Lordi, the Finnish band known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with their hit 'Hard Rock Hallelujah,' has publicly expressed their anger regarding not being invited to perform at the UMK finals, where many fans expected to see them. On marking the 20th anniversary of their Eurovision victory, Mr. Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Putaansuu, voiced his disappointment, stating that it felt like a definitive break from their legacy and an insult to their contribution to Finnish music history.

Warner Music Finland, representing Lordi, had initiated discussions with Yle, the broadcaster organizing the UMK event, as early as summer 2023, requesting Lordi's participation in the final. Despite this, the initial response was tepid, and later inquiries by Sony Music Finland met with similar reluctance from Yle. The repeated refusals prompted Lordi to declare an 'eternal boycott' against the event, emphasizing their dissatisfaction with the treatment they've received, which they feel undermines their significance in Finland's cultural landscape.

As Finland's only Eurovision winner, Lordi's absence from the UMK final sparked considerable backlash among fans and the music community, reflecting a broader concern about how legacy artists are treated in contemporary music events. The controversy raises questions over the essence of music competitions: whether they uphold inclusivity, celebrate historical achievements, or whether they restrict participation based on arbitrary standards, particularly when major record labels are involved in the decision-making process.