Clive Hodson Join APRA and AMCOS Board

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has unveiled its 2025 Top 50 Finalists, marking a historic year for the prestigious initiative named for legendary Australian writers Harry Vanda and George Young. More than 4,000 songs were submitted from 52 countries, a milestone that confirms the competition's position as one of the most recognised international platforms for contemporary songwriters.

SongMakers, the collaborative songwriting program designed to develop young Australian creators, will undergo a significant expansion in New South Wales in 2026 and 2027, following a major funding commitment from Sound NSW. The initiative, operated by APRA AMCOS, has become a core development platform for emerging talent, with a track record of embedding professional creative practice inside Australian schools.

The next generation of Victorian music talent will take centre stage this November when SongMakers LIVE makes its debut at one of Australia's most iconic live music venues, The Espy in St Kilda. On Sunday 23 November, sixteen emerging bands from across the state will showcase their original songs in a special all-ages event designed to give young artists their first taste of performing on a professional stage.

The 2025 Screen Music Awards celebrated the best in Australian screen composition at a glittering ceremony at Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall last night, recognising a powerful year in music for film, TV and games.

SongHubs, the flagship songwriting program of APRA AMCOS, is set to make history this October with its first-ever edition in Africa. In a groundbreaking partnership, the African Music Academy (AMA), the Composers Authors and Publishers Association (CAPASSO) and the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) have joined forces to launch African SongHubs.

The Australian screen composing community will turn its attention to Brisbane this October when the 2025 Screen Music Awards arrive at the Fortitude Music Hall for the very first time.

The 61 songwriter and composer finalists for the 2025 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDA) have been revealed and are now one step closer to receiving one of 13 awards when they’re announced in Sydney on Thursday 13 February.