“Just a medley”: how “Song of the Year” turned from an event to a dilapidated festival

PopCornNews has figured out why the music festival’s “Song of the Year” is being criticized.

The Song of the Year festival has long ceased to be an event for the Russian public. The competition, which was heavily criticized, has lost its relevance and is now practically of no interest to listeners. This opinion was expressed by music critic Yevgeny Babichev in an interview with the PopCornNews portal.

“Song of the Year” in the spare time. It used to be an event. If we remember the festival format of the 90s or 2000s, it was screened on New Year’s Eve. It was quite a tradition. Now it’s just salt. In addition, many of the people who gather there are generally unknown to a wide audience,” the expert noted.

According to the critic, in the age of streaming services, artists are honed to release a single, “run on it for a few months and take the cream off”.

“The new model of show business is not about festivals. They only exist because it is a tradition. There is a “Song of the Year” and it must live. But I think even the idea is lost. How can you tell one song from an artist when he releases 10-15 songs a year?’ asks Babichev.

Among worthy Russian festivals, the expert called Invasion and Wild Mint. However, due to the pandemic, they have lost their popularity.

“I would say that the festival movement is at a standstill at the moment. We are in a transition period, we don’t know where to go next. There were old-timers who always led the way, for example, Allegrova and Leontiev, whose songs sounded all year round. Now that generation is leaving, and that’s not how the new one works. It’s focused on auditions and earnings,” he concluded.

Photo source: Legion Media

Author: Anna Pavlova Olga Tarantina