# Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025

Montenegro will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "Dobrodošli", written by Boris Subotić [sr], Darko Dimitrov, and Violeta Mihajlovska Milić, and performed by Nina Žižić. The Montenegrin participating broadcaster, Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), organised the national final Montesong 2024 to select its entry for the contest. The song "Clickbait" performed by Neonoen won the national final, however, the band withdrew due to a controversy over having previously performed their song in June 2023, with runner-up Žižić later announced as their replacement.

## Background

Prior to the 2025 contest, Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Montenegro as an independent country twelve times since its first entry in 2007. Its best placing in the contest was thirteenth position, which it achieved in 2015 with the song "Adio" performed by Knez. In 2014, Montenegro qualified to the final for the first time since it began participating, and have since featured in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest one more time in 2015. RTCG briefly withdrew from the competition between 2010 and 2011, as well as in 2021, 2023, and 2024, citing "modest results" and/or financial difficulties as the reason for its absences. In 2022, Montenegro failed to qualify for the final with the song "Breathe" performed by Vladana Vučinić.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RTCG organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. On 6 January 2024, RTCG outlined its aim to introduce a popular music festival, which could serve as its selection process for the 2025 contest, dependent on funding. On 7 August 2024, RTCG published a document outlining the rules of Montesong 2024. An official confirmation of both participation in the 2025 contest and the organisation of a national final was announced by RTCG on 15 August 2024. RTCG had used various methods to select the Montenegrin entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. The reintroduction of a national final for the 2025 contest marked the first time since 2019 that the broadcaster organised a national selection, with Montevizija held in 2018 and 2019.

## Before Eurovision
### Montesong 2024

Montesong 2024 was the national final format organised by RTCG to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Organised in a collaboration between the broadcaster and the Association of Variety Performers of Montenegro, a live final was initially scheduled for 26 November 2024, with an awards ceremony to be held the following day. However, the event was later revised to a final on 27 November 2024. The competition took place at the Voco Hall in Podgorica, and was hosted by Marko Todorović and Vladana Vučinić, the latter of whom represented Montenegro in 2022, alongside Lazar Radulović and Andrea Šekularac reporting from the green room. The show was broadcast live on TVCG 1, MNE Play, and via the event's YouTube channel.

#### Format

The competition consisted of a live final held on 27 November 2024. Sixteen entries competed. The winner was selected through a 50/50 combination of votes from a 7-member jury and from a public televote, with the same system used to award points in the Eurovision Song Contest final: the jury and the public each awarded one set of 12, 10 and 8–1 points to their 10 favourite entries. In case of a tie following the addition of the jury and the televoting points together, the song that received more 12 points from individual members of the jury had an advantage. This process was to be repeated with other points, in descending order, until the tie could be broken. In the public televote, only one vote per phone number was permitted. The professional jury consisted of both local music professionals and music representatives from across Europe.

#### Competing entries

On 7 August 2024, RTCG opened a submission platform for interested artists and composers, which remained open until 1 October 2024. Performers are required to be citizens of Montenegro, while songwriters may be of any nationality. All submitted songs are required to be written in at least 51% of one of the official languages of Montenegro. From there, a committee set up by the broadcaster reviewed the submissions and selected sixteen songs for the competition. The panel consisted of Boris Šarančić (entertainment editor for TVCG), Dražen Bauković (journalist and editor of music shows), Eva Papović (music editor at TVCG), Ana Petrović (music editor at RCG), Renata Perazić (musician and author), Marija Božović (musician and author), and Natalija Pavićević (songwriter). Each juror judged each song using a points system, giving a maximum of 50 points for composition, 30 points for lyrics and 20 points for production, meaning each song could earn a maximum of 100 points. However, songs had to achieve at least 75 points from this process in order to reach the competition stage. RTCG also stipulated that it had the right to internally select its entry for the contest if no submitted entry reached the threshold. At a press conference on 5 September 2024, Montesong director Danijel Alibabić, who represented Serbia and Montenegro in 2005 as part of No Name, confirmed that up to sixteen entries would be performed in the national final. On 2 October 2024, RTCG revealed that it had received 32 submissions, and that they would allow any further late applications due to postal delays. In total, 37 submissions were received, with 4 of those being disqualified. The competing entries (plus three backups) were announced on 10 October 2024 during the RTCG show Jutarnji program, which was broadcast on TVCG 1. On 4 November 2024, Boban Rajović withdrew from the competition due to personal comittments, and RTCG confirmed that reserve artist, Tamara Živković, would replace his entry for the contest.
Among the competing artists was Nina Žižić, who provided uncredited vocals for Who See at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. Also among the competing acts were Kejt, who competed in Montevizija 2018, Marko Vukčević, lead singer of Neonoen, who competed in Evropesma-Europjesma 2004 as member of the group Evropa and in Montevizija and Evropesma-Europjesma 2005 as a solo artist, Milena Vučić, who competed in Evropesma-Europjesma 2004 as member of the group Negre [sr] and in Montevizija and Evropesma-Europjesma 2006 as a solo artist. Among the backup entries was Danijel Popović, who won Jugovizija 1983, Yugoslavia's national final for Eurovision, and subsequently represented the country in the 1983 contest with the song "Džuli"; he competed in Yugoslavia's national selection a further four times: in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1991. He previously applied his entry "Kano kastigan" to Dora 2023, Croatia's national selection for the 2023 contest. The competing songs were released on 10 November 2024.
Entry withdrawn Replacement entry
Montesong 2024 contestants :
| Artist | Song | Language | Songwriter(s) |
| Anastasija Koprolčec | "Kraj" (Крај) | Montenegrin | Bojan MarovićStevan Milanović |
| Baryak | "Dva srca" (Два срца) | Montenegrin | Luka PerazićRade Vukčević |
| Bend 9 | "Stop War" | Montenegrin | Milić Šarović |
| Boban Rajović | "Suze" (Сузе) | Montenegrin | Branislav GlušacGoran RatkovićMiladin Bogosavljević |
| Dolce Hera | "Repeat" | Montenegrin | Aleksandra Prelević PalladinoMarko ČaćićTodor Tadić |
| Đurđa | "To ljubav je" (То љубав је) | Montenegrin | Đurđa Petrović PoljakJonas JensenKristina KovačOlivér Patocska |
| Glumci Bend | "San" (Сан) | Montenegrin | Dragana TripkovićMladen Nikčević |
| Isak Šabanović | "Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto" (Љето, љето, љето) | Montenegrin | Leontina VukomanovićNemanja Filipović |
| Kejt | "Obala raja" (Обала раја) | Montenegrin, English | Hugo SmehJames GillespieKatarina Bogićević |
| Luka Radović | "Kada dođe maj" (Када дође мај) | Montenegrin | Luka Radović |
| Milena Vučić | "Škorpija" (Шкорпија) | Montenegrin | Alen StajićMarko PeruničićNebojša ArežinaSanja Vučić |
| Nemanja Petrović | "Među zvijezdama" (Међу звијездама) | Montenegrin | Branislav Opačić |
| Neonoen | "Clickbait" | Montenegrin | Ilija Pejović |
| Nina Žižić | "Dobrodošli" (Добродошли) | Montenegrin | Boris Subotić [sr]Darko DimitrovVioleta Mihajlovska Milić |
| Tamara Živković | "Poguban let" (Погубан лет) | Montenegrin | Boris Subotić |
| Tina Džankić | "Nova" (Нова) | Montenegrin | Anja ZagoracVladimir Maraš |
| Verica Čuljković | "Čuješ li" (Чујеш ли) | Montenegrin | Filip TančićVerica Čuljković |
Reserve entries :
| Artist | Song | Language | Songwriter(s) |
| Tamara Živković | "Poguban let" (Погубан лет) | Montenegrin | Boris Subotić |
| Hanibal | "Čuvaj me" (Чувај ме) | Montenegrin | Igor PerovićSlaven Ivanović |
| Danijel Popović | "Kano kastigan" (Кано кастиган) | Unknown | Unknown |

#### Final

The final took place on 27 November 2024 at 20:00 CET. The running order was revealed on 19 November. The song "Clickbait" performed by the group Neonoen won the contest. It finished second in the jury vote, and second in the televote. The jury consisted of: Hari Varešanović, who represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006 as part of Hari Mata Hari; Nuša Derenda, who represented Slovenia in 2001; Dado Topić, who represented Croatia in 2007 with the group Dragonfly; Elena Risteska, who represented Macedonia in 2006; Tijana Bogićević, who represented Serbia in 2017; Emmelie de Forest, who represented Denmark in 2013 and won the 2013 contest; and Danijel Popović, who represented Yugoslavia in 1983.
In addition to the competing artists, guests included Sergej Ćetković, who represented Montenegro in 2014, and event director Danijel Alibabić, who represented Serbia and Montenegro in 2005 as part of No Name. Guest performances featured at the opening of the show included Danijel Popović, who performed his 1983 Eurovision song "Džuli", and co-host Vladana Vučinić, who performed "Respira", an Italian language version of her 2022 Eurovision entry "Breathe". During the interval between the last competing song and the announcement of the votes, additional guest performances included Sergej Ćetković, performing his 2014 Eurovision song "Moj svijet", Elena Risteska, who performed "Muka mi je", and Emmelie de Forest, who performed her 2013 Eurovision winning song "Only Teardrops".
A total of 3,262 votes were successfully cast according to RTCG, however the figure announced during the show was 2,233. The broadcaster explained that the discrepancy was due to a delay in communicating the updated number of received votes. Bogićević accidentally awarded her 8 points to "Repeat" instead of "Dva srca", which she disclosed while announcing her points.
Final – 27 November 2024 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Jury | Televote | Televote | Total | Place |
| Draw | Artist | Song | Votes | Points | Votes | Points | Total | Place |
| 1 | Anastasija Koprolčec | "Kraj" | 9 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | Tina Džankić | "Nova" | 34 | 5 | 154 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| 3 | Nemanja Petrović | "Među zvijezdama" | 18 | 1 | 109 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 4 | Bend 9 | "Stop War" | 2 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 5 | Tamara Živković | "Poguban let" | 39 | 6 | 107 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Luka Radović | "Kada dođe maj" | 5 | 0 | 147 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 7 | Đurđa | "To ljubav je" | 26 | 4 | 328 | 8 | 12 | 4 |
| 8 | Kejt | "Obala raja" | 45 | 7 | 152 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
| 9 | Nina Žižić | "Dobrodošli" | 59 | 12 | 316 | 7 | 19 | 2 |
| 10 | Neonoen | "Clickbait" | 54 | 10 | 443 | 10 | 20 | 1 |
| 11 | Isak Šabanović | "Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto" | 24 | 2 | 241 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 12 | Glumci Bend | "San" | 4 | 0 | 288 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 13 | Dolce Hera | "Repeat" | 8 | 0 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 14 | Baryak | "Dva srca" | 25 | 3 | 476 | 12 | 15 | 3 |
| 15 | Verica Čuljković | "Čuješ li" | 6 | 0 | 168 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 16 | Milena Vučić | "Škorpija" | 48 | 8 | 49 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
Detailed jury results :
| Draw | Song | H. Varešanović | N. Derenda | D. Topić | E. Risteska | T. Bogićević | E. de Forest | D. Popović | Total |
| 1 | "Kraj" | 3 | | | 2 | 1 | 3 | | 9 |
| 2 | "Nova" | 4 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 34 |
| 3 | "Među zvijezdama" | 12 | 1 | | | | 1 | 4 | 18 |
| 4 | "Stop War" | | | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| 5 | "Poguban let" | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 39 |
| 6 | "Kada dođe maj" | 5 | | | | | | | 5 |
| 7 | "To ljubav je" | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | | 26 |
| 8 | "Obala raja" | | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 47 |
| 9 | "Dobrodošli" | 6 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 59 |
| 10 | "Clickbait" | | 6 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 54 |
| 11 | "Ljeto, ljeto, ljeto" | 1 | 7 | | 5 | 5 | | 6 | 24 |
| 12 | "San" | | | 4 | | | | | 4 |
| 13 | "Repeat" | | | | | 8 | | | 8 |
| 14 | "Dva srca" | | 2 | 12 | 8 | | | 3 | 25 |
| 15 | "Čuješ li" | 2 | | | | | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 16 | "Škorpija" | 8 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 48 |

### Controversy and entry replacement

On 1 December 2024, RTCG revealed that "Clickbait" was previously performed during Festival kulture Zabjelo in Zabjelo, Podgorica in June 2023, which breaches the contest's rules obliging that competing songs may not have been released commercially or publicly performed before 1 September 2024, and that it would discuss with the EBU the following day to decide whether the entry is eligible for the contest. In response, Neonoen stated they believed the number of attendees who saw the performance was not substantial enough to influence the result of Montesong 2024, as well as that they were not aware of the rule regarding the ban on performing the entry fully or in part prior to 1 September 2024, but that they would respect any decision made by RTCG and the EBU. On 4 December, Neonoen voluntarily withdrew from participating in the contest, citing a "desire to end the uncertainty". On 8 December, RTCG announced that the second place of Montesong 2024, "Dobrodošli" performed by Nina Žižić, would represent Montenegro at the contest.
Vučinić resigned from RTCG the day after the national final and made her decision public on 5 December, citing a lack of transparency in the organisation of the national final.

### Preparation

On 26 January 2025, RTCG confirmed that "Dobrodošli" will undergo a minor revamp prior to the contest. Žižić affirmed that the delegation would carry out a revamp, but that nothing would "significantly change the song itself". The revamped version was released on 9 March, during a special edition of the RTCG show Pod Naponom.