Top 20 Announced for 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Award

The Top 20 has been announced for the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Award. The list was chosen from over 200 entries by a judging panel of 10 fellow songwriters, who have each made wonderful contributions to the NZ music community.  

The Top 20 songs are:

• Best Thing In The Room, written by Lisa Crawley and Robert Kleiner, performed by Lisa Crawley (Published by St Music ANZ Pty / Songtrust Blvd) 

• Bone Dat Needs Pickin’, written and performed by Steve Tofa (Published by Songbroker) 

• Don’t You Know Who I Am, written and performed by Reb Fountain (Published by Mushroom Music) 

• Get The Devil Out, written and performed by Nadia Reid (Published by Blue Raincoat Songs / Kobalt Music Publishing) 

• Glitter written by Stella Bennett, Joshua Fountain and Djesian Suskov, performed by Benee (Published by Universal Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Publishing) 

• Guilty Talk, written by Stephanie Brown and Fen Ikner performed by Lips  

• Hands, written by Bella Cook and Shannon Fowler, performed by Belladonna (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing) 

• I Might Disappear, written by Gussie Larkin, Lily West and Abraham Hollingsworth, performed by Mermaidens  

• In The Air, written by Arapekanga Hayden Adams-Tamatea, Brad Donald Kora, Hiriini Stuart Kora, Joel Charles Shadbolt, and Miharo Boaz Gregory, performed by L.A.B (Published by Loop Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing)

• Let’s Just Stay In Bed, written by Cass Mitchell and Bic Runga, performed by King Sweeties (Published by Mushroom Music) 

• Mighty Invader, written and performed by Troy Kingi (Published by Loop Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing) 

• Remote, written by Annabel Alpers and performed by Hamerkop (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing) 

• Ruffle, written by Matthew Barus and Lauren Barus, performed by Terrible Sons (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing) 

• Superfan, written by Chelsea Jade Metcalf and Leroy Clampitt, performed by Chelsea Jade (Published by EMI Music Publishing Australia / Stellar Songs /

• Avant-Garde LOL / These Are Songs of Pulse / Native Tongue Music Publishing) 

• Take, written by Finn Scholes, Tam Scholes, Siobhanne Thompson, Cass Mitchell and Alistair Deverick, performed by Carnivorous Plant Society 

• Trouble, written by Mona Sanei and Frank Eliesa, performed by CHAII (Published by Big Pop Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management) 

• Walk, written by Ria Hall and Laughton Kora, performed by Ria Hall (Published by Loop Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing)

• War Outside, written by Elijah Manu, Albert Purcell and Rory Noble, performed by Church & AP  

• Who?, written by Lance Fepuleai, Tony Tz, Harry Huavi and Stephen Atutolu, performed by Team Dynamite feat. Diggy Dupe

• You Were Mine, written by Tamara Neilson and Joshua Neilson, performed by Tami Neilson (Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing) 

All APRA members are now invited to vote for their top five songs from this list of 20. 

These votes from the APRA membership will determine the five finalists and winner of the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Award. 

The APRA Silver Scroll Award will be presented with other awards at the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday October 14. 

For more information see the APRA AMCOS website here.

Australia's music industry puts out an SOS in open letter to government

Australian music industry unites behind an Open Letter imploring the Australian Government to provide sector support to ensure its survival during the COVID-19 crisis

Jenny Morris, Archie Roach, Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, Nick Cave, John Farnham, Guy Sebastian, Peter Garrett, Deborah Conway, Kev Carmody, Marcia Hines, Josh Pyke, Stella Donnelly, Genevieve Lacey, Little River Band, Jessica Mauboy, Lee Kernaghan, Thelma Plum, Regurgitator, Montaigne, Paul Grabowsky, Icehouse, David Hirschfelder, San Cisco, Gotye, The Teskey Brothers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Julia Jacklin, Carl Vine, Alex Lahey, Jack River, Savage Garden sign urgent Open Letter with more than 1000 leading music industry artists, workers, venues & businesses.

“Australian music is a proud national asset that entertains, comforts, and uplifts our communities. It helps to define who we are as a nation, is a central pillar of our health and well-being and is a key driver of learning in schools. Our artists and industry are always there to come to the aid of our nation during a crisis. Now it is time for the nation to come to our aid,” the Open Letter says.

“The Australian music sector fell off a cliff on 13 March when Government made the correct and prudent decision to shut the nation down. Without the ability for artists to play and venues to open around the country, the industry lost billions of dollars in revenue. It is estimated the box-office loss in relation to live music alone will be half a billion dollars over six months.”

The Open Letter has five key asks of the Australian Government, including the expansion of JobKeeper to artists and individuals who have been excluded, an extension of the scheme until at least the end of the year, direct business grants to ensure the survival of thousands of music businesses and venues, a boost to Australia Council funding and tax offsets and red-tape reduction for the sector.

“While much of the economy starts to re-open, the ongoing restrictions on large gatherings means our industry will continue to be held back from returning to work. Without immediate government intervention, the Australian music sector will be hit twice as hard as the rest of the economy and thousands of jobs will be lost within months,” the Open Letter continues.

“The long-term cost to Treasury, the economy and the damage to our cultural infrastructure will be immense and long-lasting. Most of the four thousand plus venues that present live music across Australia are closed with no certainty as to when a restart is likely or viable.
 
“We are a highly skilled workforce with thousands of businesses that continuously adapts to technological change. We contribute $16 billion to the economy and we are an asset that is a lynchpin for the tourism and hospitality sectors and a powerful driver of metropolitan and regional economies and export to the world.
 
“Our industry is resilient, innovative and creative. We fight to stand on our own two feet and in normal circumstances we are self-sufficient. Yet these are not normal times, and we need the support of the Australian Government to help us get to the other side of this crisis.”
 
AMPAL supports and has signed the open letter.

Read: The Full Open Letter

Winners of 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards announced

The winners of the 2020 APRA Music Awards have been announced, this year in the global online space as the Virtual APRA Music Awards. In a shortened version of the usual live, gala event, the awards went ahead to celebrate the talented songwriters that have achieved outstanding success in the previous year. 

The awards are available to watch (or watch again!) until Wednesday 24 June.

The verdict is in for the biggest peer-voted music award in Australia. APRA members have chosen Dance Monkey by Tones And I (Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tones and I) as the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year. In what can only be described as a phenomenal songwriting success story Tones And I is also the 2020 Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, an honour that is determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors.

Hip-hop trailblazers Hilltop Hoods - Barry Francis (DJ Debris), Matthew Lambert (Suffa) and Daniel Smith (Pressure) - have been named Songwriter of the Year. Their album The Great Expanse (released 2019) is a songwriting tour de force, chock full of the band’s classic Aussie wit, punchy beats and lyrics that speak to the human experience.

Hilltop Hoods are dual winners for 2020 with Leave Me Lonely taking out the Most Performed Urban Work. They share their honour with co-writer Leigh Ryan aka Plutonic Lab. It’s the second year in a row that Hilltop Hoods have won the Most Performed Urban Work category. (Writers: Barry Francis (DJ Debris) / Matthew Lambert (Suffa) / Daniel Smith (Pressure)/ Leigh Ryan* / Richard Berry^. Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing* / Campbell Connelly^).

“We’ve spent our entire lives writing and making music. To be awarded ‘Songwriter of the Year’ by the APRA Board is an absolute honour. We couldn’t be more thrilled or grateful,” said Hilltop Hoods.

In his first appearance at the APRA Music Awards, seventeen-year-old songwriter KIAN (Kobalt Music Publishing obo KB Recording), and co-writer Jerome Farah (Mushroom Music), have received awards for Most Performed Australian Work AND Most Performed Alternative Work for their beguiling collaboration Waiting. Hailing from Castlemaine, VIC, KIAN has gone from strength to strength since winning triple j’s Unearthed High competition in 2018, with Waiting reaching number 20 on triple j’s 2019 Hottest 100 and achieving double platinum status. Songwriter and producer Jerome was a dual APRA nominee in 2019 for his work with Baker Boy. Jerome and KIAN have joined creative forces again on KIAN’s new single Every Hour. 

Taking out the Most Performed Country Work in back-to-back years is country pop crossover songwriter Morgan Evans, for his feel-good song Young Again (Writers: Morgan Evans / Chris DeStefano* / Joshua Kear^. Publishers: Warner Chappell Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing* / Downtown Music Publishing^). John Butler (Downtown Music Publishing obo Family Music) receives his 6th career APRA Music Award for Just Call  in the category of Most Performed Blues & Roots Work. 

Winning their first ever APRA Award, for Most Performed Dance Work, are all-star co-writers Hayden James (Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic), Matthew Kopp (who performs as Running Touch, and is the featured vocalist on the track) (BMG Rights Management), Jack Glass (Bag Raiders) (Universal Music Publishing), and Cassian Stewart-Kasimba (Cassian), who earned themselves the honour for Better Together. 

Dean Lewis has taken out the Most Performed Pop Work for the emotional 7 Minutes, (Writers: Dean Lewis / Nicholas Atkinson* / Edward Holloway*. Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Specific Music / BMG Rights Management*) while Troy Cassar-Daley’s (Mushroom Music) powerful anthem Shutting Down Our Town, (performed by Jimmy Barnes featuring Troy Cassar-Daley) has scored a gong for Most Performed Rock Work. Troy was inspired to write the song after reading Jimmy Barnes’ memoir Working Class Boy, where Jimmy writes about growing up in Elizabeth, SA and the impact of the closure of the Holden car factory.

For the third consecutive year, Sia (along with co-writer Greg Kurstin) took out the Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for Cheap Thrills (Writers: Sia Furler / Greg Kurstin*. Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing obo Kurstin Music*).

 Meredith Music Festival was earlier named Licensee of the Year for their excellent music citizenship, and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s duet Shallow was previously announced as the Most Performed International Work (Writers: Stefani Germanotta*^ / Mark Ronson*+ / Anthony Rossomando*> / Andrew Wyatt*>. Publishers: Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing^ / Native Tongue Music Publishing+ / Downtown Music Publishing>). 

The 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards were hosted by APRA AMCOS Ambassador and previous Songwriter of the Year honouree Briggs. Musical Director Kate Miller-Heidke worked her magic curating the music performances remotely. The virtual awards featured stellar performances of artists taking on each of the five Song of the Year compositions. John Butler and Mama Kin performed a joyful rendition of Guy Sebastian’s Choir, Kira Puru and Mo’Ju teamed up for their interpretation of Thelma Plum and Alexander Burnett’s Better in Blak. Folk troubadour William Crighton put his spin on 5 Seconds of Summer’s Teeth, while Los Angeles-based Nikka Costa and Justin Stanley performed The Teskey Brothers I Get Up. From New York City, The Dawn of MAY delivered her mesmerising interpretation of the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year Dance Monkey.

AMPAL congratulations to all the winning songwriters, composers and music publishers!

For the full list of winnes, see the APRA AMCOS website.

Deadline Extended for the 2020 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, with more prizes added

With the impact of COVID-19 affecting the livelihoods of music creators worldwide, organisers of the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition are extending the entry period and awarding an additional ten runner-up cash prizes of $1,000.
 
The competition’s original closing date of 14 May has been moved to 29 October, giving songwriters more time to submit a song. The 1st place winner will receive a career-changing $50,000 furnished by APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG; 2nd place of $10,000 courtesy of Banki Haddock Fiora, and the third place $5,000 courtesy Aon. AMPAL is proud to sponsor the inaugural $5,000 AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize awarded to an unpublished up-and-coming songwriter.
 
With the aim to help more songwriters financially and get their music heard by both industry tastemakers and music fans, ten runners-up from the Top 40 shortlist will also be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor.
 
And, as always, thanks to the generosity of songwriters worldwide, the full entry fee of $50 will go directly to fund the transformative programs of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia. In eleven years of the competition’s existence, entrants have contributed over $1.2 million, making a huge impact on the lives of others with their songs.
 
Named after the iconic songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the long-running competition has served as a career springboard to an impressive line-up: Matt Corby and Dann Hume in 2019 for Miracle Love, Amy Shark (2018), Gretta Ray (2016), Husky Gawenda (2014), Isabella Manfredi (2013), Kimbra (2011) and Megan Washington (2009), as well as top finishers including Sarah Aarons, Gotye, Meg Mac, and Gang of Youths frontman David Le’aupepe.
 
A judging panel comprised of influential artists, producers, media and music industry professionals has been confirmed, including award-winning songwriter Lior, APRA AMCOS Ambassador Dallas Frasca, triple j Unearthed’s Dave Ruby Howe, producer Robert Conley and reps from Amazon Music and Universal Music.
 
Entries close 11.59pm AEDT Thursday 29 October 2020.

Songwriters can enter here.

Nominees announced for the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards

With the 2020 APRA Music Awards now taking place as an online event on the evening of Tuesday 26 May, APRA AMCOS has annonced the nominees for the 2020 Awards.

"If ever there was a time to acknowledge the work of songwriters – both those on stage and those who work quietly behind-the-scenes – it is now, which is why we have committed to the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards. 

"Our songwriters give us so much - they contribute enormously to our economic and cultural wealth, and in a world of self-isolation, never has the comfort, poignancy, or uplift of a song been more important! The nominees provide a ready-made #AussieMade playlist of fantastic music. We look forward to celebrating their success, as part of our support of all Australian music creators. ‘See' you May 26th!" said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive, Dean Ormston.

Leading the charge with four nominations is Tones And I who appears with her global sensation 'Dance Monkey' (Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tones and I) in the categories of Most Performed Australian Work, Most Performed Pop Work and Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year. She is also nominated as Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.

With three nominations a-piece are The Teskey Brothers (songwriters Josh Teskey, Sam Teskey, Liam Gough and Brendon Love), who also appear in the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year and Most Performed Blues & Roots category for 'I Get Up' (Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music). They have also landed a place in the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category. Guy Sebastian’s anthemic song 'Choir' has scored he and co-writers Trevor Brown* and Zaire Koalo* (Universal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music obo Reservoir*), the US pair who collaborate as The Orphanage, a nomination for Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year, as well as Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work.

The APRA Songwriter of the Year will be revealed during the virtual awards event. The recipient of the Licensee of the Year and winner of the Most Performed International Work will be announced in mid-May.

AMPAL congratulates all the nominees for the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards, including all AMPAL members and their songwriter and composer partners!

The 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards will be streamed on Tuesday 26 May 
With Musical Direction by Kate Miller-Heidke.

For more information, see the APRA AMCOS website here.

ICMP Sheet Music Database Launched

Accessing music is vital for people worldwide - to play, learn, listen, read or teach. 

The newly launched ICMP Sheet Music Database helps you – whether an individual, a band, an orchestra, a teacher or a school - access all the licensed sheet music you could need.

So, whether you’re looking for Beethoven symphony orchestral parts or an Ed Sheeran songbook, Tupac lyrics or guitar tabs to Bob Dylan’s canon – the new ICMP Sheet Music Database will provide you with a list of licensed sheet music providers.

We work hard in the music business to provide these so you don’t use illegal downloads or copies. Why? Behind the notes and words of every work is not just creative genius, but the jobs of composers, songwriters, music publishers, bands, orchestras, DJs, singers, rappers, jazzers, folkies, session musos, lyricists, choirs, hip hop artists and on….  

So in this crisis, #StayAtHomeMakeMusicAtHome

See the sheet music database on the ICMP website here.

ICMP is the International Confederation of Music Publishers - the global voice of music publishing. AMPAL is a member of ICMP.

2020 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition now open

Songwriters, rejoice! The 2020 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is now open.

AMPAL is proud to sponsor the Emerging Songwriter Prize, awarded to an up-and-coming unpublished songwriter, with a $5,000 cash prize for the recipient.

Previously known as the ‘Unpublished’ prize, the category’s two previous recipients have each been on a hot streak since winning. 2019’s ‘Unpublished’ winner Kaiit (for ‘Miss Shiney’) won the 2019 ARIA Award for Best R &B / Soul release, and the inaugural honouree Mallrat (for ‘Better’) just won the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Award at the Global APRA Music Awards Los Angeles. 

There is a first place cash prize of $50,000 courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG.

Last year’s 1st place winner, the soulful ‘Miracle Love,’ was co-written by Matt Corby and Dann Hume, and featured on Corby’s LP Rainbow Valley, which went on to win triple j’s coveted ‘J Award’ for album of the year.

“I’m so grateful that such a positive song burrowed into the hearts and ears of our peers and genuinely humbled by this moment," said Corby upon winning Vanda & Young.

Runners-up also win cash prizes to help fund their next musical venture, with a 2nd place amount of $10,000 thanks to legal experts Banki Haddock Fiora, and 3rd place receives $5,000 courtesy of Aon.

Last year’s competition marked the move from a biennial to an annual tradition, thanks to overwhelming demand. And with 3,683 entries from 48 countries, songwriters worldwide collectively raised $184,150 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA) via their $50 entry fee per song.

All money raised goes directly to fund the organisation’s transformative programs, and in eleven years of the competition’s existence, entrants have contributed over A$1.2 million, making a huge impact on the lives of others with their songs.

Named after the iconic songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the long-running competition has served as a career springboard to an impressive line-up: Matt Corby and Dann Hume (2019), Amy Shark (2018), Gretta Ray (2016), Husky Gawenda (2014), Isabella Manfredi (2013), and Kimbra (2011), as well as top finishers including Sarah Aarons, Gotye, Meg Mac and Gang of Youths’ frontman David Le’aupepe.

A judging panel comprised of influential artists, producers, media and music industry professionals has been confirmed, including award-winning songwriter Lior, APRA AMCOS Ambassador Dallas Frasca, triple j Unearthed’s Dave Ruby Howe, producer Robert Conley and reps from Amazon Music and Universal Music.

Entries close 11.59pm (AEST) Thursday 14 May.

AMPAL Board appoints Rachel Kelly as interim Director

Due to the recent resignation of Marianna Annas from the AMPAL Board, the AMPAL Board has appointed Rachel Kelly (Downtown Music Publishing) as an interim Director to fill the casual vacancy. 

This interim position will remain in place until the next Annual General Meeting in November 2020, when the AMPAL membership will vote for new Directors in line with the regular board election process. 

Short list announced for the 2020 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year

25 songs have been announced as the short list contenders for the 2020 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year. In what remains the largest peer-voted music award in Australia, the list represents the songs chosen by APRA members as the finest of 2019. One of these songs will take home the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year as the APRA Music Awards return for the 38th time to celebrate the songwriters and music publishers that have excelled in the past year.

The shortlist is below:

Title: Arrows

Artist: Missy Higgins

Writer: Missy Higgins

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Better in Blak

Artist: Thelma Plum

Writers: Thelma Plum* / Alexander Burnett / Oliver Horton

Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro*

Title: Borderline

Artist: Tame Impala

Writer: Kevin Parker

Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Title: By The Scars

Artist: Diesel

Writer: Mark Lizotte

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Charlie

Artist: Mallrat

Writers: Grace Shaw / Leroy Clampitt

Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Choir

Artist: Guy Sebastian

Writers: Guy Sebastian / Trevor Brown* / William Simmons*

Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music*

Title: Dance Monkey

Artist: Tones & I

Writer: Toni Watson

Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tones and I

Title: Every Day My Mother's Voice

Artist: Paul Kelly & Dan Sultan

Writer: Paul Kelly

Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Title: Exit Sign (ft Illy and Ecca Vandal)

Artist: Hilltop Hoods

Writers: Barry Francis (DJ Debris)* / Daniel Smith (MC Pressure)*/ Matthew Lambert (Suffa)*/ Sarah Aarons* / Andrew Burford^ / Alasdair Murray (Illy)+

Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing^ / BMG Rights Management+

Title: Fear of Missing Out

Artist: Ainslie Wills

Writers: Ainslie Wills* / Paul Dempsey* / Lawrence Folvig* / Arron Light

Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing*

Title: Final Form

Artist: Sampa The Great

Writers: Sampa Tembo / Alejandro Abapo / Leon Sylvers*

Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing*

Title: Good Lord

Artist: Birds of Tokyo

Writers: Ian Berney / Ian Kenny / Glenn Sarangapany / Adam Spark / Adam Weston

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Little Things

Artist: Jessica Mauboy

Writers: Jessica Mauboy* / Antonio Egizii / Chiara Hunter / David Musumeci

Publisher: Universal Music Publishing */ Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Title: Miss Shiney

Artist: Kaiit

Writers: Kaiit Waup / Vincent Goodyear / Nicholas Martin

Title: Old Man

Artist: Stella Donnelly

Writer: Stella Donnelly

Publisher: Downtown Music

Title: Open Up Your Eyes

Artist: Archie Roach

Writer: Archie Roach

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Paradise

Artist: Tropical Fuck Storm

Writers: Erica Dunn / Gareth Liddiard / Fiona Kitchin / Lauren Hammel

Title: Pasta

Artist: Angie McMahon

Writer: Angie McMahon

Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Pressure to Party

Artist: Julia Jacklin

Writer: Julia Jacklin

Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Rushing Back

Artist: Flume ft Vera Blue

Writers: Harley Streten* / Celia Pavey^ / Sophie Cates+ / Eric Dubowsky~

Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic* / Universal Music Publishing obo Canal Music Publishing^ / Sony/ATV Music Publishing+ / Kobalt Music Publishing~

Title: Self-Immolate

Artist: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Writers: Stuart MacKenzie / Michael Cavanagh / Joseph Walker

Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Seven Day Weekend

Artist: Underground Lovers

Writers: Richard Andrew / Maurice Argiro / Glenn Bennie / Vincent Giarrusso / Phillipa Nihill

Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Title: Teeth

Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer

Writers: Luke Hemmings* / Ashton Irwin* / Louis Bell* / Gillian Gilbert^ / Peter Hook^ / Stephen Morris^ / Evan Rogers+ / Carl Sturken+ / Bernard Sumner^ / Ali Tamposi~ / Ryan Tedder> / Andrew Watt°

Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing+ / Mushroom Music~ / Downtown Music> / Kobalt Music Publishing°

Title: Zero Gravity

Artist: Kate Miller-Heidke

Writer: Kate Miller-Heidke / Julian Hamilton / Keir Nuttal

Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Congratulations to all writers and publishers!

The 2020 APRA Music Awards will be held on Tuesday 28 April at the International Convention Centre Grand Ballroom, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

2019 Screen Music Awards Winners Announced

The winners for outstanding achievements in music for feature films, documentaries, short films, children’s television, advertising, film and television soundtrack albums have been announced at the 2019 Screen Music Awards at the Forum, Melbourne. Together they represent the very best in Australian screen composition over the past 12 months.

Among the awards presented on the night, the Feature Film Score of the Year has been awarded to co-composers Dan Luscombe and Antony Partos for their work on the acclaimed science fiction thriller I Am Mother. Described by the Hollywood Reporter as a score “that ranges across ambient rumble, symphonic lushness and pulsing electronica”, their work has impressed the panel of judges to take out the top prize. 

Antony Partos has also received the honour of Best Television Theme for his work on Bloom, a Stan original drama series about life in an idyllic country town a year after a devastating flood kills five locals. Partos’ third Screen Music award for 2019 is shared with co-composer Jackson Milas in the category of Best Music for a Television Series or Serial for Bloom. Fairfax television and film critic Debi Enker described the evocative score by Milas and Partos as “hauntingly melancholy and, at times, audacious.”

Every Day My Mother’s Voice, Paul Kelly’s (published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) powerful tribute to the strong relationship between Adam Goodes and his mother, has been named the Best Original Song Composed for the Screen. The song was written for The Final Quarter, the Ian Darling directed documentary about the final stages of Goodes' football career.

AMPAL congratulate all the nominees and winners of the 2019 Screen Music Awards, including publisher members Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Mushroom Music.

For more information see the APRA AMCOS website, and the full list of winners is set out below.

2019 Screen Music Awards winners

Feature Film Score of the Year
I Am Mother
Composed by Dan Luscombe and Antony Partos

Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
Every Day My Mother’s Voice from The Final Quarter
Composed by Paul Kelly
Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Best Soundtrack Album
Little Monsters
Composed by Piers Burbrook de Vere

Best Music for a Documentary
Australia’s Lost Impressionist
Composed by David Bridie
Published by Mushroom Music

Best Television Theme
Bloom
Composed by Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music

Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
Bloom 
Composed by Jackson Milas and Antony Partos
Published by Sonar Music

Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
Dead Lucky
Composed by  Michael Yezerski

Best Music for a Short Film
For the Girl in the Coffee Shop
Composed by Angela Little

Best Music for Children’s Television
The Pilgrims Progress
Composed by Michael Dooley

Best Music for an Advertisement
Dan Murphy’s
Composed by Adrian Sergovich
Published by Song Zu Publishing

Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia*
Composers Adam Gock and Dinesh Wicks
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas*
Composer Neil Sutherland
*Determined by statistical analysis

AMPAL 2019 AGM and Board Election Results

The Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Limited (AMPAL) has held its Annual General Meeting in Sydney on 13 November. 

The results of the election of Directors were declared at the AGM, with Marianna Annas (ABC Music Publishing), Philip Burn (Hal Leonard Australia), Peter Hebbes AM (Hebbes Music Group), Heath Johns (BMG Australia), and Steve McPherson (Hillsong Music Publishing) re-elected to the AMPAL Board. Andrew Jenkins (Universal Music Publishing Group) was newly elected to the Board.

Andrew Jenkins is President, Australia and Asia Pacific Region, for Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). He is responsible for UMPG’s activities in Australasia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as for global society and industry matters. He has been responsible for the Australian offices of both BMG Music Publishing and subsequently Universal Music Publishing since 1993.

Nominations had also been received from Bernard Depasquale (Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB)), Rachel Kelly (Downtown Music Publishing) and Jess Ossington (Audio Network).

Matthew Capper (Warner Chappell Music Australia) was returned as Chair, and Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing) as Deputy Chair of the AMPAL Board.

Mr Capper congratulated the re-elected directors and Mr Jenkins, and thanked all of the nominees for standing for election, noting the strong interest in the operations of the association. AMPAL General Manager Matthew O’Sullivan spoke about the organisation’s work throughout the year on behalf of the association's Australian and New Zealand music publisher members and their songwriter and composer partners. Mr Capper and Mr O’Sullivan also thanked retiring AMPAL Board Director, Bob Aird (Universal Music Publishing Group) for his services to the AMPAL Board. Mr Aird was presented with the AMPAL Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Publishing by the AMPAL Board in September (see the news article here).   

AMPAL is the industry association for Australasian music publishers with over 55 members, and is governed by a Board of 15 elected member representatives.  The AMPAL Board is elected by the AMPAL membership, and the current Board is shown at: www.ampal.com.au/ampal-board/.

ACMF National Songwriting Competition - Winners Announcement

Judging is complete, and the results are in for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s (ACMF) National Song writing Competition 2019.

Now in its 17th year, the competition has inspired over 28,000 students across Australia to put pen to paper, and enter their original song composition.

ACMF CEO and Founder, Don Spencer OAM says, “Song writing is a highly creative process. We want children to free their imagination, and engage with learning in a fun way.”

With four categories, and two exciting new awards for students from Year 4 to Year 12 to enter — the calibre, content, and talent behind the songs continue to astound its panel of judges.

This year saw the introduction of two new awards: APRA AMCOS Young Song writer of the Year; and Song writing School of the Year. The ACMF are thrilled by the on-going commitment from APRA AMCOS to encourage young song writers. With the introduction of Song writing School of the Year, the ACMF give school students the opportunity to work together collaboratively as an ensemble, band or year group - building morale, encouraging team work, creativity, and sense of school community.

The judging panel met at APRA AMCOS’ Sydney office this month to review over 80 songs, shortlisted from thousands of submissions nationally. Judges assessed various aspects of each song, including their lyrics, melody, song structure, and originality.

The 2019 competition is sponsored by supporting partners: APRA AMCOS, AMPAL, and oOh! Media. Winners will receive substantial prize money to be put towards music education, tuition and more.

For a full list of winners for 2019 and to hear their entries, see the ACMF website here.

Winners announced for the 2019 APRA Silver Scroll Awards

Aldous Harding (Hannah Topp) (published by Native Tongue Music Publishing) has won the 2019 APRA Silver Scroll Award for her remarkable song The Barrel at a ceremony in Auckland on Wednesday 2 October.

Harding is a second time finalist and was delighted to win the Silver Scroll for the first time.

The Silver Scroll Award, which is voted for by APRA members, is an acknowledgment from Harding’s fellow songwriters of the impact her songwriting has.

Jaime Gough, Managing Director of Native Tongue Music Publishing Australia said:

“Congratulations to Hannah on winning the Silver Scroll. It really is a privilege to work with Hannah and her amazing songs. Songs that are genre defying. New songs that sound like classics. Their intelligence and authenticity creep into your ears, not to be forgotten.

Hannah is a unique artist and a worthy winner of this great award.

Thanks to the wonderful team at Native Tongue. Independent publishing is a challenging business in New Zealand, yet we are rewarded every day by the sheer talent displayed by songwriters and artists and the music created.

Thanks to APRA AMCOS and everyone that supports music and the arts".

The winners of all awards were:

APRA Silver Scroll: Hannah Topp aka Aldous Harding – The Barrel (published by Native Tongue Music Publishing)

APRA Maioha Award: Tyna Keelan, Angelique Te Rauna and Matauranga Te Rauna – Ka Ao

SOUNZ Contemporary Award: Michael Norris – Sama Violin Concerto

APRA Best Original Music in a Series: Karl Steven – The Bad Seed

APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film: Mike Newport – Mega Time Squad

Hall of Fame: Ruru Karaitiana, Pixie Williams, and Jim Carter

For more information, see http://apraamcos.co.nz/news/2019/october/2019-silver-scroll-award-winners-announced/

Bob Aird to step down from the AMPAL Board, receives the AMPAL Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Publishing

Bob Aird

At a presentation ceremony hosted by the AMPAL Board of Directors, the Chair of AMPAL, Matthew Capper (Warner Chappell Music Australia), Deputy Chair, Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing) and General Manager, Matthew O'Sullivan, have presented the AMPAL Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Publishing to retiring AMPAL Board Director, Bob Aird. The award recognises Mr Aird’s commitment to the Australian and New Zealand music publishing sector, his work on behalf of songwriters and composers over many years, and Mr Aird’s service to the AMPAL Board. Mr Aird joined the AMPAL Board of Directors in 1986, and recently retired as Managing Director of Universal Music Publishing Pty Limited. Mr Aird will be stepping down from the AMPAL Board at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in November.

Mr Capper remarked that, "It has been such a great privilege to work with Bob. He has always been a strong, vocal, supporter of the incredible music coming out of Australia and New Zealand, and our industry owes him a debt of gratitude. His acumen, and wit, will be sorely missed”. Mr Hodson added, “It has been an honour to have worked with Bob both as a colleague and board member over many years. Bob has been at the forefront of the enormous changes that we’ve seen in music publishing, and particularly in copyright protection for publishers and songwriters. His leadership in this area is undeniable”. Mr O'Sullivan commented at the ceremony, "AMPAL is grateful for Bob’s vast contribution to the AMPAL Board, and dedication to Australian and New Zealand music publishers, and their songwriter and composer partners. Bob’s retirement will be a great loss to AMPAL and the industry more broadly". Mr Aird commented, “It has been a privilege to be part of the AMPAL Board which has been so successful in promoting and protecting the rights of Australian and New Zealand music publishers, and the songwriters and composers they represent.  We really have made a difference. Long may it continue”.

It is only the third time that the AMPAL Board has presented the Award, following the presentation in 2016 to founding AMPAL member J. Albert & Son Pty Ltd (Alberts), and the presentation in 2018 to Brett Cottle AM.

2019 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition winners announced

The 2019 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has awarded the top prize to songwriters Matt Corby and Dann Hume for the emotive and richly melodic song ‘Miracle Love.’

Courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG, Corby and Hume will share the $50,000 cash prize, the largest first place prize for any songwriting competition in the world.

Upon winning, songwriter and producer Hume said, "This song was a special one for Matt and I, one of the first songs we wrote together after a few years between his albums. No idea what would come, when it was finished it felt like it had always existed and we just happen to find it buried in the backyard studio of his house.”

The competition’s $10,000 2nd place prize, provided by AMPAL, goes to Grammy-nominated, LA-based songwriter and 2019 APRA Songwriter of the Year honouree Sarah Aarons for her entry ‘The Middle,’ a worldwide smash performed by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey.

In 3rd place and the winner of $5,000 courtesy of Aon is Brisbane’s Sahara Beck with ‘Here We Go Again’ a song the award-winning independent artist wrote with producer Tony Buchen.

In the second year that the $5,000 Unpublished prize has been awarded, 21-year old Melbourne singer-songwriter Kaiit takes out the honour for ‘Miss Shiney,’ which she co-wrote with Michael Lee Chan, Mohamed Komba, Vincent Goodyer and Nicholas Martin.

The winning songs were narrowed down from the top 40 finalist shortlist and an overall pool of 3,683 entries from 48 countries, by a panel of songwriters and music industry judges from media, publishing, labels, and music streaming services. See full judging list here.

In 2019, songwriters worldwide collectively raised $184,150 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA) via their $50 entry fee per song.

All money raised goes directly to fund the organisation’s transformative programs, and in ten years of the competition’s existence, entrants have contributed over $1.2 million.

Named after the iconic songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the competition raises funds for NRMTA and its work with children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, autism, trauma, illness, dementia, behaviour disorders and learning difficulties.

AMPAL is proud to once again sponsor the 2019 competition.

For more details and to hear the winning songs, go to the APRA AMCOS website here.

2019 Art Music Awards Finalists Announced

The 2019 Art Music Award finalists have been announced by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre.

The finalists celebrate achievements in Australian contemporary classical, jazz and experimental music. The quantity, the quality and the variety of projects and works included makes a powerful statement about the rich range of talent and the sheer volume of creative work by today’s Australian art music practitioners.

Categories recognising excellence by individuals, organisations and educators, excellence in the areas of experimental music and in jazz, and in regional areas, include a wide range of projects, from local to regional and national.

The Art Music Awards winners in eleven national categories, as well as state or territory awards, will be announced on Monday 19 August at the Great Hall of the University of Sydney, with a live performance program curated by composer-pianist Barney McAll. MC extraordinaire Jonathan Biggins will return as the evening’s host.

For the list of finalists visit the APRA AMCOS website here.

New research highlights Australian music's global export value and strong international success

The Australian music industry makes an estimated $195 million from international markets each year according to a ground-breaking report examining the cultural and economic value of Australian music exports. including music publishing.

Born Global: Australian music exports is the first comprehensive report that calculates the value of the Australian music industry as an international export.

The research was conducted over three years by the University of Newcastle and Monash University, in partnership with Sounds Australia, APRA AMCOS and the Australia Council for the Arts.

The Australia Council has also released a summary report which presents key insights from the broader research and reflects international success stories of artists such as Flume, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Methyl Ethel and Courtney Barnett.

For more information and to read the summary and full report, see the Australia Council for the Arts website here.

Australian and New Zealand music publishing industry valued at more than AUD$270 million

The 2018 survey of AMPAL members has valued the Australian and New Zealand music publishing industry at just over AUD$270 million for the year. The survey included data from the industry collecting society APRA AMCOS, but it only related to royalties flowing through to music publishing companies and did not include royalties paid directly to songwriters and composers. AMPAL members provided confidential information to auditors Rosenfeld Kant who aggregated the data.

AMPAL Director Ian James honoured in 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours List

Ian James

AMPAL Director Ian James (Mushroom Music Publishing) has been awarded a Medal (OAM) in the General Division in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to music publishing and rights.

Also honoured was former AMPAL Director Fifa Riccobono, who was named as a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to the music industry.

Congratulations to Ian and Fifa!

ACMF National Songwriting Competition now open

The 2019 National Songwriting Competition is now open for entries!

Every year, students from schools across Australia are invited to put pen to paper and enter their original song in ACMF’s annual National Songwriting Competition. Winners receive prize-money which can be allocated towards musical equipment or tuition.

For 2019, the competition has had some changes – there are fewer categories in which to enter, which means that the prizes are more substantial. We have also introduced the ability to enter a song as a school group, which has its own prize category – enabling the winning school to purchase valuable resources to improve their music program!

“Songwriting is a highly creative process. We want kids to free their imagination and engage with learning in a fun way” – Don Spencer, Founder & CEO.

AMPAL is pleased to again be sponsoring the National Songwriting Competition.  AMPAL General Manager, Matthew O'Sullivan, remarked that "AMPAL is proud to support the ACMF National Songwriting Competition, encouraging budding songwriters. We look forward to hearing the great new songs at the end of the competition.”

Entry is free, and entries close 29 August 2019. Entry forms and other information is available at: http://acmf.com.au/national-songwriting-competition/