The group NeonoeN, who won the Montesong with the song "Clickbait", announced that they are withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest next year in Switzerland.
In the previous days, a decision was awaited as to whether that band would eventually be disqualified, because they performed the working version of the song before the competition itself. The band believes that the performance of that version of the song did not jeopardize the Montesong process, nor could it have affected its final outcome and their ranking.
In the past few days, the band stated that they did not break the rules, because the track was never broadcast or commercially used, emphasizing that the version of the song, which was played live, is not identical to the one presented at Montesong.
"In the best public interest, with the desire to end the uncertainty and once again contribute to the music for which we are here in the first place, we inform you that we are voluntarily withdrawing from participation in Eurovision. According to the regulations, RTCG will choose another representative, and we will be the first to wish him good luck and let's give full support," the group announced on social media.
They say that the victory at Montesong brought them publicity "the type and extent of which we did not choose, nor could we control".
"We note, and the facts confirm this, that the live performance of the working version of the song did not jeopardize the process of the Montesong festival itself, nor could it affect its final outcome and our placement. It is also a fact that there were many similar examples and that the EBU always decided to those songs can participate (one even won the Eurovision Song Contest), because they didn't have a competitive advantage over the others, which is clear to everyone, but we just don't want to be part of any stories outside of music, nor that way we are promoting our original work," said the band.
They also said that the Eurovision Song Contest was never their goal in itself, but that "expanding the field of our musical activity - certainly is".
NeonoeN also states that the Montesong festival, organized by the Association of Variety Artists, brought 16 new songs and that this is its greatest value.
"We want to thank the RTCG management for their benevolent relationship and their intention to give us space for other options. We believe they will understand our decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest, and we also thank them for that. Special and huge thanks for the support of fellow musicians, lovers of good music , friends, acquaintances, journalists and the general public from Montenegro and abroad, who gave us strength in the last days let's repay and dedicate in the right way. CLICKBAIT continues to live as a musical single, but also as a contemporary social phenomenon. Once again, let's all support Montenegro at Eurovision," the band announced.
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