16 Facts About Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest, sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union, featuring participants representing primarily European countries.

Eurovision Song Contest has gained popularity for its kitsch appeal, its musical span of ethnic and international styles, as well as emergence as part of LGBT culture, resulting in a large, active fanbase and an influence on popular culture.

Eurovision Song Contest's founding stemmed from a desire to promote cooperation between European countries in the years following the Second World War through cross-border television broadcasts, which gave rise to the founding of the European Broadcasting Union in 1950.

The word "Eurovision Song Contest" was first used by British journalist George Campey in the London Evening Standard in 1951, when he referred to a BBC programme being relayed by Dutch television.

Eurovision Song Contest is a non-profit event, and financing is typically achieved through a fee from each participating broadcaster, contributions from the host broadcaster and the host city, and commercial revenues from sponsorships, ticket sales, televoting and merchandise.

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Eurovision Song Contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union, together with the participating broadcaster of the host country.

The Netherlands' Annie Schmidt, lyricist of the first entry performed at Eurovision Song Contest, has gained a worldwide reputation for her stories and earned the Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's literature.

Eurovision Song Contest has been the subject of considerable criticism regarding both its musical content and what has been reported to be a political element to the event, and several controversial moments have been witnessed over the course of its history.

Conflicts between the two countries at Eurovision escalated quickly since both countries began competing in the late 2000s, resulting in fines and disciplinary action for both countries' broadcasters over political stunts, and a forced change of title for one competing song due to allegations of political subtext.

Arab states which are eligible to compete have declined to participate due to Israel's presence, with Morocco the only Arab state to have entered Eurovision Song Contest, competing for the first, and as of 2022 the only time, in 1980 when Israel was absent.

The poor performance of the entries from more traditional Eurovision countries had subsequently been discussed in European national parliaments, and the developments in the voting was cited as among the reasons for the resignation of Terry Wogan as commentator for the UK, a role he had performed at every contest from 1980.

Eurovision Song Contest has amassed a global following and sees annual audience figures of between 100 million and 600 million.

Eurovision Song Contest has a large online following and multiple independent websites, news blogs and fan clubs are dedicated to the event.

The Eurovision Dance Contest was an event featuring pairs of dancers performing ballroom and latin dancing, which took place for two editions, in 2007 and 2008.

The Sopot International Song Festival has been held annually since 1961; between 1977 and 1980, under the patronage of the International Radio and Television Organisation, an Eastern European broadcasting network similar to the EBU, it was rebranded as the Intervision Song Contest.

Similarly, an adaption of the contest for artists in the United States, the American Song Contest, was first held in 2022 and featured songs representing U S states and territories.