Scandal at Eurovision 2025: One country faces possible disqualification
Scandal at Eurovision 2025 (Photo: Getty Images)
Band NeonoeN, set to represent Montenegro at Eurovision 2025, faces possible disqualification due to rule violations, according to Eurovision Montenegro Instagram page.
Details
Participants in the Eurovision Song Contest must perform new songs that have not been made public before September 1, 2024. However, NeonoeN won the national selection with their song "Clickbait," which had already been performed at a festival in 2023, violating the contest's rules.
A video from the Kulture Zabjelo Festival in June 2023 shows the band performing a segment of "Clickbait" in front of a large audience. While the version performed was slightly different, the fact that it was played before the specified date constitutes a serious breach of regulations.
Currently, NeonoeN’s participation in the contest remains uncertain. According to Montenegro's broadcaster, a detailed investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and whether the rules were indeed violated.
“A decision regarding potential disqualification will be made after consultations with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of Eurovision,” the post states.
Band's reaction
On social media, the band explained that before winning the national selection, they were largely unknown to the broader public. They mentioned performing mostly in nearly empty venues, which is why they do not consider the pre-contest performance of part of their song to be a significant issue.
NeonoeN (Photo: instagram.com/neonoen_official)
“We’re genuinely curious if anyone in that audience even remembered hearing it. Especially enough to vote for us two years later at Montesong. But as we’ve said from the beginning, our goal is to create and share our music. Please note that the song was not released, commercialized, or used in any other way that could have provided a competitive advantage in the contest,” the band stated.
About NeonoeN
NeonoeN is a rock band from Podgorica, Montenegro, creating indie rock music infused with elements of blues, metal, punk, and pop. The group consists of four members: Marko Vukčević (vocalist), Ilija Pejović (guitarist), Filip Vulanović (bassist), and Milan Vujović (drummer).
They have been active on the local music scene for several years. Initially known as Neon, the band later rebranded as NeonoeN.
NeonoeN (Photo: instagram.com/neonoen_official)
The band gained widespread recognition after winning Montenegro’s national selection for Eurovision 2025 with their song “Clickbait.” They describe their work as a product of rich musical experiences and influences spanning various genres. NeonoeN aims to expand its career by releasing albums and targeting both regional and international markets.
