BBC to join forces with TaP Music again to choose Eurovision 2023 entrant
Here's hoping the UK can go one better than last time...
By Nick Reilly
The BBC has announced today that it will join forces once more with TaP Music to determine the UK’s entrant for Eurovision 2023, after achieving huge success with Sam Ryder.
Ryder, who was personally picked by the renowned management firm, finished 2nd at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest after years of dismal failure for the UK. His placing means that the UK will now host the contest next year, after winners Ukraine were forced to give up hosting duties due to the ongoing Russian invasion.
Confirming the involvement of TaP – headed by bosses Ben Mawson & Ed Millett – the BBC said: “For the 2023 Contest the BBC and BBC Studios will once again be collaborating with TaP Music, the global management and music publishing company behind some of the world’s most successful pop artists, such as Lana del Rey, Ellie Goulding, London Grammar, Dermot Kennedy and Mabel in order to choose a song and act that will represent the United Kingdom.”
Last month, it was revealed that Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield are the seven cities that have made it onto the shortlist of Eurovision hosts.
The BBC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will decide the host city although the government may also be consulted. Eurovision 2023 is to be aired by the BBC on behalf of Ukraine’s national broadcaster, UA:PBC.
The UK holds the record for hosting the contest. Next year will mark the ninth time that it’s hosted the event. Four of the previous occasions were hosted on behalf of winners.