One week after triumphing at Montesong 2024, the band NeonoeN has made the decision to withdraw from representing Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.
The decision follows controversy surrounding a snippet of their winning song, Clickbait, which was performed during the Festival Kulture Zabjelo in 2023. This performance, though brief, raised questions about the song’s eligibility under Eurovision rules.
Eurovision Rules at Play
Eurovision’s regulations require that competing songs be new, original works and must not have been released or publicly performed before 1 September 2024. While NeonoeN has maintained that the performance in question was an early, working version of the song that did not influence their win at Montesong, they ultimately decided to step back to avoid further debate.
In their statement NeonoeN expressed their gratitude to fans and colleagues for their support, emphasizing that their goal has always been to promote their music rather than chase Eurovision glory. In their withdrawal statement, the band highlighted their commitment to the Montenegrin music scene and their belief in Montesong as a valuable platform for artists.
“In the best public interest, with the desire to end the uncertainty and once again contribute to the music that brought us here in the first place, we inform you that we are voluntarily withdrawing from participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. RTCG, in accordance with the regulations, will select another representative, and we will be the first to wish them good luck and offer our full support.
Winning Montesong brought us publicity of a kind and scale that we neither chose nor could control. We emphasize, and the facts confirm, that performing a working version of the song live did not jeopardize the Montesong festival process nor could it have influenced its final outcome and our placement. It is also a fact that there have been many similar cases where the EBU has always decided that such songs can participate (one even won Eurovision), as they did not have a competitive advantage over the others, which is clear to everyone. However, we simply do not want to be part of any stories beyond music, nor do we want to promote our original work in such a manner.
Eurovision was never a goal in itself for us. Expanding the scope of our musical activities – that certainly was!
The Montesong festival, organized by the Association of Performing Artists, brought 16 new songs, and that is its greatest value. We want to thank RTCG’s management for their good intentions and their offer to explore other options. We believe they will understand our decision to withdraw from Eurovision, and we thank them for that as well.
A special and huge thank you to our fellow musicians, lovers of good music, friends, acquaintances, journalists, and the general public from Montenegro and abroad, who have given us strength in recent days. Our families have lived through all the brilliance and despair of this process with us, and now it’s time to repay them and dedicate ourselves to them in the right way.
CLICKBAIT continues to live on as a music single, but we fear it also lives on as a modern social phenomenon.
Once again, thank you to everyone. Now, let’s all support Montenegro at Eurovision!”
A New Beginning for Montenegro
With NeonoeN stepping aside, Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG is now tasked with selecting a new representative for the Eurovision stage in Basel. It remains unclear how RTCG will proceed—whether through internal selection or another process—but the search is officially underway. And later today, the director of Montesong, Daniel Alibabić, released a press statement:
In the name of the UEUI (Association of Music Artists and Performers of Montenegro) and in my personal capacity, I want to extend my deep respect to the members of the band NeonoeN. By making the decision to withdraw today—or, as they stated, to step aside from participating in Eurovision—they have set a positive example for society as a whole, demonstrating what a dignified and responsible attitude toward their profession, Montenegro’s music scene, and ultimately the country itself, which sends its representative to the world stage, truly means.
Personally, I believe that NeonoeN is a band that deserves success beyond the borders of our country. Every aspect of what they represent through their work carries the hallmark of being “world-class.” I have no doubt that a bright future lies ahead for them, and I believe that MONTESONG, along with this noble decision they have made, despite all challenges, will serve as a springboard for all the good things to come their way.
Aware that the public is eagerly awaiting the official announcement of Montenegro’s “new” representative at Eurovision in Basel, we will contact RTCG in the shortest possible time to make a final decision on Montenegro’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Montenegrin music scene is vibrant, and through MONTESONG, we have proven that when there is a concrete platform for promotion, motivation, effort, and artistic results never fail to follow. Coupled with public interest, this combination keeps the entire profession alive and thriving.
We are also open to all constructive criticism, of which there has been no shortage in the recent period. Fortunately, the majority of these critiques were not directed at the music or performers but rather at organizational aspects. These critiques will serve as our best guide for delivering an even better MONTESONG next time. For that, we express our gratitude to all citizens who have followed and supported us—after all, this is a festival for all of us.
The spotlight now turns to RTCG as the broadcaster prepares to find Montenegro’s Eurovision 2025 representative. Stay tuned for updates!
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