RTÉ Entertainment in conjunction with RTÉ 2FM is pleased to announce that Ireland will be taking part in the 65th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Rotterdam, Netherlands in May 2020.

The ESC is the world's biggest live music show and one of the most popular annual television events on the planet. This year's Eurovision Song Contest, hosted by KAN Public Service Television in Tel Aviv, Israel reached over 180 Million viewers in Europe with tens of millions more watching on social media platforms worldwide.

The show is particularly popular with youth audiences and younger adult viewers throughout Europe (over 45% viewership share for the Grand Final) and as such RTÉ wants to put in place a three year strategy aimed at identifying and encouraging contemporary Irish artists and songwriters with the talent and ambition to compete and succeed in this highly competitive environment. This is a rare and valuable opportunity for artists and songwriters to gain exposure on a global scale. Although we wish to encourage and identify promising new talent for the future, we do require artists to have prior experience of performing in public in front of large crowds. Confidence and attitude are definite advantages.

Songwriters

If you are an accomplished songwriter with a proven track record of success in the music industry we would like you to submit a song to be considered to represent Ireland. All songs received will be considered by a panel of music industry experts who will draw up a shortlist of potentially suitable songs. RTÉ is also actively seeking songs from established writers and reserves the right to select/commission a song to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2020 from outside this process.

Artists

RTÉ Entertainment and RTÉ 2FM also want to hear from established contemporary, professional artists who have the drive and ambition to succeed and who wish to showcase their talents to a global audience of over 200 million. Artists putting themselves forward must have intrinsic and obvious appeal to the core youth audiences who make up a significant amount of Eurovision viewers and fans. RTÉ will consider all suitable artists who put themselves forward. RTÉ also reserves the right to approach artist(s) directly. All expressions of interest will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

RTÉ 2FM through 2FM Rising has a track record in promoting and supporting emerging Irish talent including such acts as Dermot Kennedy and Fontaines DC and RTÉ 2FM and RTÉ Entertainment will work with and support the selected song and artist through its various platforms and will develop a promotional schedule with the selected artist(s) prior to Eurovision 2020.

Songs submitted must strictly comply with the rules of Eurovision and RTÉ reserves the right to arrange, produce or otherwise alter any song selected for the purposes of Eurovision.

Songwriters/composers may only submit ONE song (including co-writes) for consideration. If more than one song per composer is submitted only the first song received will be considered. Songs must be no longer than 3 minutes in duration.

Compositions submitted for consideration (lyrics and music) must not have been commercially released and/or publicly performed - including online video platforms or social networks - in full or in part, before September 1st 2019.

In all cases RTÉ will have the final say on which song and artist will be Ireland’s 2020 entry.

If you would like to submit an entry, it must adhere to the EBU 2020 competition rules, a full list of which can be found here: www.eurovision.tv/page/about/rules

Entries will not be accepted on CD, cassette or by Wetransfer, Soundcloud, Dropbox or any other format.

For any queries, email Eurovision2020@rte.ie



The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday 25th of October 2019.