Edition 70

The seventieth edition of the **Global Music Festival** took place in Oslo, Norway following Dagny's victory at the sixty-ninth edition in Monte-Carlo, Monaco with the song "Somebody". It was the second win for Norway and the second time that the country hosted the competition. Organised by the head of delegation and host broadcaster, the contest was held at the Telenor Arena, and consisted of two semi-finals which were both launched on the 14 July 2020 and a grand final which took place from the 21 July 2020. The three shows were hosted by Global Music Festival and Eurovision Song Contest alumni - Tom Hugo and Agnete.

This edition was one of the thematic editions for the competition. The admin team decided to do a theme inspired by current affairs and chose to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This edition meant the participants needed to send black artists from their respective countries - which we provided guidance and said the artists needed to have origins in Africa, the Caribbean or Polynesia. The admin team decided to host this edition in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and to show the talent that exists within the black communities in different countries (which are usually not given the same attention as ethnic majority groups).

Fifty-nine countries participated in this edition of the contest. For the seventieth edition of the contest we sadly had to say goodbye to nineteen countries: Åland Islands, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Malta, Mongolia, Northern Ireland, Peru, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and Wales. However, this edition saw the exciting debut of eight African nations - Eritrea, Mauritania, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Somalia, Togo and Zambia - and the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Moreover, we saw ten countries return to the contest after a range of breaks. Israel and Slovenia both returned after a one edition break from the competition. A number of countries returned for their first participation since the last thematic edition (in edition 65): The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago. Brazil returned after a seven edition break and Uganda returned after a nine edition break. Most significantly, this edition saw the return of Ghana after a twenty-one edition break - not participating since edition 48.

The power six for this edition were Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, France and São Tomé and Príncipe - these were the delegations that placed in the top six from the previous edition. Wales decided to swap to São Tomé and Príncipe after their sixth place finish in the sixty-ninth edition. Their placement in the power six means that they received an automatic place to perform in the final of this edition, while also being allowed to vote in one of the semi-finals in this edition.

 Slogan
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Participants
 Winner

## Other Participants

* Albania
* Bosnia & Herzegovina
* Canada
* Estonia
* Georgia
* Hungary
* Iran
* Japan
* Malta
* Mongolia
* Northern Ireland
* Peru
* Russia
* San Marino
* Spain
* Thailand
* Turkey
* Wales

## Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The draw to determine the allocation of the participating countries into their respective semi-finals took place on the 10 July 2020. The fifty-four semi-finalists were allocated to five pots, based on the previous results of each participating country, calculated by the averages of the past results. Drawing from each pot helps to create an equal split of successful and not-so successful countries in each semi-final to give countries an equal chance of qualification. Finland and Ireland were not included in the pots because the head of delegation for these countries are on the admin team and are in charge of the second and first semi-final respectively; as a result, Finland were automatically assigned to semi-final one and Ireland was automatically assigned to semi-final two.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations Norway, The Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, France and São Tomé and Príncipe were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals. Denmark, France and São Tomé and Príncipe were assigned to vote in the first semi-final and Norway, The Netherlands and Italy were assigned to vote in the second semi-final.

## Semi Final One

 Denmark,  France and  São Tomé and Príncipe from the power six were randomly allocated to vote in this semi-final, as well as, the countries who participated in this semi-final - as always countries not in this semi-final had the choice whether they wanted to vote in this semi-final or not.  Finland were automatically assigned to this semi-final because the head of delegation for Finland is on the admin team and is the organiser for the second semi-final - this is done to allow the admins to have the uncertainty of their countries' result.

## Semi Final Two

 Norway,  The Netherlands and  Italy from the power six were randomly allocated to vote in this semi-final, as well as, the countries who participated in this semi-final - as always countries not in this semi-final had the choice whether they wanted to vote in this semi-final or not.  Ireland were automatically assigned to this semi-final because the head of delegation for Ireland is on the admin team and is the organiser for the second semi-final - this is done to allow the admins to have the uncertainty of their countries' result.

## Grand Final

Thirty countries participated in the final of this edition of the **Global Music Festival** - the power six and the twenty-four qualifiers from the two semi-finals. All participating countries were eligible to vote in the final; however, only the thirty finalists were obligated to vote! The votes of the non-qualifiers and non-participants were all combined in to the televote. However, only thirty non-qualifiers and non-participants could vote.