OMSC 6

Online Music Song Contest 6, often referred to as OMSC 6, was the sixth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Hastings, United Kingdom.

The Semi-Finals of OMSC 6 occured on the 12ᵗʰ December 2020 while the Final occured on the 19ᵗʰ December 2020. Twenty-seven countries participated in the sixth contest, under the slogan “Unite Your Kingdom!”.

Kiribati won the contest with the song "Kiss Me Goodbye" receving a total of 94 points. Lebanon finished in second place, with Uzbekistan finishing in third place. They were followed by United Kingdom, which reached the fourth place and Israel which reached the fifth place.

Location
The broadcaster BBC chose to host the contest in a town in the south of the United Kingdom, Hastings, which has a population of approximately just 100,000 inhabitants.

Hastings is situated where the sandstone beds, at the heart of the Weald, known geologically as the Hastings Sands, meet the English Channel, forming tall cliffs to the east of the town. Hastings Old Town is in a sheltered valley between the East Hill and West Hill (on which the remains of the Castle stand). In Victorian times and later the town has spread westwards and northwards, and now forms a single urban centre with the more suburban area of St Leonards-on-Sea to the west.

The first mention of Hastings is found in the late 8ᵗʰ century. Hastings began as a Saxon settlement. It was called Haestingas, which means Haesta's people. By the 10ᵗʰ century Hastings had grown into a little market tow and it even had its own mint. However Hastings was very small with a population of only several hundred. In 1011 the Danes sacked Hastings but it soon recovered. From the 11ᵗʰ century Hastings was one of the Cinque ports, a group of 5 ports who were supposed to provide ships for the king in time of war in time of war in return for certain privileges. However this custom died out in the 15ᵗʰ century and a more modern navy w century Hastings had grown into a little market town. It even had its own mint.

In the 16ᵗʰ century and 17ᵗʰ century Hastings slowly grew. In 1589 Queen Elizabeth granted Hastings a charter (a document granting the townspeople certain rights) and gained a corporation and a mayor. Like all towns in those days Hastings suffered from outbreaks of the plague. It struck in 1563, 1590 and 1597. However each time the population of the little town recovered.

In the early 18ᵗʰ century Hastings was a small market town with a population of about 1,500. Apart from fishing Hastings in the 18ᵗʰ century Hastings was famous (or infamous) for smuggling. Other industries in Hastings were shipbuilding and rope making. However from the late 18ᵗʰ century Hastings began to develop as a seaside resort. In the latter part of the 18ᵗʰ century it became fashionable among the wealthy to spend a summer by the sea and many people believed that bathing in seawater was good for your health. So along with other towns on the south coast Hastings grew rapidly. By the end of the century the resort of Hastings was booming.

There were several improvements in Hastings in the 19ᵗʰ and 20ᵗʰ century, and today Hastings is a fishing port with the United Kingdom's largest beach-based fishing fleet and in the past few decades it underwent some rejuvenation. Seaside resorts were starting to go out of fashion: Hastings perhaps more than most. The town council set about a huge rebuilding project, among which the promenade was rebuilt, and an Olympic-size bathing pool was erected. The latter, regarded in its day as one of the best open-air swimming and diving complexes in Europe, later became a holiday camp before closing in 1986. It was demolished, but the area is still known by locals as "The Old Bathing Pool".

Participants
Twenty-seven countries participated in the sixth edition of the contest: ten European countries (Faroe Islands, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom, Vatican), eight Asian countries (China, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, South Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan), two American countries (Canada, United States of America), five Oceanian countries (Australia, Cocos Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Zealand) and two African countries (Algeria, Morocco).

In this edition Cocos Islands, Kiribati, Lebanon, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vatican participated for the first time.

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

Dotan represented the Netherlands in the fourth edition of the contest with his song "No Words" sung in English, which placed 17ᵗʰ out of 38 participating countries with 37 points. In this occasion, he represented Israel, which returned to the contest after one edition of absence, with his song "Numb", again in English, placing 5ᵗʰ!

Faouzia represented Canada in the third edition of the contest with her song "Tears Of Gold" sung in English, which placed 2ⁿᵈ out of 27 participating countries with 77 points. In this occasion, she represented Morocco, which returned to the contest after two editions of absence, with her song "The Road", again in English, placing 18ᵗʰ!

National Selections
Lebanon used a National Selection to determine the country's representative for OMSC 6.

Lebanon's Choice (OMSC 6)
Main article: Lebanon's Choice (OMSC 6)

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

• Bermuda – Bermuda's broadcaster announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Brazil – Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that they would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Greenland – Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR) announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that Greenland would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Guam – PBS GUAM announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that Guam would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Egypt – ERTU announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that Egypt would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• France – GRF announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that France would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Germany – When submission period started, German broadcaster ARD confirmed their participatiion in the sixth edition of the contest, however the broadcaster announced Germany's withdrawal from the competition on the 1ˢᵗ December 2020 due to the sudden disappearence of the broadcaster's director.

• Italy – Italian broadcaster Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Moldova – Moldovan broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova (TRM) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Papua New Guinea – NBC PNG announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that Papua New Guinea would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Peru – Televisión Perú (TNPE) announced on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Poland – Telewizja Polska (TVP) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that Poland would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Samoa – SBC announced on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• South Africa – South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020, that they would not participate in the sixth edition of the contest.

• Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) announced on the on the 5ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

Other Countries
• Armenia – Armenian broadcaster Hayastani Hanrayin Herrustaynkerut'yun (ARMTV) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that they were planning a debut in OMSC 6. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.

• Christmas Island - Christmas Island was set to participate as they confirmed their participation on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, however it was later announced that they won't make their debut in this edition of the contest.

• Cyprus – Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that they were planning a debut in OMSC 6. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.

• Haiti – Télévision Nationale d'Haïti (TNH) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that they were planning a debut in OMSC 6. However, it was later confirmed on the 30ᵗʰ November 2020 that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.