OMSC 7

Online Music Song Contest 7, often referred to as OMSC 7, was the seventh edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in South Tarawa, Kiribati.

The Semi-Finals of OMSC 7 occured on the 2ⁿᵈ January 2021 while the Final occured on the 9ᵗʰ January 2021. Thirty-three countries participated in the seventh contest, under the slogan “Be Creative!”

United Kingdom won the contest with the song "Real Love" receving a total of 118 points. This made the United Kingdom the country with the most times together with Kyrgyzstan. Bulgaria finished in second place, with Croatia finishing in third place. They were followed by Iraq, which reached the fourth place and Spain which reached the fifth place.

Location
After it's victory in the previous edition, the broadcaster BPA chose to host the contest in the capital of Kiribati, South Tarawa, which has a population of approximately just 55,000 inhabitants. South Tarawa's population centre consists of all the small islets from Betio in the west to Bonriki and Tanaea in the north-east, connected by the South Tarawa main road.

South Tarawa is central to Kiribati mythology and culture, but life on South Tarawa was little different to that on other islands before it was selected in 1895 as the seat of colonial government for the Protectorate of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. From 1906 to 1942, Ocean Island was the headquarter of the colony, then Funafuti because of the Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands until 1946, when it returned to South Tarawa.

Nowadays South Tarawa is home to most of the government, commercial and education facilities in Kiribati including the Port and the High Court at Betio, the State House, Government Ministries, foreign embassies, High Commissions in Bairiki, a University of the South Pacific campus in Teaoraereke, the House of Assembly in Ambo, the Kiribati Teacher College, the Government High School in Bikenibeu and the Tungaru central hospital in Nawerewere. The Roman Catholic Diocese is based in Teaoraereke, the Kiribati Uniting Church in Antebuka, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kiribati in Bikenibeu and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eita.

South Tarawa is the economic hub of Kiribati, the location of the main port and airport and of most of the state-owned enterprises and private businesses. Copra produced on the outer islands is processed on Betio, producing copra oil for the international market and other products which are sold locally. There is a fish processing plant producing tuna for export. Imports far outweigh exports, and most households on South Tarawa rely on government employment and remittances from relatives working overseas. Unemployment and underemployment are a serious problem; in 2010 only 34% of urban adults were engaged in cash work; the remaining two-thirds are either out of the labour force, unemployed or engaged in subsistence activities. Young people are especially likely to be unemployed.

Participants
Thirty-three countries participated in the seventh edition of the contest: ten European countries (Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom), ten Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey), three American countries (Canada, Greenland, United States of America), six Oceanian countries (American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea) and four African countries (Canary Islands, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa).

In this edition American Samoa, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Turkey 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.

Billie Eilish represented Guam in the fourth edition of the contest with her song "No Time To Die" sung in English, which placed 18ᵗʰ out of 38 participating countries with 36.5 points. In this occasion, she represented the United States of America with her song "Come Out And Play", again in English, placing 26ᵗʰ with 67 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final.

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 performing his song "Running Back To You", again in English, placing 7ᵗʰ with 88 points.

Alle Farben represented Liechtenstein, together with Janieck, in the sixth edition of the contest with his song "Little Hollywood" sung in English, which placed 18ᵗʰ in its semi-final with 67 points. In this occasion, he represented Germany, together with Nico Santos and Martin Jensen, with his song "Running Back To You", again in English, placing 7ᵗʰ with 88 points.

Sia represented Australia in the fifth edition of the contest with her song "Courage To Change" sung in English, which placed 5ᵗʰ out of 29 participating countries with 64 points. In this occasion, she represented again her country, Australia, with her song "Loved Me Back To Life", again in English, placing 28ᵗʰ with 61 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final.

Carla Fernandes represented Portugal in the fourth edition of the contest with her song "Hasta La Vista" sung in English, which placed 2ⁿᵈ out of 38 participating countries with 98 points. In this occasion, she represented Spain, together with Matt Hunter, with her song "Entera", sung in English and Spanish, placing 5ᵗʰ with 98 points!

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 and Israel in the sixth edition of the contest with his song "Numb" sung in English, which placed 5ᵗʰ out of 27 participating countries with 80 points, achieving the best result for Israel so far. Because of the good results of the previous edition he represented Israel again, with his song "Home", again in English, unfortunately scoring his worst result in the contest, placing 18ᵗʰ with 47 points.

National Selections
American Samoa, Japan and South Korea used a National Selection to determine the country's representative for OMSC 7.

American Samoa's Choice (OMSC 7)
Main article: American Samoa's Choice (OMSC 7)

Rising Sun (OMSC 7)
Main article: Rising Sun (OMSC 7)

Korea's Choice (OMSC 7)
Main article: Korea's Choice (OMSC 7)

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

• Algeria – Algerian broadcaster Établissement Public de Télévision (EPTV) announced on the 26ᵗʰ December 2020, that Algeria would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• China – Chinese broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) announced on the 22ⁿᵈ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Cocos Islands – Cocos Islands did not appear on the list of participants published on the 26ᵗʰ December 2020.

• Faroe Islands – Faroese broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya (KvF) announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Ireland – While Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 19ᵗʰ December 2020, Ireland announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020, that they would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan's broadcaster announced on the 22ⁿᵈ December 2020, that Kazakhstan would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Lebanon – Télé Liban (TL) announced on the 22ⁿᵈ December 2020, that despite scoring a very good result in the previous edition, Lebanon would not take part in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Liechtenstein – Liechteinstein's broadcaster announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020, that Liechtenstein would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Malta – Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020, that Malta would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Netherlands – NPO announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020, that the Netherlands would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• New Zealand – New Zealand's broadcaster announced on the 26ᵗʰ December 2020, that New Zealand would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Norway – Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK) announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020, that Norway would not participate in the seventh edition of the contest.

• Portugal – Portuguese broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Romania – Romanian broadcaster TVR announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Thailand – Thai broadcaster National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBP) announced on the 22ⁿᵈ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, probably because of the poor results in the sixth edition of OMSC.

• Uzbekistan – Uzbek broadcaster O`zbekiston Milliy Teleradiokompaniyasi (MRTK) announced on the 22ⁿᵈ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, despite scoring a very good result in the previous edition.

• Vatican – Vatican broadcaster Vatican Television Center (VTC) announced on the 20ᵗʰ December 2020 its withdrawal from the contest, for unknown reasons.

Other Countries
• Afghanistan – On the 19ᵗʰ December 2020, the Afghan broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 7. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.