Music

Planes, boats and TikTok: How Eurovision became a magnet for sponsors and visitors

As the Swedish city of Malmö prepares to host the 2024 contest, its organisers are looking to secure its financial future

Crowds in the fan zone at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool: the city has provided a blueprint for future host cities because of the massive economic boost it received from the event. Picture: Getty

In 1956, a small group of central European broadcasters came up with the idea of uniting the continent through music, following a first half of the 20th century that had been filled with war and violence.

The prospects of a successful apolitical, multinational song competition being broadcast in sync across multiple channels around Europe seemed impossible at the time. The first contest, which was held in Lugano in Switzerland, only featured a host, an orchestra, ...