United States To Participate In Russia’s Intervision Song Contest

The United States is to participate in this month’s Intervision Song Contest being held in Moscow on September 20, with American singer-songwriter B Howard representing the US. The Intervision Song Contest is Russia’s version of the Eurovision contest, which has been criticised for promoting a woke and LGBTQ agenda. Russia has been banned from entering that competition for several years. Eurovision has also become politicized rather than purely about musical talent – Ukraine was manipulated to win it in 2022, the year that the Ukraine-Russia conflict began.

The surprising move by the United States indicates that the banning of Russian culture and events in the West may slowly be receding. Western artists have been wary of performing in Russia due to Western government disapproval, while numerous Russian artists have had scheduled performances in the West cancelled. The Intervision Song Contest is expected to feature entries from about 20 countries, including China, the CIS countries as well as some of the BRICS nations. The US’s participation, with B Howard best known as the subject of speculation about being Michael Jackson’s son, could represent a breakthrough in US-Russia cultural ties, and possibly influence a still highly politized Europe about re-engaging with Russian cultural events.