The Eurovision Song Contest has lost several million viewers in its 2026 edition. In addition to the departure of countries like Spain and the Netherlands, given the presence of Israel, its following has plummeted significantly in places as strategic as France and the United Kingdom. The audience also fell by 14% on YouTube live, despite the fact that it was the only alternative for audiences like the Spanish.
RTVE devised an alternative musical program of almost 3 hours for this Saturday, coinciding with the International Day of Coexistence in Peace, which has only partially turned out well. The audience has not responded especially, since the program only obtained a 9% share, falling behind ‘La Voz Kids’ or even Cuatro cinema, although apart from the commercial results, the public channel’s disappointment was artistic.
If Eurovision gives anything, it is spectacle and that is what was greatly missed in RTVE’s bet. Especially because in the Christmas edition of “La Casa de la Música”, Amaia servedwith a very careful and visual presentation of ‘Aralar’, which we mistakenly thought would be the starting point of this special. But nothing to see. The majority of artists, such as Mónica Naranjo, Pablo López, Siloé or Mikel Erentxun, opted for a very austere presentation, focused on the voice or the song, and not so much on the television show. Even that stage beast called Chanel appeared lying down, surrounded by ocher colors – now that summer is approaching – to claim her mid-tempo show ‘It’s so easy’. It may be their best song in a couple of years, but we asked the Eurovision substitute for at least a couple of stage tricks that would surprise us.
Among the few who opted for a minimally imaginative set design, José Mercé with an open ceiling; Ultralight, garage-friendly and true to its roots; or Miranda!, who went from being interviewed on a sofa to offering a video clip of ‘Despierto amtando’, in a version without bailamamá. It was also announced that the Argentines will perform the official song of the Vuelta Ciclista, sealing the direct relationship between participation in Benidorm Fest and promotion on public television.
In the Miranda line! They also offered a sort of edited video clip, with images from different shots, Naiara and Samurai Jay; and they opted for playback, despite Jesús Vázquez’s insistence that the program rewarded live vocals and even live music, Fangoria, Camela and Abraham Mateo. This, at least, in a well-crafted medley between the Bee Gees and their own song – ‘How are you doing without me’ – which is being one of the most viewed performances on YouTube.
The timid reproduction figures in the Google viewer also reveal that the program has lacked a bit of street, barely represented by Metrika and that camera that flew over her like crazy during ‘Mom’s Taser’. But none of the artists in the top 10 of albums or singles currently in Spain went through ‘La Casa de la Música’.
Rosalía was not even going to donate one of the performances on her tour, as Guitarricadelafuente has done – in a performance that is very not alive, ultra-processed and treated, with no trace of the rawness of her concerts. Quevedo, Aitana or Bad Gyal have not been obtained either. Looking at who has sold the most albums in recent months in our country, we also missed bands like Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, Alcalá Norte, Viva Sweden or Carolina Durante, who have just miraculously reached platinum status with their third album. There are 40,000 copies of ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’: they had to be here no matter what.
As probably also Dani Fernández, Carlos Ares, Yerai Cortés, Rodrigo Cuevas, Barry B, Amaral or the very current group, La Oreja de Van Gogh. Didn’t they want to repeat what they saw at Christmas? Well let’s say Leire Martínez.
It can never rain to everyone’s liking with the selection of 20 artists from our country, but perhaps the selection method should always have been whoever presented the most appealing and well-crafted performances for the viewer on a Saturday night. It cannot be that ‘La Revuelta’, which is a daily program, is capable of offering better shows.
The program opened with Manuel Carrasco’s effective performance, full of shots, with a diffuse objective and meaning, but at least different and, immediately afterwards, he did not fail accompanied by only one piano, Raphael with ‘Qué saber Nadie’. Afterwards, those who chose to make covers stood out more than those who wanted to promote their own material in a very bland way. Natalia Lacunza sang for Rocío Dúrcal, Juanjo Bona for Nino Bravo, and Alba Morena hypnotized with two Mecano songs and a violin. It’s a shame that since the filming they didn’t find out that her name isn’t Alba Moreno. Alba Moreno is another artist!
So to evaluate ‘The House of Music’ – for a music program that is proposed -, rather than the performances, it is best to return to its initial intentions. “We are very proud of Spain’s position in this conflict,” La Plazuela released in the middle of their song, while Ana Belén chose ‘Solo le pido a Dios’. That same night, the president of the government posted the message “I only ask God that I am not indifferent to the war,” in clear reference to the genocide in Gaza, and in the interview, Ana Belén claimed the need not to take her eyes off the news: “I want that reality to hurt me.” At least in that RTVE has not failed us.
May war not be indifferent to me. pic.twitter.com/xjv3jLcHqF
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 17, 2026
