Edition 21

The twenty-first edition of the **Global Music Festival**​ took place at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.  It was the first time the country hosted the contest after the Czech Republic's first victory in the twentieth edition with the song "When the Music's On" performed by Olga Lounová - which scored an impressive score of 170 points.  This edition consisted of three semi-finals which were all launched on the 13 November 2017 and a grand final which took place from the 19 November 2017. All four of the shows in this edition were hosted by the Czech Republic representative for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest - Gabriela Gunčíková, and Czech singer Sebastian.

Fifty-eight countries participated in this edition of the contest.  Following the random country edition there were many withdrawals and returns, as well as a few debuts.  In edition 21, we saw the exciting debut of Belarus, the Comoros, Ecuador and Venezuela.  As well as, the return of Andorra, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Ghana, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Sweden.  Also, a number of countries sadly withdrew from this edition: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cuba, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Jamaica, Lebanon, Morocco, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Turkey.

The power six for this edition were Czech Republic, Mexico, Kosovo, Comoros, Moldova and Scotland -  these were the delegations that placed in the top six from the previous edition.  A number of the countries who placed in the top six last edition changed their countries: Kosovo changed back to Mexico, Croatia changed back to Kosovo, Australia changed to Comoros, Poland changed back to Moldova, and Finland changed back to Scotland.  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

## Participants

* Comoros
* Ecuador
* Venezuela
* Costa Rica
* Denmark
* Dominican Republic
* Estonia
* Ghana
* Malaysia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Nigeria
* Northern Ireland
* Romania
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Sweden
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Brazil
* Bulgaria
* Cuba
* FYR Macedonia
* Iceland
* Jamaica
* Lebanon
* Morocco
* Philippines
* Poland
* Portugal
* Puerto Rico
* Turkey

## ​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 13 November 2017.  The fifty 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 delegations for the countries are on the admin team and are each in charge of one of the semi finals.  Ireland were automatically assigned to the second semi final and Finland were automatically assigned to the third semi final.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations (Czech Republic, Mexico, Kosovo, Comoros, Moldova and Scotland) were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals.  Comoros and Moldova were assigned to the first semi-final, Mexico and Scotland were assigned to the second semi-final, and Czech Republic and Kosovo were assigned to the third semi-final.

## ​Odds

The odds for the semi finals were released on the 16 November 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 twenty-first edition:

  Russia
  Nigeria
  Australia
  Venezuela
  South Africa
  Scotland
  Mexico
  Bosnia & Herzegovina
  Slovenia

## Semi Final One

 Comoros and  Moldova 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 randomly assigned to the second semi final because the head of delegation for the country is in charge of the third semi final.  After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  The Netherlands were chosen as the wildcard.

## Semi Final Two

 Mexico and  Scotland 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 -  Romania were selected as the wildcard..

## Semi Final Three

 Czech Republic and  Kosovo from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.   Finland were randomly assigned to the third semi final because the head of delegation for the country is in charge of the second semi final.  Unfortunately,  Serbia were disqualified from the contest because they failed to vote before the deadline - they would have placed eighth (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 -  Norway were selected.

## 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-eight 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 19 November 2017.