logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
17m 28s

Eurovision: Making money out of somethin...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The Eurovision Song Contest has transformed itself from a TV show experiment to the world's largest live music event.

160 million people are expected to watch this year's competition in Sweden, as 37 countries take part.

The acts participating will be hoping to become global superstars following the likes of ABBA, Celine Dion and Måneskin.

And outside of the competition many fans around have turned their love of Eurovision into a business: from side-hustles to songwriters. We hear their stories and learn about the economics of having a winning song, and discover the plans for the first ever Eurovision world tour.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: Malta entry Sarah Bonnici rehearsing Loop at this year's Eurovison. Credit: Connie Cumming/EBU)

Up next
Yesterday
Why Kenya is betting on geothermal power
Kenya is emerging as one of Africa’s leading producers of geothermal power. While it remains a niche but growing industry globally, in Kenya it has become a vital and reliable source of electricity. We explore how this energy is harnessed, why it has become so central to the coun ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 7
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 7
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Eurovision 2024: Meet the acts!
Scott meets some of the acts competing in Malmö at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. From denim hotpants to singing twins, the glitz and glamour of the competition is heading to Sweden!In this bonus edition of the podcast, hear from Switzerland's Nemo, Sweden's Marcus and Martinu ... Show More
27 m
May 2021
Eurovision! With Conchita Wurst, Duncan Laurence, Daði Freyr and Emmelie de Forest
Emmelie de Forest, Conchita Wurst, Duncan Laurence and Daði Freyr share their experiences of the Eurovision Song Contest, including what makes a winning Eurovision entry, how taking part in the Contest has influenced their music outside of Eurovision, and the personal stories the ... Show More
35m 6s
May 2024
Previewing the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Grand Final
After months of blood, sweat and tears, the Eurovision Song Contest is soon about to crown its winner for 2024. Michael’s still in Malmö, joining with Io in Melbourne, to preview the big finale. There’s an update about the Netherlands, deep dive into the final and still general c ... Show More
57m 29s
May 2024
Eurovision’s charged political history
Eurovision might best be described as “the Olympics meets American Idol”: a singing contest where countries face off for the number one spot in musical glory. It’s incredibly campy, silly, and mostly very fun. But this year’s Eurovision — which wrapped on the weekend — was dogged ... Show More
25m 23s
May 2024
The Very First Eurovision
Rerun: Spectacle, camp and glamour were NOT on the agenda in Lugano, Switzerland on 24th May, 1956: the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast mostly on the radio, and featured a whistling duo as its interval act. Who had to perform twice. Voting controversy, however, wa ... Show More
10m 50s
May 2023
386: Der Eurovision Song Contest
<p>Wir widmen uns (endlich!) dem Eurovision Song Contest, der am vergangenen Wochenende zum 67. Mal stattfand. Cari hebt den völkerverständigenden Charakter des Wettbewerbs hervor, findet die Veranstaltung aber insgesamt zu lang und zu nervig. Manuel erinnert sich zurück an beson ... Show More
29m 53s
Apr 2024
Australia’s Eurovision Top 100 2024: Counting down from #22 to #11
For the fifth time, Australia voted for their top 100 Eurovision songs of all time, thanks to the amazing people at OGAE Australia. And what better way to celebrate a public holiday than to have a Eurovision takeover! As we got to the pointy end of the countdown, Michael, Io, Bry ... Show More
56m 1s
May 2023
Eurovision 2023: une exaltation de la culture européenne
Ce samedi soir 13 mai aura lieu à Liverpool la finale de 67e édition de l'Eurovision. L’Eurovision, une institution de la culture européenne (d’où le nom) est tout un symbole ! Même le Royaume-Uni, pourtant sorti de l’Union européenne depuis le Brexit, ne parvient pas à s’en déta ... Show More
5m 28s
May 2021
Eurovision
Eurovision is an annual extravaganza of European music and culture but what is its history and what role does it play? To help explore this subject Dan is joined by two men steeped in Eurviosion; TV and podcast critic Scotty Byran and Radio 1 DJ and Eurovision commentator Scott M ... Show More
26m 52s