Edition 17

The seventeenth edition of the **Global Music Festival**​ took place at the Gatorade Center in Turku, Finland. It was the second time the country hosted the contest (the first time was in the sixth edition in Rauma); the contest was hosted in Finland following the country's victory in the sixteenth edition with the song "Päästä mut pois" performed by Mikael Gabriel and Diandra - which scored an impressive score of 183 points.  This edition consisted of three semi-finals which were all launched on the 17 September 2017 and a grand final which took place from the 21 September 2017. All four of the shows in this edition were hosted by two fantastic Finnish singers - Saara Aalto and Robin Packalen (previous participant for Finland in the eighth edition of the Global Music Festival).

Fifty-two countries participated in this edition of the contest.  We saw the exciting debut of three countries: Algeria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as the return of Denmark and Germany.  However, eight countries sadly withdrew from the contest for this edition: Brazil, Cuba, Lebanon, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal and Wales.

The power six for this edition were Finland, Mexico, Australia, Scotland, Spain and the United States - these were the delegations that placed in the top six from the previous 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.

Mexico won this edition with Paty Cantú and achieved their best result in the history of the contest.  Ireland came second with Grace Carter and the song "Silence" who achieved the best Irish result in the contest history.  Also, India and Denmark achieved their best placements coming fifth and seventh respectively.  Unfortunately, we did see four countries perform the worst in their respective histories at the contest.  Monaco, Chile and Sweden all lost their 100% qualification streak by failing to qualify in their respective semi finals - Monaco with TAL and Flo Rida, Chile with Camila Gallardo and Sweden with Tove Lo.  Also, the Åland Islands received their worst placement since their debut with the song "Busy Doin' Nothin'" performed by Ace Wilder which placed eleventh with 61 points in the third semi final.

 Slogan
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Participants
 Winner

## Participants

* Czech Republic
* Slovakia
* Germany
* Cuba
* Lebanon
* Nigeria
* Norway
* Paraguay
* Portugal
* Wales

## ​Pots for the Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The draw to determine the allocation of the participating countries into their respective semi-finals took place on the 17 September 2017.  The forty-six semi-finalists (excluding Ireland) 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.

Ireland were not included in the pots because the head of delegation for the country is on the admin team and is in charge of the third semi final.  Therefore, they were automatically placed into one of the other semi-finals - they were randomly assigned to participate in the first semi-final.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations (Finland, Mexico, Australia, Scotland, Spain and the United States) were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals.  Scotland and the United States were assigned to the first semi-final; Finland and Australia were assigned to the second semi-final; and Mexico and Spain were assigned to the third semi-final.

## ​Odds

The odds for the semi finals were released on the 19 September 2017 by the admins in charge of their respective semi finals, below you can see the odds for the top seven (the predicted qualifiers) in each semi final:

And, below are the odds for the favourites for the final of the seventeenth edition:

  Ireland
  Australia
  Finland
  Bosnia & Herzegovina
  Italy
  Scotland
  India
  Switzerland
  San Marino

## Returning Artists

Three artists returned for their fifth participations in the Global Music Festival: Shakira, Sia and Dua Lipa who participated for Colombia (for the second time), England (for the first time) and Kosovo (for the fourth time) respectively - they all hoped to gain a victory for their respective countries.  Kristian Kostov returned for Bulgaria for his fourth participation and Major Lazer returned for his fourth participation - but for his first time representing Trinidad & Tobago.  Christina Stürmer returned for Austria for her third time hoping to finally make the grand final; Vassy returned for Australia for her second time (third participation overall) hoping to improve on her twenty-fourth place finish; Nyla returned for her third participation for Jamaica and Cover Drive returned for a third participation for Barbados.  Also TAL and Flo Rida - two three-time competing artists collaborated this edition to represent Monaco hoping to bring home the trophey for the microstate.  Also, Tove Lo - previous winning artist for Sweden - returned for her third participation hoping to achieve the second win for Sweden and for herself.

A number of countries decided to send a previously participating artist to represent them.  A number of these artists hoped to qualify for the first time in their history of participating: Kalafina for Japan, Becca for Ghana, Greta Salóme for Iceland and ZAYN for England.  Konshens returned for his second participation, however, this time her was selected to represent Trinidad & Tobago (alongside Major Lazer and Machel Montano) - after previously representing The Netherlands.  Also, Sarah Geronimo returned for a second participation for the Philippines, hoping to acheive another win for the island nation.  Shekhinah returned for South Africa hoping to acheive another great placement for the African nation - after coming second in edition twelve (alongside Jesse Clegg).  Also, Emina Jahović returned for Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ellinoora returned for Finland, Camila Gallardo returned for Chile, Machel Montano returned for Trinidad & Tobago, and DiHaj returned for Azerbaijan.

## Semi Final One

 Scotland and the  United States from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.   Ireland were automatically placed in this semi-final because the head of delegation for Ireland is in charge of the third semi-final - the country was randomly drawn to participate in semi-final one.  Unfortunately,  Turkey and  Japan were disqualified because they failed to vote before the deadline - they would have placed twelfth and seventeenth respectively and therefore would not have changed the qualifiers.  After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Ukraine were chosen.

## Semi Final Two

 Finland and  Australia from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.  Unfortunately,  Kosovo and  Azerbaijan were disqualified because they failed to vote before the voting deadline - they would have placed fifth and thirteenth respectively.  After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Colombia were selected.

## Semi Final Three

 Mexico and  Spain from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.  After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Czech Republic were chosen.

## Final

Thirty countries participated in the final - the power six, the seven qualifiers from each semi-final and the three wildcards (one from each semi-final).  All fifty-two participating countries were eligible to vote in the final; however, only the thirty countries in the final had to vote.  The running order for the final was announced shortly after the results of the semi-finals on the 21 September 2017.