EP/46: EUROVISION
The Eurovision Song Contest. Will the Formula Work in the USA?
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The Eurovision Song Contest attracts over 180 million viewers and has been an annual event since 1956. Despite being such a huge success, the USA has never joined in on the action until now. This year NBC is running their own Americanized spinoff - The American Song Contest hosted by Snoop and Kelly Clarkson. Will it enjoy the lasting power of Eurovision or be a one and done flop?
Joining us today from North Edinburgh, Scotland is Ewan Spence. Ewan is a freelance broadcaster and journalist, with a particular interest in media, technology, music, and the arts. He has been the UK radio commentator for Junior Eurovision since 2013, and the US radio commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2018. Ewan co-founded Eurovision Insight (escinsight.com) in 2010 and under his editorship it has grown to become an influential force in the world of the Eurovision Song Contest. He hosts its weekly Insight News podcast, the annual Juke Box Jury review show, and the daily coverage from backstage at the Song Contest every May. Ewan has written three books; including ‘Eurovision: Beyond The Sequins’.
About EWAN
Ewan Spence is a freelance broadcaster and journalist, with a particular interest in media, technology, music, and the arts. He has been the UK radio commentator for Junior Eurovision since 2013, and the US radio commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2018. As Scotland’s first podcaster, he was nominated for a BAFTA (Best New Creative Media) in 2005. He is known for his strong views on mobile technology and ensuring accessibility to all; a love of trivia; the new media landscape on the internet; and the effect technology and communication will have on the public conscious and existing businesses. He joined Forbes in 2011 to cover the fast moving world of smartphones and mobile technology, with a mix of opinion pieces, industry diary notes, reviews, analysis, and regular columns.
Ewan co-founded Eurovision Insight (escinsight.com) in 2010 and under his editorship it has grown to become an influential force in the world of the Eurovision Song Contest. He hosts its weekly Insight News podcast, the annual Juke Box Jury review show, and the daily coverage from backstage at the Song Contest every May. He hosts syndicated Eurovision radio programming produced by Radio Six International which can be head throughout the year on radio stations around the world. Participating broadcasters have also asked Ewan to be on song selection and competitive juries.
Ewan has written three books; ‘Rapid Mobile Enterprise Development for Symbian OS‘, ‘It’s Cold And There Are Children Singing‘, and ‘Eurovision: Beyond The Sequins‘.
Check out Ewan’s blog at ewanspence.co.uk, and follow him on Twitter @ewan.
