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-six* countries participated in the sixth contest, under the slogan “Unite Your Kingdom!”.

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-six* countries participated in the sixth edition of the contest: ten European countries (Faroe Islands, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, United Kingdom, Vatican), seven Asian countries (China, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, South Korea, Thailand), two American countries (Canada, United States of America), six Oceanian countries (Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Zealand) and one African country (Algeria).

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

Returning Artists
This edition featured three 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, trying to score a better result!

Nico Santos participated in OMSC 4 as part of the group Wier: he performed with other artists the song "Best Of Us", placing 3ʳᵈ out of 38 participating countries with 85 points. This time he participated together with Alle Farben and Martin Jensen with the song "Running Back To You", trying to score an even better result!

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:

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

• 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.

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

• Portugal – While Radio and Television of Portugal (RTP) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, Portugal later announced its withdrawal from the contest on the same day for unknown reasons.

Non-Returning Countries
• Åland Islands – TVÅ announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that the country would not return to the contest. Åland Islands last took part in OMSC 2.

• Belgium – On the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, the Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF announced they would not return to the contest. Belgium last took part in OMSC 1.

• Crimea – Crimea announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that they would not return to the contest. Crimea last took part in OMSC 1.

• Czechia – Česká Televize (ČT) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest, probably because of the poor results in the third edition of OMSC. Czechia last took part in OMSC 3.

• Denmark – Danish broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) announced the country would not return to the contest on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020. Denmark last took part in OMSC 1.

• Finland – Finnish broadcaster (YLE) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest for unknown reasons. Finland last took part in OMSC 4.

• Kosovo – Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest. Kosovo last took part in OMSC 3.

• Luxembourg – Luxembourgish broadcaster Radio Télé Lëtzebuerg (RTL) announced the country would not return to the contest on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020. Luxembourg last took part in OMSC 1.

• Mexico – Mexican broadcaster Sistema Público de Radiodifusión del Estado Mexicano (SPR) announced Mexico's return to the contest on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, however, the broadcaster announced their withdrawal from the competition on the 29ᵗʰ November 2020 due to unknown reasons. Mexico last took part in OMSC 4.

• Russia – Channel One Russia (C1R) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, that they were planning a return to the contest. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not return in this edition of the contest. Russia last took part in OMSC 3.

• San Marino – On the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, the Sammarinese broadcaster (SMRTV) announced they would not return to the contest. San Marino last took part in OMSC 4.

• Slovenia – Slovenia announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the sixth edition of the contest. Slovenia last took part in OMSC 1.

• Sweden – Sveriges Television (SVT) announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the sixth edition of the contest for unknown reasons. Sweden last took part in OMSC 3.

• Switzerland – On the 28ᵗʰ November 2020, SRG SSR announced that Switzerland would not return to the contest. Switzerland last took part in OMSC 4.

• Ukraine – Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC announced on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the fourth edition of the contest for unknown reasons. Ukraine last took part in OMSC 3.

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.

• 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.