The 2021 APRA Award nominations are in, celebrating homegrown songwriters across a bunch of different genres.
Altogether, 49 Australian songwriters have scored their first ever APRA nod this year including, interestingly, The Amity Affliction, who are nominated in the ‘Most Performed Rock Work’ category for ‘Soak Me In Bleach’ after a career spanning close to two decades.
Topping the peer-voted contenders for APRA’s big Song of the Year gong are Rob Hirst, Bunna Lawrie and Gadigal poet Joel Davison for ‘Gadigal Land’ AKA Midnight Oil’s first single in 17 years. They’re up against Tim Minchin for ‘Carry You’, Guy Sebastian for ‘Standing With You’, previous winner Kevin Parker for Tame Impala’s ‘Lost in Yesterday’, as well as Amy Shark and co-writer Joel Little for their collab, ‘Everybody Rise’.
It’s the 5th consecutive year that Sharkie’s scored a nom, after originally taking out the gong in 2017 with her breakout hit, ‘Adore’.
Lime Cordiale have scored themselves two nods, including in the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category, which will see them go head-to-head against Mallrat, The Kid LAROI, Thelma Plum and newcomer Miiesha for bragging rights.
This year’s APRA Music Awards ceremony is set to take place at the ICC Grand Ballroom in Sydney on Wednesday, 28th April. The ceremony will be hosted by Julia Zemiro, Ziggy Ramo and Georgia Mooney, with musical direction from PJ Harding.
As previously reported, Helen Reddy, the iconic Australian singer behind 1972’s ‘I Am Woman’ who passed away last year aged 78, will be posthumously honoured with the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at this year’s ceremony.
For the first time, music fans will be able to watch rolling highlights on the night via the official APRA AMCOS YouTube channel. More details will be announced shortly.
Until then, you can peep the full list of nominees below.
2021 APRA MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Title: Carry You
Artist: Missy Higgins
Writer: Tim Minchin
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Everybody Rise
Artist: Amy Shark
Writers: Amy Shark / Joel Little*
Publishers: Mushroom Music / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Gadigal Land
Artist: Midnight Oil ft Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs & Bunna Lawrie
Writers: Joel Davison / Rob Hirst* / Bunna Lawrie^
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^
Title: Lost In Yesterday
Artist: Tame Impala
Writer: Kevin Parker
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Standing With You
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian / Jamie Hartman* / Greg Holden^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music* / Warner Chappell Music^
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year*
Writer: Charlton Howard pka The Kid LAROI
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Writer: Grace Shaw pka Mallrat
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process
Writer: Miiesha Young pka Miiesha
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Writers: Louis and Oli Leimbach (Lime Cordiale)
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing obo Chugg Music
Writer: Thelma Plum
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Australian Work
Title: Break My Heart
Artist: Dua Lipa
Writers: Andrew Farriss^ / Michael Hutchence*^ / Dua Lipa^ / Jordan Johnson+ / Stefan Johnson> / Ali Tamposi# / Andrew Watt>
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music* / Universal Music Publishing^ / BMG Rights Management+ / Mushroom Music# / Kobalt Music Publishing>
Title: Live in Life
Artist: The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Sam Margin / Zaac Margin / William Zeglis
Publishers: Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music
Title: Never Seen The Rain
Artist: Tones And I
Writer: Toni Watson
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Rushing Back
Artist: Flume feat. Vera Blue
Writers: Harley Streten / Celia Pavey* / Eric Dubowsky^ / Sophie Cates+
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic / Universal Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^ / Sony Music Publishing+
Title: Used to Love
Artist: Martin Garrix & Dean Lewis
Writers: Dean Lewis* / Martijn Garritsen^ / Kristoffer Fogelmark* / Albin Nedler*
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^
Most Performed Alternative Work
Title: Live in Life
Artist: The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Sam Margin / Zaac Margin / William Zeglis
Publishers: Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music
Title: Lost in Yesterday
Artist: Tame Impala
Writer: Kevin Parker
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Robbery
Artist: Lime Cordiale
Writers: Louis Leimbach / Oli Leimbach / Shane Abrahams* / Daniel Choder^ / Jonathan Pakfar*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing obo Chugg Music / Downtown Music* /
Kobalt Music Publishing^
Title: Silver
Artist: DMA’s
Writers: Matt Mason* / Tommy O’Dell* / Johnny Took* / Thomas Crandles^ / Joel Flyger / Liam Hoskins*
Publishers: Mushroom Music* / Sony Music Publishing^
Title: Two of Us
Artist: Birds of Tokyo
Writers: Ian Berney / Ian Kenny / Glenn Sarangapany / Adam Spark / Adam Weston
Publisher: Mushroom Music
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
Title: Ain’t My Problem
Artist: Ash Grunwald ft. The Teskey Brothers
Writer: Ash Grunwald
Publisher: Mushroom Music
Title: Give Me Honey
Artist: Dope Lemon
Writer: Angus Stone
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Over Drinking Over You
Artist: Busby Marou
Writers: Thomas Busby* / Jeremy Marou* / Ivy Adara+ / Jon Hume^ / Lindsey Jackson^
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing*/ Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Native Tongue Music Publishing^
Title: Pretty Lady
Artist: Tash Sultana
Writers: Tash Sultana / Matt Corby* / Dann Hume*
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tash Sultana / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Together
Artist: Ziggy Alberts
Writer: Ziggy Alberts
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Alberts & Co Music
Most Performed Country Work
Title: A Little More
Artist: Casey Barnes
Writers: Casey Barnes / Michael Delorenzis / Michael Paynter
Publisher: Mushroom Music
Title: Diamonds
Artist: Morgan Evans
Writers: Morgan Evans / Evan Bogart* / Chris de Stefano^
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^
Title: Give Me Tonight
Artist: Brad Cox
Writers: Brad Cox* / Joseph Mungovan
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: I Got This
Artist: The McClymonts
Writers: Brooke McClymont / Mollie McClymont / Samantha McClymont / Andy Mak*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing*
Title: Memphis T-Shirt
Artist: Melanie Dyer
Writers: Melanie Dyer / Emma-Lee* / Karen Kosowski*
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing*
Most Performed Dance Work
Title: All of Us
Artist: PNAU ft. Ollie Gabriel
Writers: Nick Littlemore* / Sam Littlemore / Peter Mayes* / Oli Gabriel
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing*
Title: Head & Heart
Artist: Joel Corry & MNEK
Writers: Jonathan Courtidis / Neav Applebaum / Joel Corry* / Daniel Dare / Robert Harvey^ / MNEK+ / Kasif Siddiqui / Lewis Thompson#
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^ / Warner Chappell Music+ / Kobalt Music Publishing#
Title: Rushing Back
Artist: Flume feat. Vera Blue
Writers: Harley Streten / Celia Pavey* / Eric Dubowsky^ / Sophie Cates+
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic / Universal Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^ / Sony Music Publishing+
Title: San Frandisco
Artist: Dom Dolla
Writer: Dominic Matheson
Publishers: Sweat It Out Publishing administered by Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Used to Love
Artist: Martin Garrix & Dean Lewis
Writers: Dean Lewis* / Martijn Garritsen^ / Kristoffer Fogelmark* / Albin Nedler*
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^
Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work
Title: Boss
Artist: Day1
Writers: Bailey Rawiri / Tuhi Montell
Title: German
Artist: No Money Enterprise
Writer: Junior Leaupepe
Title: I’m Good?
Artist: Hilltop Hoods
Writers: Barry Francis (DJ Debris)* / Matthew Lambert (Suffa)* / Daniel Smith (Pressure)* / Paul Bartlett / John Bartlett
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: In The Beginning
Artist: ONEFOUR
Writers: Spencer Magalogo / Jerome Misa / Pio Misa / Salec Su’a
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Misunderstood
Artist: Youngn Lipz
Writer: Filipo Faaoloii
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work
Title: 2560
Artist: Becca Hatch
Writers: Becca Hatch / Maribelle Anes^ / Jamie Muscat / Willie Tafa / Solo Tohi*
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^
Title: Nobodylikeyou
Artist: Winston Surfshirt
Writers: Jack Hambling / Lachlan McAllister / Brett Ramson
Publisher: BMG Rights Management
Title: Rain
Artist: The Teskey Brothers
Writers: Josh Teskey / Sam Teskey / Liam Gough / Brendan Love
Publisher: Mushroom Music
Title: Say To Me
Artist: Milan Ring
Writers: Milan Ring / Blessed Joe-Andah*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management*
Title: Twisting Words
Artist: Miiesha
Writers: Miiesha Young* / Stephen Collins / Mohamed Komba^
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^
Most Performed Pop Work
Title: Break My Heart
Artist: Dua Lipa
Writers: Andrew Farriss^ / Michael Hutchence*^ / Dua Lipa^ / Jordan Johnson+ / Stefan Johnson> / Ali Tamposi# / Andrew Watt>
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music* / Universal Music Publishing^ / BMG Rights Management+ / Mushroom Music# / Kobalt Music Publishing>
Title: Everybody Rise
Artist: Amy Shark
Writers: Amy Shark / Joel Little*
Publishers: Mushroom Music / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Let Me Drink
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian / M-Phazes / Olubowale Akintimehin*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music*
Title: Never Seen The Rain
Artist: Tones And I
Writer: Toni Watson
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Selfish
Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Writers: Jessica Mauboy / Antonio Egizii* / Isabella Kearney-Nurse* / David Musumeci*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*
Most Performed Rock Work
Title: Chase The Feeling
Artist: Wolfmother ft Chris Cester
Writers: Andrew Stockdale / Chris Cester / Jason Hill*
Publishers: BMG Rights Management / Universal/MCA Music Publishing*
Title: Getting The Band Back Together
Artist: Cold Chisel
Writer: Don Walker
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Good For You
Artist: Spacey Jane
Writers: Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu / Caleb Harper / Kieran Lama / Peppa Lane
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process
Title: I Missed Out
Artist: Hockey Dad
Writers: Will Fleming / Zach Stephenson
Publisher: BMG Rights Management
Title: Soak Me In Bleach
Artist: The Amity Affliction
Writers: Joel Birch* / Ahren Stringer* / Daniel Brown^ / Joseph Longobardi
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing* / Native Tongue Music Publishing^
Most Performed International Work
Title: Adore You
Artist: Harry Styles
Writers: Harry Styles / Amy Allen* / Thomas Hull / Tyler Johnson^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing* / Native Tongue Music Publishing^
Title: Before You Go
Artist: Lewis Capaldi
Writers: Lewis Capaldi / Thomas Barnes / Peter Kelleher / Benjamin Kohn / Philip Plested*
Publishers: BMG Rights Management / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Blinding Lights
Artist: The Weeknd
Writers: Abel Tesfaye / Ahmad Balshe* / Oscar Holter* / Max Martin / Jason Quenneville^
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing^
Title: Don’t Start Now
Artist: Dua Lipa
Writers: Dua Lipa / Caroline Ailin* / Ian Kirkpatrick^ / Emily Schwartz+
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management* / Warner Chappell Music^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+
Title: Memories
Artist: Maroon 5
Writers: Adam Levine* / Jonathan Bellion*^ / Vincent Ford* / Jacob Hindlin+ / Jordan Johnson^ / Stefan Johnson+ / Michael Pollack#
Publishers: Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / BMG Right Management^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Warner Chappell Music#
*Determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors
