In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing safety concerns, we’re saddened to announce that the 2020 APRA Music Awards will not be held in the usual live format for this year. The event was due to take place on Tuesday 28 April at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
However, all is not lost. In these extraordinary times, the APRA Music Awards will change its format for 2020 and will be streamed online for the first time to music fans around the world as a virtual event on Tuesday 26 May. Streaming details will be announced in the coming weeks. The format will feature presenters, winners and, of course, the always special performances of the Song of the Year finalists.
APRA AMCOS remains as committed as ever to its members and the Australian music community and strongly believes that it is more important than ever to acknowledge our songwriters and their publishers, albeit in a reimagined format. We aim to celebrate the past year of excellence in songwriting by honouring nominees and winners through this streamlined online event.
Chair of the APRA Board, Jenny Morris: “This is an unprecedented time in all our lives, it’s not easy to make any sort of decision right now about the near future. But everyone involved with the APRA Music Awards decided that going ahead with the awards was something we could and should do – albeit in a very different way, but one that brings the awards to music fans far and wide for the first time. It’s important to celebrate and acknowledge the success and artistry of our songwriters whose work enrichens our lives. They will be the ones who help us get through this time.”
The nominees for the reimagined 2020 APRA Music Awards will be announced on Tuesday 7 April.
In other news …
In an expansion of the APRA Music Awards, APRA AMCOS has introduced the category of Most Performed Alternative Work to its list of awards based on statistical analysis. As with all the genre categories, the nominees and winners are determined by royalties earned from Australian performances of the song across broadcast, digital downloads, streaming services, and live performance. The award has been created to acknowledge the significant commercial and cultural impact of the alternative genre.
Meanwhile, the category of Overseas Recognition Award has found a new home within the Global APRA Music Awards, recently held in Los Angeles, Nashville and London. These awards recognise artistic excellence and outstanding success of APRA members in international markets. The inaugural Global APRA Music Awards series saw producer/songwriter Joel Little, screen music composer Jed Kurzel and singer/songwriter and record producer Rick Price take out the Overseas Recognition Award in L.A, London and Nashville respectively.
Curating the event’s music performances is award-winning singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, who will return for her second year as the Awards Musical Director. For the 2020 virtual event, Kate will hand select performers who will put their spin on the APRA Song of the Year nominated songs.
2020 APRA MUSIC AWARDS CATEGORIES
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music*
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year*
Songwriter of the Year*
Most Performed Australian Work
Most Performed Alternative Work
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas
Most Performed Country Work
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
Most Performed Dance Work
Most Performed Rock Work
Most Performed Pop Work
Most Performed Urban Work
Most Performed International Work
Licensee of the Year*
*Determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors
VIRTUAL 2020 APRA MUSIC AWARDS
Tuesday 26 May
Details to be confirmed.
The Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year shortlist playlist can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.
For further information regarding criteria and eligibility of all APRA Music Awards categories, please visit the APRA AMCOS website
Tag us on Twitter and Instagram – @APRAAMCOS
Hashtag – #APRAs #SongoftheYear
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