Eurovision news are flowing in from the North. The Finnish national selection to Eurovision Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu is one contestant smaller. The band One Morning Left has been sanctioned and has to abandon the hopes to represent the Nordic country in Basel next May.
Earlier this month Yle, the Finnish national broadcaster announced the finalists of UMK25, the national selection to Eurovision 2025. The list included seven contestants hoping to represent their country in Basel, Switzerland. However, it seems that the Finnish audience will be choosing their representative only among 6 participants. The band One Morning Left, who was due to perform the song Puppy, has been excluded from the competition due to a contract violation according to the press release of Yle. The band will not oppose the decision.
Not compliant, not competing
UMK’s executive producer Anssi Autio has stated:
“Unfortunately, One Morning Left will not be seen in this year’s UMK, as the band has not fully complied with the competition’s rules. The decision also involved the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, set by the EBU, which clearly state that such a rule violation is an unequivocal obstacle to Eurovision representation.”
About UMK25
Finland’s largest music show, Contest for New Music UMK, will take place on 8 February 2025 at Nokia Arena in Tampere. After the disqualification of the band only six artists will take the stage, as according to UMK rules, a new representative does not need to be added to replace the departing competitor.
The winner of UMK25 will represent Finland at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel.
Finland at Eurovision
Finland debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has won the competition once, namely in 2006 when Lordi brought the coveted trophy to home soil for the very first time with Hard Rock Hallelujah. The Nordic country has competed 57 times in Europe’s favourite television show. In 2024 Windows95man represented Finland with the entry No rules! reaching the 19th place in the Grand Final with 38 points.
Source: YLE
Photo credit: YLE