OMSC 9

Online Music Song Contest 9, often referred to as OMSC 9, was the ninth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Strasbourg, France.

The Semi-Finals of OMSC 9 occured on the 13ᵗʰ February 2021 while the Final occured on the 20ᵗʰ February 2021. Fourty-six countries participated in the ninth contest, under the slogan “Imagine!”.

Greece won the contest with the song "Fotiá (Φωτιά)" receving a total of 144 points. Ukraine finished in second place, with Malaysia finishing in third place. They were followed by Canada, which reached the fourth place and Sudan which reached the fifth place.

Location
After it's victory in the previous edition, the broadcaster FTV chose to host the contest in Strasbourg, France. Strasbourg is the largest city of the Grand Est region of Eastern France with 285,000 inhabitants, and is the official seat of the European Parliament. It is located at the border with Germany in the historic region of Alsace and it is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin department.

The city is chiefly known for its sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, and for its medieval cityscape of Rhineland black and white timber-framed buildings, particularly in the Petite France district or Gerberviertel alongside the Ill and in the streets and squares surrounding the cathedral, where the renowned Maison Kammerzell stands out.

The Roman camp of Argentoratum was first mentioned in 12 BC; the city of Strasbourg which grew from it celebrated its 2000ᵗʰ anniversary in 1988. The fertile area in the Upper Rhine Plain between the rivers Ill and Rhine had already been populated since the Middle Paleolithic.

Between 362 and 1262, Strasbourg was governed by the bishops of Strasbourg; their rule was reinforced in 873 and then more in 982. In 1262, the citizens violently rebelled against the bishop's rule (Battle of Hausbergen) and Strasbourg became a free imperial city. It became a French city in 1681, after the conquest of Alsace by the armies of Louis XIV. In 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War, the city became German again, until the end of World War I in 1918, when it reverted to France. After the defeat of France in World War II, in 1940 Strasbourg came under German control again; since the end of 1944, it is again a French city. In 2016, Strasbourg was promoted from capital of Alsace to capital of Grand Est.

Strasbourg played an important part in Protestant Reformation, with personalities such as John Calvin, Martin Bucer, Wolfgang Capito, Matthew and Katharina Zell, but also in other aspects of Christianity such as German mysticism, with Johannes Tauler, Pietism, with Philipp Spener, and Reverence for Life, with Albert Schweitzer. Delegates from the city took part in the Protestation at Speyer. It was also one of the first centres of the printing industry with pioneers such as Johannes Gutenberg, Johannes Mentelin, and Heinrich Eggestein. Among the darkest periods in the city's long history were the years 1349 (Strasbourg massacre), 1518 (Dancing plague), 1793 (Reign of Terror), 1870 (Siege of Strasbourg) and the years 1940–1944 with the Nazi occupation (atrocities such as the Jewish skeleton collection) and the British and American bombing raids. Some other notable dates were the years 357 (Battle of Argentoratum), 842 (Oaths of Strasbourg), 1538 (establishment of the university), 1605 (world's first newspaper printed by Johann Carolus), 1792 (La Marseillaise), and 1889 (pancreatic origin of diabetes discovered by Minkowski and Von Mering).

Strasbourg has been the seat of European Institutions since 1949: first of the International Commission on Civil Status and of the Council of Europe, later of the European Parliament, of the European Science Foundation, of Eurocorps, and others as well. Economically, Strasbourg is an important centre of manufacturing and engineering, as well as a hub of road, rail, and river transportation. The port of Strasbourg is the second-largest on the Rhine after Duisburg in Germany, and the second-largest river port in France after Paris.

Participants
Fourty-six countries participated in the ninth edition of the contest: ten European countries (Crimea, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine), ten Asian countries (Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam), ten American countries (Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States of America, United States' Virgin Islands), seven Oceanian countries (Australia, Guam, Micronesia, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa) and nine African countries (Algeria, Angola, Canary Islands, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan).

It's the biggest number of participants since the start of the contest, with Afghanistan, Angola, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Gibraltar, Greece, Kenya, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Sudan and Vietnam participated for the first time.

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

Alice Chater represented the United Kingdom in the sixth edition of the contest with her song "Tonight" sung in English, which placed 4ᵗʰ out of 27 participating countries with 85 points. In this occasion, she represented debut nation British Virgin Islands with her song "Two Of Us", sung again in English, unfortunately placing 31ˢᵗ with 66 points in the semi-finals.

Danna Paola represented Mexico in the fourth edition of the contest, together with Greeicy, with her song "Mala Fama (Remix)", sung in Spanish, which placed 28ᵗʰ out of 38 participating countries with 56 points in its semi-final. In this occasion, she represented debuting nation Chile, together with Denise Rosenthal and Lola Índigo, with her song "Santería", again in Spanish, placing 19ᵗʰ out of 46 participants!

National Selections
Germany and Malaysia used a National Selection to determine the country's representative for OMSC 9.

Deutschlands Empfehlung Für Den Online Music Song Contest (OMSC 9)
Main article: Deutschlands Empfehlung Für Den Online Music Song Contest (OMSC 9)

DSV Talent Show (OMSC 9)
Main article: DSV's Talent Show (OMSC 9)

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

• American Samoa – American Samoan broadcaster announced on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021, that American Samoa would not participate in the ninth edition of the contest.

• Azerbaijan – İctimai Televiziya və Radio Yayımları Şirkəti (İTV) announced on the 30ᵗʰ January 2021 Azerbaijan's withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Belarus – Belarus's broadcaster Belaruskaja Tele‑Radio Campanija (BTRC) announced on the 29ᵗʰ January 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Cape Verde – Cape Verde did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• Fiji – When submission period started, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) stated that they had yet to make a decision on their participation. On the 5ᵗʰ February 2021, Fiji announced its withdrawal from the contest for unknown reasons.

• French Polynesia – Tahiti Nui Télévision (TNTV) announced on the 6ᵗʰ January 2021, that French Polynesia would withdraw from the contest, probably because of the poor results in the previous edition.

• Haiti – Haitian broadcaster announced on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021, that Haiti would not participate in the ninth edition of the contest.

• Indonesian – Indonesia's broadcaster announced on the 30ᵗʰ January 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Italy – When submission period started, Radio Televisione Italiana (RAI) stated that they had yet to make a decision on their participation. On the 29ᵗʰ January 2021, Italy announced its withdrawal from the contest for unknown reasons.

• Jamaica – Jamaica did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan's broadcaster announced on the 30ᵗʰ January 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Kiribati – Kiribati did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• New Zealand – New Zealand did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• Poland – Telewizja Polska (TVP) announced on the 29ᵗʰ January 2021, its withdrawal from the contest, probably because of the poor results in the previous edition.

• Russia – Russia's broadcaster announced on the 29ᵗʰ January 2021 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Somalia – Somalia did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• Switzerland – SRG SSR announced on the 29ᵗʰ January 2021, its withdrawal from the contest, probably because of the poor results in the previous edition.

• Tanzania – Tanzania did not appear on the list of participants published on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021.

• Turkey – Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT) announced on the 30ᵗʰ January 2021 Turkey's withdrawal from the contest, probably because of the poor results in the two previous editions.

• United Kingdom – British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced on the 29ᵗʰ January 2021, that despite scoring a very good result in the previous editions, the United Kingdom would not take part in the ninth edition of the contest.

• Venezuela – Corporación Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) announced on the 6ᵗʰ February 2021, that Venezuela would not participate in the ninth edition of the contest.