OMSC 3

Online Music Song Contest 3, often referred to as OMSC 3, was the third edition of Online Music Song Contest, held again in Bishkek after Kyrgyzstan won for the second time in a row. Since this edition semi-finals were introduced and the top ten scored countries from each semi-final advance to the final and join the big 3, the top 3 countries from the previous edition.

The Semi-Finals of OMSC 3 occured on the 10ᵗʰ October 2020 while the Final occured on the 17ᵗʰ October 2020. Twenty-seven countries participated in the third contest, under the slogan “Rise!”.

Location
The broadcaster KTRK chose to host the contest again in the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. Bishkek is the most populated city in Kyrgyzstan having a population of 1,012,500. It situated at an altitude of about 800 meters, just off the northern fringe of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, an extension of the Tian Shan mountain range, which rises to a height of 4,895 meters. North of the city, a fertile and gently undulating steppe extends far north into neighboring Kazakhstan and the Chui River drains most of the area.

In 1825, the Khanate of Kokand established the fortress of "Pishpek" to control local caravan routes and to collect tribute from Kyrgyz tribes. On the 4ᵗʰ September 1860, with the approval of the Kyrgyz, Russian forces led by Colonel Apollon Zimmermann destroyed the fortress. In 1868, a Russian settlement was established on the site of the fortress under its original name, "Pishpek". It lay within the General Governorship of Russian Turkestan and its Semirechye Oblast.

In 1925, the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast was established in Russian Turkestan, promoting Pishpek to its capital. In 1926, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union renamed the city as Frunze, after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze, who was born there. In 1936, the city of Frunze became the capital of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, during the final stages of the national delimitation in the Soviet Union. In 1991, the Kyrgyz parliament changed the capital's name to "Bishkek".

Nowadays Bishkek is a city of wide boulevards and marble-faced public buildings combined with numerous Soviet-style apartment blocks surrounding interior courtyards. There are also thousands of smaller privately built houses, mostly outside the city centre. Streets follow a grid pattern, with most flanked on both sides by narrow irrigation channels, watering innumerable trees to provide shade in the hot summers.

Participants
Twenty-seven countries participated in the third edition of the contest: ten European countries (Czechia, Faroe Islands, Germany, Kosovo, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine), four Asian countries (Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Tajikistan), eight American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Sint Maarten, United States of America, United States' Virgin Islands), two Oceanian country (Australia, Guam) and two African countries (Morocco, Sierra Leone).

It's the biggest number of participants since the start of the contest, with Argentina, Czechia, Georgia, Germany, Guadeloupe, Guam, Kosovo, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sierra Leone and Sint Maarten making their debut.

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

MØ represented Denmark at the very first edition of the contest with her song "Kamikaze" sung in English, which placed 15ᵗʰ out of 18 participating countries with 45 points. In this occasion, she represented the Faroe Islands with her song "Final Song", again in English, trying to score a better result!

Manizha represented Tajikistan in the second edition of the contest with her song "Nedoslavyanka (Недославянка)" sung in Russian, which placed 9ᵗʰ out of 14 participating countries with 54 points. In this occasion, Manizha performed her song "Izumrud (Изумруд)", again in Russian, trying to score a better result for her country, Tajikistan!

National Selections
Brazil and South Korea used a National Selection to determine the country's representative for OMSC 3.

Sua Escolha, Brasil! (OMSC 3)
Main article: "Sua Escolha, Brasil!" (OMSC 3)

Korea's Choice (OMSC3)
Main article: Korea's Choice (OMSC 3)

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

• Åland Islands – TVÅ announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2020 that the country will withdraw from the contest.

• Algeria – Établissement Public de Télévision (EPTV) announced on the 25ᵗʰ September 2020, that despite scoring a very good result in the previous edition, Algeria would not take part in the third edition of the contest.

• Kazakhstan – When the submission period started, Kazakhstan Radio and Television Corporation (RTRK) stated that they had yet to make a decision on their participation. However on the 30ᵗʰ September 2020 it was announced that Kazakhstan will withdraw.

• Netherlands – Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) announced on the 27ᵗʰ September 2020, that its participation in the third edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Switzerland – SRG SSR announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2020 that Switzerland will withdraw from the contest.

Non-Returning Countries
• Belgium – On 25ᵗʰ September 2020, the Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF announced they would not return to the contest. Belgium last took part in OMSC 1.

• Chad – Chad did not appear on the list of participants published on the 3ʳᵈ of October 2020. Chad last took part in OMSC 1.

• Crimea – Crimea announced on the 25ᵗʰ September 2020 that they would not return to the contest. Crimea last took part in OMSC 1.

• Denmark – Danish broadcaster DR announced the country would not return to the contest immediately after the submission period started, on the 25ᵗʰ September 2020. Denmark last took part in OMSC 1.

• France – On the 25ᵗʰ September 2020, GRF announced that France would not return to the contest. France last took part in OMSC 1.

• Japan – Japanese broadcaster NHK announced on the 25ᵗʰ September 2020 that the country would not return to the contest. Japan last took part in OMSC 1.

• Luxembourg – Luxembourgish broadcaster RTL confirmed on the 27ᵗʰ September 2020 that that its return in the third edition of the contest would not be possible for unknown reasons. Luxembourg last took part in OMSC 1.

• Slovenia – Slovenia announced on the 26ᵗʰ September 2020 that it would not make its return in the third edition of the contest. Slovenia last took part in OMSC 1.

• Uruguay – On 25ᵗʰ September 2020, the Uruguayan broadcaster Televisión Nacional Uruguay (TNU) announced they would not return to the contest. Uruguay last took part in OMSC 1.

Other Countries
• Ireland – On 29ᵗʰ September 2020, the Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE) announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 3. However, it was later confirmed on 3ʳᵈ October 2020 that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.