Recommendations of the Editorial team
In an interview with the “Augsburger Allgemeine”, State Minister Wolfram Weimer explained that he would travel to Vienna this Wednesday (May 12th). The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had previously also pointed this out in a review of his sometimes erotic work.
Weimer said he wanted to support Israel on this trip and keep his fingers crossed for the German delegation, led by former Initiative Music boss Tina Sikorski and candidate Sarah Engels. He regrets the no-show decisions of several European broadcasters for the 70th edition of the ESC: “It is the most comprehensive boycott in the history of the competition.” That hurts. That’s why he took the issue “to the highest political level, that Israel should be allowed to sing.”
This raises the question of whether an entire nation will step in front of the microphone on the beautiful blue Danube – or whether singer Noam Bettan will.
Tina Sikorski on the security situation in Vienna
In an interview with ROLLING STONE Online, Sikorski gave a brief update on the announced pro-Palestine protests, which are directed against the participation of the Israeli candidate. The experienced music manager is responsible for the German ESC fortunes for Südwestrundfunk.
“We’ve been on site for a few days and haven’t noticed any protests yet. But of course, we’re watching developments closely and keeping ourselves informed about the security situation in the city. We’ll see what happens in the days before the ESC Grand Final and won’t ignore it as SWR or ARD.”
A breath of fresh air: SWR is taking over the German ESC fortunes
The change of the German ESC organization from NDR to SWR after 30 years is intended to bring a breath of fresh air into the competition and the artistic direction. What goals and measures did you set for the first SWR year?
Tina Sikorski: “First of all, I would like to say that the NDR has done a very good job for three decades and has also had some successes in terms of results. In my opinion, the cliché that Germany always does poorly is not true – it is just a cliché that the Germans sometimes celebrate with relish. Unfortunately, many media outlets rehash this again and again.
Personally, that bores me. That’s why one of our goals is to refute this cliché and show what artistic quality comes from Germany. At the German ESC finals we want to present artists who have what it takes to be successful at the ESC. This requires artistic authenticity, high musical quality regardless of genre, and mental strength as a music creator and performer – on stage and in the media. In order to achieve this, we want to bring the ESC and the music industry closer together again.
Our impression is that both ran in parallel for a long time and that the ESC was viewed rather skeptically by many musicians. That’s why we have a lot of conversations with labels, music publishers and management to build trust. We want to build the German ESC final as a relevant music platform for established acts and highly talented newcomers and, as SWR, offer high-quality productions and a large media presence on various channels. The decisive argument in view of the frequent changes in the preliminary decision formats is consistency in the offering, so that the music industry and artists receive a reliable basis for planning.
The fact that the position of Head of Delegation was filled for the first time by someone from the music industry and not by someone from the broadcasting sector is no coincidence, but a pillar of SWR’s ESC strategy. This alone shows how seriously the SWR takes the topic of music. After the first – already very successful – year with the highest audience rating in an ESC preliminary competition in 24 years, it is now crucial that we can continue on this path together.”
Vulnerabilities and changes
In your opinion, where were the weak points in the German ESC structures, and what specifically could be changed?
Tina Sikorski: “I don’t know whether I would speak of weak points. And to be honest, I also lack deeper insights into the work of the past. But I now know that the ESC is a topic in which many different interests come together. Compromises are often not the best solutions. In my opinion, more courage and trust at the crucial points offer potential for success.”
Atmosphere in Vienna and collaboration with Sarah Engels
How do you feel about the spirit and atmosphere around the Wiener Stadthalle so far?
Tina Sikorski: “We have been in the city since May 6th, as the first stage rehearsal took place in the hall on May 7th. We were warmly welcomed by our delegation hosts at the airport. We feel the joy of our coming everywhere – whether in the hotel, in the restaurant, while shopping or on the street. The people are happy and wish us good luck at the ESC. We feel very welcome in Vienna.”
What is the actual collaboration with Sarah Engels’ team like? Is there a dialogue going on or can the artists do whatever they want?
Tina Sikorski: “Sarah knows exactly what she wants – also musically. Ultimately, she sets the tone for all relevant artistic decisions. Of course, we are in contact with her, her labels and her songwriting and producer team. Everyone wants to support her optimally and are doing their best for her success and thus the success of Germany. I would like to emphasize that success for us as a delegation primarily means that Sarah will put on an impressive performance and that we and all the fans in Germany can be proud of her. I am sure that this will succeed.”
