OMSC 28

Online Music Song Contest 28, often referred to as OMSC 28, was the twenty-eighth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Tel Aviv, after Israel won the previous edition of the contest.

The Pre-Qualification Round of OMSC 28 occured on the 19ᵗʰ June 2022, the Semi-Finals on the 26ᵗʰ June 2022 while the Final occured on the 3ʳᵈ July 2022. Fifty-five countries participated in the twenty-eighth contest, under the slogan “To The End Of The World!”.

Serbia won the contest with the song "Šećeru (Шећеру)", sung entirely in Serbian, receving a total of 139 points. Ukraine finished in second place with a margin of sixteen points from the winner, while South Korea finished in third place. They were followed by Sierra Leone, which reached the fourth place and the Åland Islands which reached the fifth place.

Location
After it’s victory in the previous edition, the broadcaster IPBC chose to host the contest in the second most populous of Israel, Tel Aviv, which has a population of 460,000 inhabitants. Tel Aviv is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline, in central Israel, the historic land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. The city is located 60 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem and 90 kilometers south of the city of Haifa. Immediately north of the ancient port of Jaffa, Tel Aviv lies on land that used to be sand dunes and as such has relatively poor soil fertility. Its most notable geographical features are bluffs above the Mediterranean coastline and the Yarkon River.

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 as a Jewish suburb of the mainly Arab Jaffa. Tel Aviv’s founders were mainly middle-class immigrants who set out to build a European-style suburb with modern urban infrastructure and services. In 1917 the entire population of Tel Aviv and the Jewish population of nearby Jaffa were expelled northward by the Ottoman military authorities. The city’s residents returned home in late 1917, after Jaffa and Tel Aviv were taken by the British. Growth during the period of the British mandate in Palestine was largely influenced by waves of Jewish immigration into Palestine and by rounds of violence between Arabs and Jews in the 1920s and 1930s. This led to an increasing separation between the two populations, especially after the anti-Jewish riots of 1921. Separation between Arabs and Jews was virtually completed in the late 1930s when a general strike in the port of Jaffa led to the establishment of a separate port in Tel Aviv.

In that period Tel Aviv started emerging as the centre of the Jewish population in Palestine. The historical nucleus of Tel Aviv developed into a thriving business centre, to the point that the population of Tel Aviv surpassed that of Jaffa. According to the United Nations’ 1947 resolution on the partition of Palestine, Jaffa was meant to remain an Arab enclave within the Jewish state. However, in 1948, days prior to Israel’s declaration of independence, the Jewish military forces took control of Jaffa, and the Arab population fled. Jewish immigrants soon settled in the largely deserted city. Jaffa was amalgamated with Tel Aviv in 1950, and the united municipality became officially known as Tel Aviv–Yafo.

In the 1990s, Tel Aviv experienced renewed growth and economic restructuring, as well as security problems associated with the Israeli-Arab conflict and peace process. During these years, Tel Aviv suffered a number of violent attacks; among them were Iraqi missile assaults during the Persian Gulf War and several terrorist attacks. Nowadays the city has the third- or fourth-largest economy and the largest economy per capita in the Middle East and, as it was the capital of Israel from 1948 to 1949, it is still home to most of the foreign embassies. This is because Israel's proclamation of Jerusalem as its capital is not recognized by several resolutions of the Security Council of Nations.

Participants
Fifty-five countries participated in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest: fifteen European countries (Åland Islands, Andorra, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine), fifteen Asian countries (Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Armenia, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Turkmenistan, Yemen), eleven American countries (Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Canada, Chile, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, United States of America, United States’ Virgin Islands), nine Oceanian countries (American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga) and five African countries (Algeria, Canary Islands, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone).

In this edition Andorra, Niue and the Solomon Islands participated for the first time.

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

Egzod represented the Northern Mariana Islands at its third appearence in the nineteenth edition of the contest, together with Maestro Chives and Neoni, also returning this edition. The performed song was "Royalty", which placed 6ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 100 points. In this occasion he was selected to represent North Macedonia together with Aleesia, with the song "Machine", placing 36ᵗʰ out of 55 participating countries with 80 points, in the semi-final.

Dream Catcher represented Hong Kong at its debut, in the seventeenth edition. With their song "Boca" they made it to the final, placing 12ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 74 points. In this occasion the girl group was selected to represent Hong Kong again. This time the performed songs was "Maison", which placed 31ˢᵗ with 90 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final.

Banks represented Montserrat at its first and only participation in the twenty-fifth edition of the contest, in Las Palmas. She performed her song "Trainwreck" which placed 3ʳᵈ out of 55 participating countries with 128 points. In this occasion she was selected to represent returning Palau, this time with the song "Gimme" which placed 33ʳᵈ out of 55 participanting countries with 87 points, without qualifying for the final.

Somi represented North Korea at its tenth appearence, in the nineteenth edition of the contest. She performed her song "Dumb Dumb", sung both in English and Korean, which placed 15ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 68 points, achieving one of the best North Korean results to date. In this occasion she was selected to represent North Korea again. The chosen song was "What You Waiting For" and it placed 14ᵗʰ out of 55 participanting countries with 83 points, obtaining almost the same success as in her previous participation.

Neoni represented the Northern Mariana Islands at its third appearence in the nineteenth edition of the contest, together with Maestro Chives and Egzod, also returning this edition. The performed song was "Royalty", which placed 6ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 100 points. In this occasion the duo was selected to represent Tonga together with Magnus, with the song "Conquer", placing 41ˢᵗ out of 55 participating countries with 61 points, in the semi-final.

Stefania represented the Netherlands at its fourth appearence in the contest, in the eighth edition of the contest, in London. She performed her song "Friday", sung in English, which placed 23ʳᵈ out of 37 participating countries with 82 points, in the semi-final. In this occasion she represented the same country as part of the automatic qualifiers, with her song "Mucho Calor", sung both in English and Spanish, placing last in the final with 30 points.

Ashe represented Fiji at its third participation in the eighth edition of the contest. She performed her song "Moral Of The Story", which made it to the final and placed 8ᵗʰ out of 37 participating countries with 87 points. She returned to the contest after fifteen editions, for Guam. She performed her song "Save Myself" which eventually placed 12ᵗʰ out of 50 participants with 96 points. In this occasion she was selected one last time, to represent Samoa, this time not as soloist. She performed the song "Till Forever Falls Apart" together with the American singer Finneas. They placed 27ᵗʰ out of 55 participanting countries with 36 points.

Milica Pavlović represented Switzerland in the sixteenth edition of the contest with her song "Crna Jutra (Црна Јутра)" which won the contest with a score of 125 points and brought the contest to Geneva. In this occasion she was internally selected to represent Serbia together with Albino, with the song "Šećeru (Шећеру)". It eventually won the contest with 139 points, making her the second artist to win the contest twice.

Yuna represented Malaysia in the twenty-first edition of the contest with her song "Forevermore", which placed 18ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 54 points. In this occasion she was selected to represent Malaysia again, this time together with G-Eazy and the song "Blank Marquee". It unfortunately didn't qualify to the final, placing 39ᵗʰ out of 55 participanting countries with 67 points.

Baanu represented Turkmenistan in the previous edition of the contest. She performed her song "	Haýran", sung entirely in Turkmen but placed 38ᵗʰ out of 55 participating countries with 64 points, without unfortunately qualifying for the final. In this occasion she represented Turkmenistan again, this time performing her song "Söýäýdiň Öýdýän", again in Turkmen. It placed 16ᵗʰ with 72 points.

Tini represented Argentina at its fifth appearence in the contest, in the twenty-first edition. She participated together with Karol G, performing the song "Princesa" which achieved Argentina's worst result ever, placing 45ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 145 points, in the pre-qualification round. She returned to the contest for Argentina in the following edition. She performed the song "Wild" together with Jonas Blue and Chelcee Grimes, which eventually placed 22ⁿᵈ out of 50 participants with 62 points. In this occasion she was chosen one last time to represent Argentina again, this time as soloist. She performed her song "La Triple T", which placed 43ʳᵈ out of 55 participating countries with 42 points, in the semi-final.

Alex Mattson represented the Åland Islands at its sixth appearence in the fifteenth edition of the contest, together with the Finnish singer Robin Packalen. The performed song was "Hard To Love", which placed 7ᵗʰ out of 50 participating countries with 94 points. In this occasion he was selected to represent Finland together with Sophie Rose, with the song "We Never End", placing 23ʳᵈ out of 55 participating countries with 56 points.

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

• Albania – Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) confirmed on the 7ᵗʰ June 2022 that Albania would not take part in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest.

• Belarus – Belaruskaja Tele‑Radio Campanija (BTRC) announced on the 6ᵗʰ June 2022 the country's withdrawal from the contest, despite placing 5ᵗʰ in the previous edition and achieving Belarus's second-best result so far.

• Benin – Benin's broadcaster Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB) announced on the 11ᵗʰ June 2022 its withdrawal from the contest, after the disappointment from the results of their debut.

• Brazil – Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) announced on the on the 7ᵗʰ June 2022, that they would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest.

• British Indian Ocean Territories – British Indian Ocean Territories did not appear on the list of participants published on the 12ᵗʰ June 2022.

• Bulgaria – Bălgarska Nacionalna Televizija (BNT) announced on the 7ᵗʰ June 2022, that Bulgaria would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition, without further explanations.

• Croatia – Croatia's broadcaster Hrvatska Radiotelevizija (HRT) announced on the 6ᵗʰ June 2022 its withdrawal from the contest for unknown reasons.

• Dominica – Dominica Broadcasting Corporation (DBS) announced on the 10ᵗʰ June 2022 that Dominica would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, despite the success from the results of their debut.

• Egypt – Egyptian broadcaster Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) announced Egypt's withdrawal from the contest a couple of days after the confirmation period started, despite placing 2ⁿᵈ in the previous edition and achieving the nation's best result so far.

• eSwatini – eSwatini Broadcasting and Information Service (EBIS) announced on the 11ᵗʰ June 2022 that eSwatini's participation in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest would not be possible, citing debts and the ongoing financial issues.

• Ethiopia – Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) announced on the 12ᵗʰ June 2022 that Ethiopia would not take part in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, due to a lack of interest from the Ethiopian public.

• Falkland Islands – L Falkland Islands Television (FITV) announced on the 8ᵗʰ June 2022 that the Falkland Islands would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, for unknown reasons.

• Germany – Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) announced the country's withdrawal on the 12ᵗʰ June 2022.

• Guam – Guam was set to participate in this edition of the contest and selected BoyWithUke as their representative. The nation had been drawn to participate in fourth place of the first semi-final. However, the broadcaster announced their withdrawal from the competition on 9ᵗʰ June 2022.

• Hungary – Jordanian broadcaster Magyar Televízió (MTV) announced the country's withdrawal right after the final, probably because of the poor results achieved since their debut.

• India – India's broadcaster Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन) announced on the 7ᵗʰ June 2022 its withdrawal from the contest, without further explanations.

• Liechtenstein – Fürstentum Liechtenstein Television (FLTV) announced on the 6ᵗʰ June 2022, that Liechtenstein would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, because of financial difficulties.

• Moldova – While Teleradio-Moldova (TRM), had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 5ᵗʰ June 2022, Moldova announced its withdrawal from the contest in the following days, for unknown reasons.

• New Caledonia – New Caledonia did not appear on the list of participants published on the 12ᵗʰ June 2022.

• New Zealand – Television New Zealand (TVNZ) announced on the 12ᵗʰ June 2022 that New Zealand's participation in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest would not be possible, without further explanations.

• Peru – Peru's broadcaster Televisión Perú (TNPE) announced Puerto Rico's withdrawal from the contest a couple of days after the confirmation period started, due to financial difficulties.

• Poland – Telewizja Polska (TVP) announced on the 10ᵗʰ June 2022, that Poland would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, because of the poor results achieved in the previous editions.

• Russia – Russia's participation in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest was not possible due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Channel One Russia (C1R) announced on the 6ᵗʰ June 2022 that a number of sanctions impacted on the country's participation in this and the upcoming editions.

• Senegal – Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) announced the country's withdrawal on the 11ᵗʰ June 2022, because of financial crisis.

• South Africa – South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) announced on the 8ᵗʰ June 2022 South Africa's withdrawal from the contest, citing low ratings during their time in the contest.

• Spain – While Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (RTVE) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 5ᵗʰ May 2022 and rumours about a possible representative, Spain later announced a withdrawal in the following days.

• Turkey – Turkey's broadcaster Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT) announced on the 9ᵗʰ June 2022 its withdrawal from the contest, due to a lack of interest from the Turkish public.

• Uganda – Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) announced on the 11ᵗʰ June 2022, that Uganda would not participate in the twenty-eighth edition, despite achieving a good result and their best result to date in the previous edition.

• Uruguay – When submission period started, Televisión Nacional Uruguay (TNU) stated that they had yet to make a decision on their participation. Uruguay later confirmed its withdrawal on the 10ᵗʰ June 2022.

• Vietnam – Đài Truyền Hình Việt Nam (VTV) announced the country's withdrawal on the 7ᵗʰ June 2022.

• Zimbabwe – Zimbabwean broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) stated that Zimbabwe would not take part in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, citing debts and the ongoing financial issues.

Other Countries
These countries confirmed their non-participation in the twenty-eighth edition of the contest:

• Isle of Man – On the 5ᵗʰ June 2022, the Isle of Man's broadcaster Manx Radio announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 28. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the island would not debut in this edition of the contest.

• Jersey – On the 6ᵗʰ June 2022, Jersian broadcaster Channel Television (ITV) announced that the nation had interest in the competition and was planning a debut in OMSC 28, after failing their debut in OMSC 23. However, it was later confirmed in the following days that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.

• Mozambique – On the 5ᵗʰ June 2022, the Mozambican broadcaster Televisão de Moçambique (TVM) announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 28, after their attempt in OMSC 5. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.