Mari Pudas
Excluding One Morning Left from the New Music competition is a radical solution, writes journalist Mari Pudas in her perspective.
One Morning Left cannot be seen at UMK. In the photo, from the left, Leevi Luoto, Dennis Hallbäck, Juuso Turkki, Mika Laakso, Miska Sipiläinen. Pete Anikari
Yle announced today that One Morning Left has been excluded from the New Music competition. The decision is exceptionally drastic, historic. Artists have never been kicked out of UMK before.
In the rest of Europe, artists’ favorites are clearly more usual. Usually, the reason is that the song was performed too early in some context. Montenegro already had time to change its representative this year, when the song was presented in 2023.
In the case of OML, Yle stated that the reason was a rule violation, but did not specify which rule violation or rule violation section it is in question. OML himself said on Instagram that, according to anonymous rumors, band member Mika Lahti would have messaged with a possibly underage person about 15 years ago in the IRC gallery.
According to OML, the other members did not know about this. Lahti denies the accusations and at the same time the band announced that they are ending their activities.
So the group’s view is known, but Yle remains silent about which section was violated and how.
Iltalehti reported last June about the additions made to UMK’s rules.
The addition is rule 3.16. which states that “persons selected for the competition will be the subject of extensive publicity. The contestant must inform Yle of all matters that might have an impact on the contestant’s public image, the contestant’s participation in UMK or the Eurovision Song Contest”.
This may be the section that has been violated.
Several different rumors about Lahti’s activities have been circulating even before UMK. They are rumours, there is no information about the truth.
The rumor mill kicked into high gear when the UMK artists were announced on January 8. Rumors were spread especially in the anonymous messaging service Jodel.
Soon the rumors started to spread internationally among Viusu fans.
Would OML have avoided favoritism if they had told Yle in advance that such things were going around? Or is it the case that the band members didn’t know about these at all?
It is hard to believe that Lahti would not have been aware of the rumours.
Many OML fans have argued on social media that no one from the band has committed a crime and therefore it is an overreaction to throw the band out of UMK. Bad and inappropriate behavior is not always criminal. No one wants a good-natured competition where the competitor is a jerk.
Yle said in its press release that Yle and OML have discussed the matter and they agree on the basis of the decision. However, these grounds are not disclosed.
Why not? If you agree on a decision once, you could very well say so. The people have a right to know. Such decisions are certainly not made lightly.
Inevitably, the thought comes to mind that there is something else in the background that Yle or the band are not telling.