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Sweden 2018: Melodifestivalen dates and cities announced

SWEDEN – It is considered the top national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and it is one of the most expensive productions in Europe. Melodifestivalen is gearing up for its 2018 edition as SVT announced the dates and the cities for the semi finals and the final. Turnén besöker Karlstad, Göteborg, Malmö, Örnsköldsvik, Kristianstad and Stockholm will host the events this season.

03/02/2018: Semifinal 1 – Karlstad, Löfbergs Arena
10/02/2018: Semifinal 2 – Gothenburg, Scandinavium
17/02/2018: Semifinal 3 – Malmö, Malmö Arena
24/02/2018: Semifinal 4 – Örnsköldsvik, Fjällräven Center
03/03/2018: Andra chansen – Kristianstad, Kristianstad Arena
10/03/2018: Final – Stockholm, Friends Arena

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Mia speaks about scandals, suicidal nights and coming out of depression

LITHUANIA – Mia was born on 19 July 1983 as Vilija Pilibaitytė in the village of Kaukolikai, located in Skuodas District Municipality. She grew up in Samogitia. Mia released her debut single “Kiekvienam” in 2004, which became a hit. In the same year she released her debut single “Aš krentu”. Later she signed a contract with Lithuanian record label, Melodija, and started recording her first album. In 2005, she released the song “Nešk mane”, which was recorded with basketball player Tyrone Nesby. Mia went on to release another song with Tyrone called “Ar tu tai žinai?”.

Mia covered the song “Sapnai” by SEL, which was complimented by band leader Egidijus Dragūnas. Later they wrote a song together, called “Muzika”, for the new SEL album. In 2007 they won an award for Best Song at the Bravo Awards. Mia was also nominated for Best Female Singer at Vaikų Balsas. In the same year, Mia released the new song “Yra, kaip yra”, that later won the Best Song Award in Radiocentras and Vaikų Balsas in 2008. Mia also won the Best Female Singer award at Vaikų Balsas. She then released her debut album Yra, kaip yra and participated in projects like Žvaigždžių duetai and Kaimo grožybės. She also hosted a television reality show Trečias nereikalingas.

In 2009, Mia was nominated for the Best Female Singer Award at Vaikų Balsas and participated in the music project Žvaigždžių duetai. After that, Mia participated in another TV3 project called Žvaigždžių karai and also hosted Muzikos karuselė. In November, Mia released her second album Stiklo namai.

In 2010, she participated in another TV3 project Chorų karai, hosted Muzikos čempionų taurė, and won Best Female Singer at Vaikų Balsas. In 2011, Mia recorded a song with Marijonas Mikutavičius and Mantas Jankavičius, titled “Nebetyli sirgaliai”. An English version of the song, “Celebrate Basketball”, became the official basketball anthem for EuroBasket 2011. Later, TV3 created a television series based on her life, titled Kas nori nužudyti Mią?. Mia created a song for series, “Apkabink”.

Mia participated in the dancing project Kviečiu šokti and singing projects Dainuok, jei gali and Žvaigždžių duetai. In 2014, Mia competed to represent Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, but placed second behind Vilija Matačiūnaitė. She returned the following year in Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, but placed second again, behind Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila. She returned in 2017, and competed with the song “Sacrifice”.

She recently discussed her personal problems with her husband, her failed business plans, the nights she thought she would suicide and her overall depression. Scandals were after her in the press and there were times there were problems with the police ending up in courts. Rumours, extensive press posts pressured her and she even tried to sell everything in Lithuania and immigrate to Spain. But she is saying now that she is ready to recover and come back to life as the only reason that gives her life is her son.

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EBU express concerns over UA:PB under-funding

UKRAINE – The 2018 draft of state budget envisages providing only 775 mln UAH (approx. 25 mln EUR) for financing UA: PBC. The sum is around half of the budget defined in the Law on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine.

The management board of UA: PBC regards the possible underfunding as a threat to the freedom of speech. It also sees it as a way of getting the broadcaster under control on the eve of a general election campaign.

EU representatives express their concerns with the possible underfunding of UA: PBC and demand from the Ukrainian government to fulfill its obligation toward UA: PBC.

The EBU was one of the first to express its position concerning under-funding financing of UA: PBC. The statement of the organization says that UA: PBC is the core of recent political reforms in Ukraine. A robust and independent public service broadcaster is a crucial tool in the fight against corruption, the respect of the rule of Law, and important step towards Ukraine’s European integration.

The European Broadcasting Union calls on the Ukrainian Government to ensure appropriate, fair and independent funding for UA: PBC in line with the Ukrainian Law and European standards.

“A sudden drop in its funding levels, would undermine the important process of reform UA: PBC has undertaken in order to operate as sustainable and independent public service media organization,” EBU Director General Noel Curran said.

We should not forget that there are pending two cases: how Ukrainian television will get the 15 million Euros deposited as guarantee and also to deal with the fine of EBU (200,000 Euros) for messing with Eurovision 2017 hosting.

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Tijana Dapsevic clears things with Belgrade Pride invitation

SERBIA – There seems to have been a misunderstanding and a fuzz with Belgrade Pride as Tijana Dapsevic forced to respond via Facebook about the issue occurred with her non appearance at the event. Tijana made clear that she didn’t refuse to participate but she was never invited, explaining why she preferred to be in Milan instead of Belgrade during the event. The reason for her trip there was family gathering. She also explains and reconfirms her beliefs towards diversity and endorsement to people regardless their faith, sexual orientation etc. Tijana participated in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest edition not qualifying though to the Grand Final.

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Germany don’t want to win Eurovision!

GERMANY – In an interview to Süddeutsche Zeitung, ARD’s program director Volker Herres shocked probably most German Eurofans (and probably made the Swedish fans happier). In the interview he expressed his sadness that there is no artist in the recent years to score well in Eurovision despite the country’s participation directly to the Grand Final.

But the weird statement came later on. He said that during his term in the office of ARD he is not wishing Germany to win the contest as they will have to host and pay for it the following year.

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