May 27, 2003 • 1 min read

Eurovision flops try to pull it back and launch career

Jemini have been advised to rename themselves Nil Points, and the European Broadcasting Union plans a qualifying round for next year's Contest.

The UK's humiliated Eurovision Song Contest entrants Jemini have been advised to change their name to Nil Points in a bid to turn the country's worst ever Eurovision performance into a selling point.

Offering some support for the duo Alex Cooper, drummer with Eurovision's 1997 winners Katrina and the Waves, told reporters: "If you're not going to win, then nil points is probably the best way to go. They are getting much more publicity now than if they had just got an average number of points. You have to take Eurovision with a sense of humour and not take it too seriously: Changing their name to Nil Point might be a great move..."

Elsewhere in Eurovision news (as you probably already know Turkey won, favourites TaTu came in third and we resolutely lost) the European Broadcasting Union, who organise the competition, have said they hope the addition of a qualifying round to next year's Contest will "raise the level of the Contest in general." Organisers will turn the event into a two-day marathon, with forty bands competing on day one for a place in the top 24 on day two.

Sarah Yuen, the EBU's Head of Live Events and Eurovision Song Contest Co-ordinator, told reporters: "The two-day format will make it possible for as many as 40 countries to participate. The addition of the qualifying round will encourage competing members to present very good songs in the hope of qualifying for the grand final, thus raising the level of the contest in general."

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
You've successfully subscribed to CMU | the music business explained.
Your link has expired.
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.
Success! Your billing info has been updated.
Your billing was not updated.
Privacy Policy