TaP music, the management and publishing company responsible for collaborating with the BBC on the United Kingdom’s 2022 and 2023 entries, have announced that they will not continue this partnership into 2024.
Writing on their Twitter page, TaP issued the following press release:
“We are thrilled that Eurovision in the UK has a bigger and wider audience than ever before and to have been part of the UK hosting it in Liverpool with Ukraine this year was an incredible moment for us, showing the unifying power and importance of popular culture.
We’re so proud of Sam and Mae for representing the UK so wonderfully and are enjoying watching their careers flourish as a result.
It’s been brilliant working with the BBC this last two years, but for now, we think it is time to pass the baton back. We wish the BBC the best of luck with ongoing success and continuing to build the excitement and audience in the UK.”
TaP & Eurovision ❤️🇪🇺🇬🇧@bbceurovision @Eurovision pic.twitter.com/hdmUSxP7RL
— TaP Music (@tapmusic) August 1, 2023
TaP came onto the scene in 2022, aiming to improve the United Kingdom’s results at the Contest, as well as highlighting the great ability of Eurovision to propel promising talents into the global spotlight.
Speaking in 2022, TaP’s Ben Mawson noted Eurovision as an opportunity “to authentically reflect and celebrate the rich, diverse and world-class musical talent the UK is globally renowned for.”
TaP and the BBC enjoyed great success with the memorable, fittingly astronomical result for Sam Ryder’s ‘Space Man’— Ryder rocketed up the scoreboard with a total of 466 points, achieving second place and the highest UK result in twenty four years.
Reflecting on their success in Turin, Mawson and TaP Co-CEO Ed Millett remarked that they “wanted to change the narrative around the UK and Eurovision to something much more positive,” and felt that this goal had been achieved.
In 2023 TaP worked with the BBC to select Mae Muller, who represented the UK with ‘I Wrote A Song.’ Although the entry placed 25th overall, Muller enjoyed chart success. The song was the first UK entry to chart on the Official Top 40 within its debut week since Blue’s 2011 track ‘I Can’.
“We believe Eurovision is one of the greatest live music shows on the planet and hope that many more artists, new or more established, will see the huge opportunity it brings.”
What now?
The question at the forefront of many fans’ minds will now be: What’s next for the BBC and for the United Kingdom at Eurovision?
Prior to TaP’s involvement, the UK was in a dire situation, reeling from James Newman’s ‘Embers’ receiving an infamous zero points from both the jury and televote at Eurovision 2021.
The BBC has previously attempted various selection methods. A national final called Eurovision: You Decide ran most recently from 2016 to 2019; the BBC then returned to internal selections in 2020, choosing James Newman.
While TaP’s statement does not rule out the possibility of returning in the future, it remains to be seen how the BBC will now approach their 2024 entry.
What do #YOU think of TaP’s decision to leave its Eurovision partnership with the BBC? How would you like the BBC to select the United Kingdom’s 2024 entry? Let us know in the comments below, on social media @ESCUnited, on our Forum or on our Discord server!
