their act (even at home!), and broadcast it. In days like these where almost everyone has to stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading, it might have been a pleasant, entertaining and uniting broadcast throughout all of Europe promoting the songs we wrote, produced, released. I think, next to being a (song)contest, ESC unites people… this one time it would have been virtually, but I really believe it could have worked and woul
Represent Wiibii Music - the song Cleopatra - Azerbaijan 2020 in Eurovison.
Signing for Alan ... songs selected for this year should be allowed to still be entries for next year
Cleopatra
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.
This is a SONG CONTEST and yet again we see another case of songwriters getting put last!!! We say NO MORE! The broadcasters and songwriters/producers (who work on spec and take a royalty YEARS LATER after the show has aired) have all invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid time to prepare for Eurovision 2020. I alone spent over 2 weeks of unpaid time working on my country’s song, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars that certain broadcasters have spent testing their song. For countries with less money, royalties from the tv show are the only compensation some writers will see! Are people aware of this? EBU, if you want to continue engaging with quality writers for you show, be very careful!!! Writers, producers and broadcasters who invested all their time and finances into this year’s competition, enough is enough. We need to be acknowledged and this needs to be amended IMMEDIATELY!!!
I think this is an exceptional situation that requires exceptional measures. We have worked so hard on these songs that we deserve being considered as well as everyone else involved. Thank you.
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.
As one of the 3 co-writers of "Cleopatra" the song for Azerbaijan for Eurovision 2020, I want to say i agreed with everything in this petition and am happy to add my name and reputation to it. It is only fair that the songwriters should be given the same opportunity under the circumstance of cancelation of this year's Eurovision as the EBU has already granted the artists, the choice for each artist and their country to decide to keep the same artist for 2021 or not., The rules have been changed to allow this to be so, then why not for us if you believe at all in doing the right thing and FairPlay. And in these out challenging of times for all of us, isn't it supposed to be about unity and supporting each other? The same "changing or bending of the rules" you have agreed to make for the artists should also be applied to the many songwriters who have worked long and hard for this, to have a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to be part of Eurovision !!! As for me personally, I am a 63 year old veteran American songwriter who has been writing songs professionally since 1979 and who has always dreamed of such a dream coming true, an "American with a Eurovision dream." And in pursuing this dream for many years, songwriters are the only ones who do NOT get paid for this whole journey, rather it is a labor of love where it is all done speculatively, with lots of time, energy, and our own $$ put in willingly to get there. We do not have a cushion or something to fall back on for starting from scratch. I realize there are much bioggervproblems i nthwcworld now for all of us that matters most and first and then reason why Eurovision had to be canceled which was the right thing to do. But then, please think of us songwriters too and our important position behind the scenes in the shadows, not just the broadcasters and artists in making such a devastating decision for all the songwriters involved.
It is simply unfair to ignore the great amount of work, time and money which has been invested into creating the songs for Eurovision 2020. If the Song Contest should be representative of something, it should primarily be good music. However, if the decision to just discard every single song will not be changed, it creates an image of pragmatic money exploitation. Additionally, the deadline for the song releases has been set as a rule by the ESC itself. It appears rather pointless to now indicate this rule as a reason to not let the artists perform their song of choice; some performers may have saved their entry song for a later release. This is in no way the respectful handling of art which should be the most important responsibility of an alliance like the EBU. I worked as a co-writer for the Bulgarian entry but wether one was involved in the production or not, it appears only logical to reconsider this rather thoughtless decision and to let each country decide individually if their song should compete or be replaced
I am one of the composers and producers of Austria's song Alive by Vincent Bueno.
Yeah guys please reconsider. Songwriters and producers worked hard on these songs.
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.