OMSC 19

Online Music Song Contest 19, often referred to as OMSC 19, was the nineteenth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Basse-Terre, after Guadeloupe won the previous edition of the contest.

The Pre-Qualification Round of OMSC 19 occured on the 10ᵗʰ October 2021, the Semi-Finals on the 17ᵗʰ October 2021 while the Final occured on the 24ᵗʰ October 2021. Fifty countries participated in the nineteenth contest, under the slogan “Lights Off!”.

Location
After it's victory in the previous edition, the broadcaster GTV chose to host the contest in in the capital and second most populous city of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre, which has a population of 10,000 inhabitants. It is part of the Lesser Antilles and is located in the south-western corner of the Basse-Terre portion of the island of Guadeloupe which is itself located 100 kilometers north of Dominica and 450 kilometers south-east of Puerto Rico. The commune is at the foot of the Soufrière volcano and is connected to the rest of the island by three main roads.

Before Basse-Terre became a French town it was a village of American Indian horticulturists and potters. The village was on the site of the present Basse-Terre Cathedral where archaeological excavations found human remains and other evidence of occupation during the restoration of the cathedral. In 1635, when it was part of Saint Kitts and Nevis, an expedition was seeking a place of lasting presence in Guadeloupe. The operation was entrusted to 4 missionaries and 550 colonists. The landing took place on the 28ᵗʰ June 1635, at Pointe Allègre, far from Basse-Terre. Famine pushed the party to the south near the present town of Vieux-Fort in early 1636. The relationship between Native Americans and colonists degraded quickly and a bloody war against the locals began. The war forced the colonizers to build a fort, today Fort Olive at Vieux Fort. Some religious built the first church, now the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, shortly afterwards and the city was organized around the chapel and from the fort to the river of Herbs. This was the beginning of Basse-Terre.

Around 1680 on the right bank of the Rivière aux Herbes the Capuchins built a chapel dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi where the present Guadaloupe Cathedral is located and a second centre of population grew around this place of worship. The River of Herbs separated the two distinct villages: Basse-Terre and Saint Francis. In 1759, a British expeditionary force captured the island. Guadeloupe was occupied by the British until 1763, when it was returned to France in the Treaty of Paris. Basse-Terre experienced a resurgence of activity despite the founding of Pointe-à-Pitre in 1764, a town in a better position to receive the ocean swell, and despite a fire in September 1782. The town was partially redesigned around 1787. The French Revolution reached the island and therefore Basse-Terre in September 1789. The city was the scene of military operations sent by Napoleon to reestablish slavery in 1802.

The town was occupied multiple times and for over 20 years Basse-Terre suffered from the effects of these disturbances. Only after four hurricanes did Basse-Terre think of rehabilitating the construction and development by building a Military Hospital, a bishopric, sanitation, and expansion of the city by creating new neighbourhoods but the situation remained unchanged, worsened more by a cholera epidemic in 1865. From 1870 the commune began to recover and inaugurated its town hall in 1899.

It was the first city in Guadeloupe to be electrified in 1913. New buildings were built such as the courthouse, the General Council, and a market in the 1930s. A port and a boulevard to serve it were built in 1964. Cyclonic conditions repeatedly ravaged the development of this boulevard in 1989, in 1995, in 1999 and in 2008. In 1976, over 70,000 inhabitants of the town were evacuated due to the high activity of the Soufrière volcano. Some evacuees never returned and moved to other towns. For 20 years, the town centre was depopulated in favour of peri-urban areas or neighbouring towns despite attempts at renewal. Nowadays the commune is mostly urban with some farmland in the north-east and north-west.

Participants
Fifty countries participated in the nineteenth edition of the contest: fifteen European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Ukraine), fifteen Asian countries (Armenia, China, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, North Korea, Palestine, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan), six American countries (Brazil, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guadeloupe, Mexico, United States of America), seven Oceanian countries (American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Micronesia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea) and seven African countries (Angola, Cameroon, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Republic of the Congo).

In this edition Cameroon, the Falkland Islands, the French Southern Territories, Gambia and Palestine participated for the first time.

Returning Artists
This edition featured six representatives who had performed previously as lead vocalists for a country in the contest.

Helly Luv represented Iraq at its second appearence in the eighth edition of the contest with her song "Boy Bye", sung in English, which made it to the final and placed 2ⁿᵈ out of 37 participating countries with 123 points, achieving Iraq's best result in the competition. In this occasion, she represented Iraq again, with her song "Revolution", again in English, placing 41ˢᵗ with 33 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final.

GJan represented Lithuania at its debut in the fifteenth edition of the contest with her song "One More Drink" sung in English, which placed last out of 50 participating countries with 47 points, in the pre-qualification round. In this occasion, she represented Lithuania again, with her song "Confidence", sung also in English, placing 33ʳᵈ with 63 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final but achieving her personal best result.

Sabrina Carpenter represented Micronesia in the ninth edition of the contest with her song "Skin", sung in English, which unfortunately didn't make it to the final, placing 34ᵗʰ out of 46 participating countries with 53 points. In this occasion, she represented the United States of America, with her song "Skinny Dipping", again in English, placing 38ᵗʰ with 45 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final.

Cosmic Girls represented North Korea at its sixth appearence in the thirteenth edition of the contest with their song "Butterfly" sung both in English and Korean, which placed 31ˢᵗ out of 42 participating countries with 64 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final. In this occasion, the girl group represented Hong Kong, with the song "Unnatural", sung again both in English and Korean, placing 45ᵗʰ with 127 points, in the pre-qualification round.

Trisha Paytas represented the United States of America in the fifth edition of the contest with her song "Only Fan", sung in English, which unfortunately didn't make it to the final, placing 22ⁿᵈ out of 29 participating countries with 56 points. In this occasion, she represented Guam, with her song "Freaky", again in English, placing 48ᵗʰ with 102 points, in the pre-qualification round.

Fleur East represented Saint Helena at its debut in the previous edition of the contest. She performed the song "Favourite Thing", which made it to the final and placed 3ʳᵈ out of 50 participating countries with 127 points. In this occasion she represented Ghana, with the song "Sax", sung in English, placing 9ᵗʰ with 97 points.

Withdrawing Countries
These countries confirmed their non-participation in the nineteenth edition of the contest:

• Argentina – Televisión Pública Argentina (TPA) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021 that Argentina will withdraw from the contest.

• Australia – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021, that Australia would not participate in the nineteenth edition of the contest.

• Bangladesh – Bangladesh Television (বাংলাদেশ টেলিভিশন) announced on the 30ᵗʰ September 2021 that Bangladesh's participation in the nineteenth edition of the contest would not be possible, citing debts and the ongoing financial issues.

• British Indian Ocean Territories – British Indian Ocean Territories did not appear on the list of participants published on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021.

• Estonia – Estonian broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, due to a lack of interest from the Estonian public.

• Finland – Finnish broadcaster Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE) announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021 that Finland would withdraw from the contest, without further explanation.

• France – French broadcaster France Télévisions announced the withdrawal on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, for unknown reasons.

• Guatemala – Radio y Televisión de Guatemala (RTG) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021, that Guatemala would not participate in the nineteenth edition, because of financial difficulties.

• Iran – While Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021 and rumours about a possible representative, Iran later announced a withdrawal on the 27ᵗʰ September 2021, despite placing 2ⁿᵈ in the previous edition and achieving Iran's best result so far.

• Marshall Islands – Marshall Islands did not appear on the list of participants published on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021.

• Mauritius – Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) announced the country's withdrawal on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021.

• Myanmar – Myanmar's broadcaster Myanmar Radio and Television (MRT) announced on the 30ᵗʰ September 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, due to a lack of interest from the Burmese public.

• Nigeria – Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) announced the country's withdrawal on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021, after the disappointment from the results of their previous attempts in the contest.

• Peru – Peru's broadcaster Televisión Perú (TNPE) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021 its withdrawal from the contest for unknown reasons.

• Poland - Telewizja Polska (TVP) announced the country's withdrawal on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, for unknown reasons.

• Saint Helena – Radio Saint Helena (RSH) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021, that Saint Helena would not participate in the nineteenth edition, despite scoring a good result in the previous edition.

• Serbia - While Radio-televizija Srbije (RTS) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, Serbia announced the withdrawal on the 1ˢᵗ October 2021.

• Slovenia – Radio Televizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, that Slovenia would not participate in the nineteenth edition, without further explanations.

• South Africa – South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, despite achieving the country's best result in the previous edition.

• Sweden – Sveriges Television (SVT) announced the withdrawal a few days after the confirmations opened, despite placing 4ᵗʰ in the previous edition and achieving Sweden's second best result so far.

• Taiwan – While Taiwan Television (TTV) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021 and rumours about a possible representative, Taiwan later announced a withdrawal on the 29ᵗʰ September 2021, after five consecutive participations.

• Tunisia – Établissement de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Tunisienne (ERTT) announced on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, after the disappointment from the results of their debut.

• Turkey – Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT) announced on the 30ᵗʰ September 2021 that Turkey would not participate in the nineteenth edition of the contest, despite achieving the country's best result in the previous edition.

• Vanuatu – Vanuatu did not appear on the list of participants published on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021.

• Vietnam – Đài Truyền Hình Việt Nam (VTV) announced on the 30ᵗʰ September 2021, that Vietnam would withdraw from the contest, without further explanations.

• Wales – Welsh broadcaster Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C) announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, that Wales would not participate in the nineteenth edition of the contest, citing low ratings during their time in the contest.

• Zimbabwe – Zimbabwean broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) stated that Zimbabwe would not take part in the nineteenth edition of the contest on the 3ʳᵈ October 2021.

Other Countries
• Chechenia – On the 26ᵗʰ August 2021, some rumours about a Chechen debut started. It was said that the nation was planning a debut in OMSC 19. However, such rumours were later denied by the executive supervisor stating that Chechenia is not allowed to compete at the moment as the broadcaster doesn't have full rights to do so and even if a debut would be possible, the broadcaster would also need the backing of the Chechen government to be able to carry the cost of the participation fee for the contest.

• Northern Cyprus – On the 26ᵗʰ September 2021, the Northern Cyprus' broadcaster Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation (BRT) announced that the nation had interest in the competition and was planning a debut in OMSC 19. However, it was later confirmed on the 28ᵗʰ September 2021 that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.