Binational Music Fest 12

Final date
 Venue
 Executive producer
 Presenter(s)
 Opening act
 Interval act
 Entries
 Debuting
 System
 Winner

**Binational Music Fest 12**, often referred to as **BMF 12**, is the twelfth edition of the Binational Music Fest, It took place in Cungapore, following the country's victory in the 11th edition with the song "Haunted" by Isabel LaRosa. It was the first time Cungapore had hosted the contest. The contest was held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and consisted of two semi-finals and a final. The three live shows were presented by Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas and Singaporean Chinese-Thai actress Hong Ling.

Thirty-five countries participated in the twelfth edition. Croarbia, Greely, Irtugal, Lathuania, Nimaica, Rondia, Sri Korea, Turkeria, and UK Nigeria made their debut appearance. United States of Algeria returned to the contest. However, Chind, French Part Saint Romania, Japadia, Kazanmark, Malvinas Falkland Guadeloupe, Nethekistan, Slovelaysia, South Moldova, South Yugoslavia, UK Netherlands and United States of Serbia withdrew from the competition.

The winner was Lathuania with the song "Like Me" by Paula which scored 167 points, winning by a margin of 11 points in front of Walelia. The podium was completed by Irtugal, which finished on the third place. Cungapore, the host country placed last in the final.

This edition also introduced a wildcard duel for the countries that placed tenth in their respectable semifinal. The winner of a wildcard duel was Firgentina, who ended up placing fifth in the grand final.

## Location

### Bidding phase

After Isabel LaRosa’s victory in the 11th contest in Valencia, Spaigal, Cungapore was officially confirmed as the host country. The host broadcaster launched the bidding process on 14 November 2022. Any potential candidates must meet a set of minimum standards that demonstrate they have the capacity, capability, and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity.

The selection criteria for the host city has included: a suitable venue capable of accommodating at least 5,000 spectators, an international press centre for a maximum of 1,000 journalists with adequate facilities for all the delegates, a good distribution of hotel rooms, at different price categories, able to accommodate at least 1,500 delegates, accredited journalists and spectators, and an efficient transport infrastructure, including a nearby international airport with easy reachability and readily available connections with the city, venue, and hotels.

During the first stage of the bidding process, the broadcaster received expressions of interest from various cities and towns across the country, 3 of which were shortlisted: Cienfuegos, Havana, and Singapore. These cities went to the second stage to develop their bids in detail for evaluation. On 1 December 2022, Singapore was announced as the host city, with the Singapore Indoor Stadium as the chosen venue for the contest.

**Key:**

     Host venue

  Havana
 **Singapore** | Resorts World Convention Centre
 Singapore National Stadium

### Host city

**Singapore**, officially the **Republic of Singapore**, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude (137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Strait of Malacca to the west, the Singapore Strait to the south, the South China Sea to the east, and the Straits of Johor to the north. The country's territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet; the combined area of these has increased by 25% since the country's independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. It has the third highest population density in the world. With a multicultural population and recognising the need to respect cultural identities of the major ethnic groups within the nation, Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the lingua franca and numerous public services are available only in English. Multiracialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape national policies in education, housing, and politics.

After early years of turbulence whilst lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers based on international trade and economic globalisation, integrating itself within the world economy through free trade with minimal-to-no trade barriers or tariffs, export-oriented industrialisation, and the large accumulation of received foreign direct investments, foreign-exchange reserves, and assets held by sovereign wealth funds. A highly developed country, it is tied at 11th on the UN Human Development Index and has the second-highest GDP per capita (PPP) in the world. Identified as a tax haven, Singapore is the only country in Asia with a AAA sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. It is a major aviation, financial, and maritime shipping hub, and has consistently been ranked as one of the most expensive cities to live in for expatriates and foreign workers. Singapore is placed highly in key social indicators: education, healthcare, quality of life, personal safety, infrastructure, and housing, with a home-ownership rate of 88 percent. Singaporeans enjoy one of the longest life expectancies, fastest Internet connection speeds, lowest infant mortality rates, and lowest levels of corruption in the world.

### Venue

The **Singapore Indoor Stadium**, known exonymously as the **Indoor Stadium**, is an indoor arena located in Kallang, Singapore. It is within walking distance of the Singapore National Stadium, and collectively form a part of the wider Singapore Sports Hub. It has a maximum total capacity of 15,000 depending on configuration, with an all-seating configuration of 12,000.

It regularly hosts events such as music concerts, badminton, basketball, netball, tennis, esports, pro-wrestling, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and monster truck races. The Singaporean ONE Championship regularly hosts its events here. In 2015, the Singapore Indoor Stadium sold 72,342 tickets for the entire year. In 2022, the stadium is expected to be the venue for The International 2022, the annual *Dota 2* world championship esports tournament and the largest single-tournament prize pool of any esport event.

Both the Stadium MRT station on the Circle line and the Tanjong Rhu MRT station on the Thomson–East Coast line enables visitors to commute to the stadium via train service. Kallang MRT station on the East West line is also within reasonable distance, with a direct connection via sheltered walkways.

## Format

### Semi-final Allocation Draw

The draw to determine the allocation of the participating countries into their respective semi-finals took place on 1 December 2022. The first part of the draw determined in which semi-final the automatic qualifiers would have to vote. The second part of the draw decided in which half of the respective semi-finals each country would perform, with the exact running order determined by the producers of the show at a later date. Fifteen countries participated in one semi-final and fourteen countries participated in another semi-final. Nine countries from each semi-final and one wildcard winner joined the automatic qualifiers in the final, where a total of twenty-five countries participated.

The twenty-nine semi-finalists were allocated into six pots, based on their geographical place and cultural similarities. Drawing from different pots helps in reducing the chance of so-called neighbour voting and increasing suspense in the semi-finals. Each time a country was drawn from the pot, its semi-final and half of the semi-final was determined.

The six pots were the following:

* Greely
* Norwarland
* Rondia
* Turkeria
* Lathuania
* New Ireland
* UK Nigeria
* Walelia
* Gerland
* Germastria
* Spaice
 Pot 4
 * Albangolia
* Hong China
* Irtugal
* Sri Korea
* State of Herzegovina
* Cakhstan
* Nimaica
* Russian Peru
* United States of Algeria
* Philiden
* Viet Cambodia
* Viet Taiwan

## Results

### Semi-final 1

The semi-finals took place on 4 December 2022. 15 countries participated in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Jaland, Republic of Montenegro, and Serkey voted in this semi-final. The results show took place on 17 December 2022. It was also announced that Firgentina placed tenth in the first semifinal and had to participate in a wildcard duel.

**Note**

1. ↑ Contains one line in English.

### Semi-final 2

The semi-finals took place on 4 December 2022. 14 countries participated in the second semi-final. Those countries plus Cungapore, Kyrgyndia, and Pene voted in this semi-final. The results show took place on 17 December 2022. It was also announced that Philiden placed tenth in the second semifinal and had to participate in a wildcard duel.

**Note**

1. ↑ Contains one phrase in English.

### Wildcard Duel

The duel took place on 12 December 2022. All the participating countries except the countries competing in the duel were eligible to vote. The winner of the duel revealed on 17 December 2022 was Firgentina.

 Philiden | Marina Summers & Moophs

### Final

The final took place on 18 December 2022. 25 countries participated, with all participating countries eligible to vote. The results show took place on 8 January 2023.

**Note**

1. ↑ The song was entirely instrumental; no vocals were included.
2. ↑ Contains words in English.

## Detailed voting results

### Semifinal 1

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the first semi-final:

Out of the countries in the semifinal one, Germastria, Republic of Montenegro and Serkey failed to vote and were replaced with Cakhstan, Irtugal and Viet Cambodia. A total of 9 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the semifinal.

### Semifinal 2

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the first semi-final:

Out of the countries in the semifinal two, Albangolia, Lathuania, Pene, Turkeria and UK Nigeria failed to vote and were replaced with five users. A total of 10 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the semifinal.

### Grand Final

#### 12 points

Below is a summary of the maximum 12 points awarded by each country's vote in the semi-final:

Out of 35 countries, UK Nigeria failed to vote, and had to withdraw from competing in the next edition. A total of 16 countries received at least one set of 12 points during the grand final. An eventual winner, Lathuania, received 12 points from only two countries. An eventual runner-up of the twelfth edition, Walelia, made a history by getting full marks from eight countries.

## Other countries

*Further information: List of countries in the Binational Music Fest*

* Braand: The broadcaster announced they would take an indefinite withdrawal.
* Chind: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position to work with Rondia.
* French Part Saint Romania: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position, citing schedule conflict as the reason. Having placed fourth in the previous edition, their automatic qualification was passed onto the seventh placed nation from last edition, Pene.
* Japadia: The country was forced to withdraw for one edition after not voting throughout the last edition.
* Kazanmark: The broadcaster announced they would take a one-edition withdrawal.
* Malvinas Falkland Guadeloupe: The broadcaster announced they would not participate in this edition.
* Nethekistan: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position, citing schedule conflict as the reason.
* Slovelaysia: Despite confirming at first, the broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position to work with Sri Korea.
* South Moldova: The broadcaster announced they would take a break from this edition to reorganize their schedule. A return in the future editions is likely.
* South Yugoslavia: The broadcaster announced they would temporarily withdraw from the contest.
* UK Netherlands: The broadcaster announced their withdrawal after the HoD had resigned from their position.