National selection rules for "Eurovision Song Contest – 2010"

These rules balances the procedure  of holding National Selection for the participation of the Azerbaijani participant in the “Eurovision Song Contest 2010” within the clauses of  international   “Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Rules”.  

 

Eurovision Song Contest 2010”(here upon ESC -2010) is a  world known modern TV product. According to the terms of the Contest, the participants of the TV-s which are the active members of European Broadcasting Union compete with their musical performances. 

Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of Azerbaijan (here upon Organizer)is the participating broadcaster of Eurovision Song Contest 2010 , as well  as, the organization  selecting National Participant  and defining the song to be performed  in ESC 2010 by the Azerbaijani participant.  

 In accordance with the demands of the European Broadcasting Union and ESC-2010, Azerbaijani Public Television and Radio Broadcasting  Company is responsible for the preparation process  to ESC 2010 and selection of National Participant.

The Organizer establishes Executive Committee comprised of local and foreign representatives for the preparations to ESC 2010. The Executive Committee is the institution which is responsible to hold National Selection. The Organizer and Executive Committee can involve local and foreign, juridical and physical persons as a specialists and advisers. 

The information related to the National Selection, the decision of the jury, the  information regarding the results of the selection can be released by any mass media means which agrees to disseminate information about the Contest as well as can be placed  in the Internet web pages. 

The main source of information about ESC-2010 is the internet page of the Public Television, (www.itv.az) and web page dedicated to the ESC 2010 in Azerbaijan. The reports regarding the contest and other information will be reflected here. The information  is reflected in  the official web page of  ESC 2010 as well(www.eurovision.tv) 

 

2.1 As a participating broadcaster of ESC 2010, the organizer is fully independent to determine the Azerbaijani participant, selection procedure   as well as the language in which the song will be performed. 

2.2 For selecting the National Participant, the Organizer forms Jury comprised of  Azerbaijani or foreign musicians qualified in TV, stenography, vocal art , show-business management fields , as well as public figures and cultural workers  of Azerbaijan and the world. 

The jury comprises of 7 people and a voting secretary.  The chairperson of the jury is Director General of the Public TV and Radio Broadcasting Company. The secretary of Jury does not have a voting right. 

Each member of Jury immediately appreciates the song (1- 10 points), puts down the point in secret voting blanks and handles the very blank to the Chairperson of the Jury. 

The Chairperson of the Jury is responsible for counting of the votes and defining the places of the participants. The participant with more points takes the first place and will represent Azerbaijan in Eurovision Song Contest 2010 to be held in Oslo within 25-29 May 2010. 

 For hindering siding in the voting, the jury members work free of charge. Each member of the Jury has only one right. The members of professional jury staff have equal rights. The decision of the Jury is adopted according to the majority of votes.   

2.3 National Selection consists of 3 stages.  

In the first stage (October1-December 30 2009) the organizer invites the Azerbaijani performers to the concert programs for hearing. In this stage, the Jury selects the performers for the next round of the National Selection. 

In the second stage (January 2010) the Organizer, Executive Committee and Jury carries an active work with the performers at the hearings in the concert programs.   At the end of the second stage, the performers up to 3 people are selected by the Jury and they compete for representing the country in the ESC 2010. 

The third stage (02 February 2010) –Semi Final of the National Selections. In the semi final of the National Selection, Organizer, Executive Committee and Jury selects 3 finalists  and organizes additional trainings for them held by the local and foreign specialists. Only in this stage the songs to be performed in the National Final is selected. 

The Final of the National Selection will be realized  by March 2010. At the end of the National Selection ,  the participant who will represent  Azerbaijan in ESC 2010 is selected by the Jury with the majority of votes.. 

A  back up  performer is selected in the Final who will replace  the participant in the force major case. The final of the National Selection comes to an end with the announcement of the name of the winner. 

Organizer or its representative signs an agreement with the winner of the National Selection related to   the cooperation and at the same time, balancing mutual relations regarding the preparations to the ESC 2010. 

In the case of any cavil  towards the song made  by the Organizer, Executive Committee and Jury members,  the song can be changed up to March 20. 

3.1 The song to be performed in the Contest should not be realized in the following ways as an object of the author’s right up to October 1, 2009. 

a) Via Internet, as well in other carriers (audio cassettes, compact disks, mini disks etc)

b) should not be broadcasted by Radio or TV, as well as should not be mass performed. 

3.2 Maximum duration of the song is 3 minutes.

3.3 The songs a) having author’s report guaranteeing absence of   extra authors’ rights in lyric and music; b) that have not been used for commercial purposes before;are allowed to the Contest. 

3.4 The lyric and music of the song to be performed in ESC 2010 can be written (composed) by local or foreign authors. The authors of lyric and music of the song should approve their rights to the lyric and the music and should grant it to the organizers of the contests due to the agreement.

 

3.5 The content and performance of the song should not damage the reputation of the Contest. Usage of unethical words, challenges of advertising or political nature are forbidden.

Requirements for the authors and performers

3.6 The performers intending to participate in Eurovision song contest 2010 should be over 16. This rule concerns the dance group accompanying the performance of the song. . 

3.7 Each performance may consist of a maximum of six people on stage. 

3.8 Performers perform live on stage, accompanied by a recorded backing-track which contains no vocals of any kind or any vocal imitations.

3.9 The performers taking first , second  places , as well as the authors of the songs should admit the commitments after the Contest comes to an end. They should grant following rights to the European Broadcasting Union.: 

a) “Broadcasting right”, These are the worldwide exclusive rights, unlimited in time, to record and broadcast  the live(audiovisual and video)  as well as its  placement in internet  full or in part;

b) “Preview rights”, Worldwide exclusive right to present full or in part audio or video of the show via TV, internet or wireless Communication means.;

c) “CD, DVD compilations and Digital Releases Rights” Production of audio and video records of the song in DVD (or other carriers) for sale.;

d) “Extract Rights”, These are the non-exclusive worldwide rights, unlimited in time,  for incorporating a sound or video recording of the broadcast performance of the selected song as a part of the show, in whole or partial to other any media services.

 e) ”Rights for the parts of the National Selection”; these are the worldwide non exclusive rights unlimited in time, for incorporating extract from the broadcast of the televised  National Selection in whole or partial, to any program to be produced centrally, on the behalf of EBU..

Besides the rights, the authors of the lyric and music, as well as other right owners of the selected song allowed the organizers:

a) Lyrics: the song writer shall be required to authorize copies of the lyrics as well as translations thereof into English, French and any other languages of the Participating Countries, being made available at the shows free of charge.

b) Participant and other right holders are allowed: to publish, release their names, videos, sounds, photos and biographies, live and commercial use for the Final and Semi Final of Eurovision 2010 and usage by the mass media means. 

v) Karaoke – online competition: the author of the lyric and music can’t interfere with those participating in the competition. They should allow to present audiovisual recordings due to the non-commercial terms, unlimited numbers of  times, without limitation in time and via any technical means..

 

4.1 Signing of sponsorship agreements, broadcasting and all other rights regarding  the preparation and complication of the Concert and their usage in the future  belongs solely to the Organizer.   

4.2. The Organizer undertakes commitment to hold the National Selection for defining its participant in ESC 2010 in accordance with the demands and rules of the European Broadcasting Union. 

4.3. Soon after the Finalist is defined,  the Executive Committee should organize tours, promo tours to the participating Countries,  render assistance to the organization of  various concert programs and events, should be engaged in  the preparation of promo programs and stage costumes, as well as in the  perfection of the item on the program and songs.

4.4. Official Representative and back up performer  should sign an agreement on  cooperation with Organizer of the project  and this agreement should be compiled in accordance with the international rules of the Eurovision Song Contest.

4.5. Selected performer can not cooperate with the third parties (producer organizations, representatives and other organization and persons) during the preparation period to the ESC 2010 without the permission of the Executive Committee. 

4.6. The official Representative takes part in the Contest after the realization of all planned event related to the National Selection. Replacement of an official representative with the back up performer is possible only in extraordinary cases. 

The decision on this matter is adopted by the Organizer. 

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