Madonna negotiating terms for 2019 Eurovision in Tel Aviv

Madonna has agreed in principle to entertain at the prestigious singing competition planned to be held in Tel Aviv, however, the singer’s representatives don’t agree over the sum offered by the event’s production team.

By Ran Boker

 

Pop diva Madonna is reportedly in negotiations to perform at the Eurovision 2019 Song Contest due to be held next May in Tel Aviv.

Sources affiliated with the event’s production say although the singer has agreed in principle to participate, there is some disagreement over the amount of money demanded by Madonna’s representatives and the sum the show’s producers are willing to offer.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates 2018 Eurovision winner, Netta Barzilai.- Photo: Haim Zach/GPO

“We are currently working on a showlist for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. In due time we will publish the list of artists who will participate in it,” said the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) in a statement.

The 60-year-old Madonna has performed in Israel several times and although she isn’t Jewish, after many years of studying Kabbalah, she now practices many religious practices affiliated with Judaism, like observing Shabbat and holding a bar mitzvah for her son.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced last September that the 2019 Eurovision will be held in Tel Aviv and not in Israel’s capital of Jerusalem as had been previously planned.

The decision comes after months of speculation regarding the location of the annual song contest, with the government initially insisting on holding the popular event in Jerusalem. But following a backlash over the US recognition of the city as Israel’s capital and a subsequent fear of boycotts it dropped the demand.

The Eurovision says it chose Tel Aviv, Israel’s cultural and commercial capital, because of its “creative and compelling bid.”

Israel won the right to host the event after Netta Barzilai’s song “Toy” emerged victorious during last year’s competition.

 

View original Ynet publication at:
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5447859,00.html