OMSC 4

Online Music Song Contest 4, often referred to as OMSC 4, was the fourth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Final of OMSC 4 occured on the 31ˢᵗ October 2020. Twenty-nine* countries participated in the fourth contest, under the slogan “Seja Meu Jogador Dois (Be My Player Two)”.

Location
The broadcaster RTP chose to host the contest in the capital and largest city of Portugal, Lisbon. Lisbon is the most populated city in Portugal having a population of 505,500.

Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits with a population of around 2.8 million people, being the 10ᵗʰ most populous urban area in the European Union. About 3 million people live in the Lisbon metropolitan area, which represents approximately 27% of the country's population. It is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. The westernmost portions of its metro area, the Portuguese Riviera, form the westernmost point of Continental Europe, culminating at Cabo da Roca.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the second-oldest European capital city after Athens, predating other modern European capitals by centuries. Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5ᵗʰ century, it was captured by the Moors in the 8ᵗʰ century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been the political, economic and cultural center of Portugal. In the first years of the 19th century, Portugal was invaded by the troops of Napoléon Bonaparte, forcing Queen Maria I and Prince-Regent John (future John VI) to flee temporarily to Brazil. By the time the new King returned to Lisbon, many of the buildings and properties were pillaged, sacked or destroyed by the invaders. During World War II, Lisbon was one of the very few neutral, open European Atlantic ports, a major gateway for refugees to the U.S. and a haven for spies. More than 100,000 refugees were able to flee Nazi Germany via Lisbon.

Nowadays Lisbon is recognised as an alpha-level global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism. Lisbon is one of two Portuguese cities (alongside Porto) to be recognised as a global city. It is one of the major economic centres on the continent, with a growing financial sector and one of the largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast. Additionally, Humberto Delgado Airport was the busiest airport in Portugal, the 3ʳᵈ busiest in the Iberian Peninsula and the 20ᵗʰ busiest in Europe. The motorway network and the high-speed rail system of Alfa Pendular links the main cities of Portugal to Lisbon. The city is the 9ᵗʰ most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, Milan, Venice, Madrid, Florence and Athens, with 3,320,300 tourists in 2017. Most of the headquarters of multinational corporations in Portugal are located in the Lisbon area. It is also the political centre of the country, as its seat of government and residence of the head of state.

Participants
Twenty-nine* countries participated in the fourth edition of the contest: ten European countries (Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Switzerland), eight Asian countries (Georgia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, South Korea), eight American countries (Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Curaçao, French Guiana, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States of America) and three Oceanian countries (Fiji, Micronesia, Palau). It was the first edition in which not even an African country participated.

It's the biggest number of participants since the start of the contest, with Colombia, Curaçao, Fiji, Finland, French Guiana, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Micronesia, Palau, San Marino and Turks and Caicos Islands making their debut.

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

Tiësto represented Sint Maarten in the third edition of the contest, together with Rita Ora and Jonas Blue, with his song "Ritual" sung in English, which placed 3ʳᵈ out of 27 participating countries with 71 points. In this occasion, he represented, together with Mabel, the Turks and Caicos Islands with his song "God Is A Dancer", again in English, trying to score an even better result!

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

• Czechia – Česká Televize (ČT) announced on the 18ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible, probably because of the poor results in the third edition of OMSC.

• Kosovo – Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) announced on the 18ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible for unknown reasons.

• Romania – Societatea Româna de Televiziune (TVR) announced on the 17ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Russia – Channel One Russia (C1R) announced on the 18ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Sweden – Sveriges Television (SVT) announced on the 16ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible for unknown reasons.

• Ukraine – Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC announced on the 17ᵗʰ October 2020, that its participation in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible for unknown reasons.

Non-Returning Countries
• Åland Islands – TVÅ announced on the 17ᵗʰ September 2020 that the country would not return to the contest. Åland Islands last took part in OMSC 2.

• Belgium – On 17ᵗʰ October 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 18ᵗʰ October 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 17ᵗʰ September 2020. Denmark last took part in OMSC 1.

• France – On the 17ᵗʰ October 2020, GRF announced that France would not return to the contest. France last took part in OMSC 1.

• Luxembourg – Luxembourgish broadcaster RTL confirmed on the 17ᵗʰ October 2020 that that its return in the fourth edition of the contest would not be possible for unknown reasons. Luxembourg last took part in OMSC 1.

• Slovenia – Slovenia announced on the 18ᵗʰ October 2020 that it would not make its return in the fourth edition of the contest. Slovenia last took part in OMSC 1.

Other Countries
These countries haven't confirmed their participation in the fourth edition of the contest yet:

• Argentina

• Australia

• China

• Guadeloupe

• Guam

• Mexico

• Morocco

• Sierra Leone

• Tajikistan

• United States' Virgin Islands