APRA Music Awards of 2016
The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2016 are a series of related awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards of 2016 was the 34th annual ceremony by the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society to award outstanding achievements in contemporary songwriting, composing and publishing. The ceremony was held on 5 April 2016 at the Carriageworks, Sydney. The host for the ceremony was Brian Nankervis, adjudicator on SBS-TV's RocKwiz.
The Art Music Awards were distributed on 16 August at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne and presented by APRA and the Australian Music Centre, "to recognise achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian art music. Art music covers activity across contemporary classical music, contemporary jazz and improvised music, experimental music and sound art."
The Screen Music Awards were issued on 8 November by APRA, AMCOS and Australian Guild of Screen Composers, which "acknowledges excellence and innovation in the genre of screen composition" and the ceremony was held at the City Recital Hall in Sydney.
On 15 March nominations for the APRA Music Awards were announced on multiple news sources; Jarryd James and Sia received four each. At the ceremony total of 14 awards were presented, including a new category, Overseas Recognition Award. Cold Chisel members were honoured by the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Songwriter of the Year was Courtney Barnett.
Presenters
At the APRA Music Awards ceremony on 5 April 2016, aside from the host, Brian Nankervis, the presenters were Styalz Fuego, Fiona Bevan, Catherine Britt, Trey Campbell, Suze DeMarchi, Tim Rogers, Maegan Cottone, Adalita and Don Walker.Performances
The APRA Music Awards ceremony showcased performances by:- Urthboy with Kira Puru and Bertie Blackman
- The Delta Riggs
- D.I.G with Ngaiire
- Gang of Youths and Montaigne
- San Cisco
- Guy Sebastian
- The Living End
APRA Music Awards
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "All Nations" – Blue King Brown | Natalie Chilcote, Carlo Santone | ||
| "Days of Gold" – Busby Marou | Thomas Busby, Phil Barton, Lindsay Rimes | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Warner/Chappell Music Australia obo Better Boat Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. | |
| "Come People" – Xavier Rudd | Xavier Rudd | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L | |
| "Easy" – The Bamboos featuring Tim Rogers | Lance Ferguson, Tim Rogers | Universal Music Publishing / ABC Music Publishing | |
| "No One" – Ben Wright-Smith | Ben Wright-Smith, Oscar Dawson | Native Tongue Music Publishing |
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| Gang of Youths | David Le'aupepe | Universal Music Publishing Australia | |
| Alex Hope | Alex Hope | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| Jarryd James | Jarryd James | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| Marlon Williams | Marlon Williams | Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| Troye Sivan | Troye Sivan Mellet |
Country Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "I Will Always Be with You" – Lee Kernaghan | Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter | Universal Music Publishing / Perfect Pitch Publishing | |
| "Is God Real" – Kasey Chambers | Kasey Chambers | Mushroom Music | |
| "Secondhand Man" – Shane Nicholson | Shane Nicholson | Mushroom Music | |
| "Spirit of the ANZACs" – Lee Kernaghan | Lee Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter | Universal Music Publishing / Perfect Pitch Publishing | |
| "Wrap Me in a Fever" – Ruby Boots | Rebecca Chilcott | ABC Music Publishing |
Dance Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Do It Now" – Mashd N Kutcher | James Finn, Daniel McNamee, Daniel Williams, Adam Morris, Matthew Ough | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Art Vs Science | |
| "Maybe" – Carmada | Max Armata, Drew Carmody | ||
| "Something About You" – Hayden James | Hayden James, Alexander Burnett, George Maple | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Future Classic Publishing / Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music | |
| "Take Me Over" – Peking Duk featuring Safia | Kaelyn Behr, Mikah Freeman, Vance Musgrove, Amanda Ghost | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd | |
| "The Weekend" – Generik featuring Nicky Van She | Tyson O’Brien, Nicholas Routledge | ||
| "You Were Right" – RÜFÜS | Jonathon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Sweat It Out |
International Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Blank Space" – Taylor Swift | Taylor Swift, Martin Sandberg, Johan Schuster | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Taylor Swift Music / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo MXM Music AB | |
| "Cheerleader" – Omi | Mark Bradford, Clifton Dillon, Ryan Dillon, Sly Dunbar, Omar Pasley | Universal Music Publishing obo Ultra Music Publishing Europe | |
| "Style" – Taylor Swift | Taylor Swift, Johan Schuster, Martin Sandberg, Ali Payami | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Taylor Swift Music / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo MXM Music AB / Warner/Chappell Music Australia obo Wolf Cousins | |
| "Sugar" – Maroon 5 | Joshua Coleman, Lukasz Gottwald, Jacob Hindlin, Adam Levine, Michael Posner, Henry Walter | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Each Note Counts / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Kasz Money Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Kobalt Music Copyrights SARL and Prescription Songs / Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo Sudgee 2 Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo North Greenway Productions / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Prescription Songs and Cirkut Breaker | |
| "UpTown Funk!" – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars | Jeffrey Bhasker, Devon Gallaspy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor, Nicholaus Williams, Charlie Wilson, Robert Wilson, Ronnie Wilson | ony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Way Above Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Sony/ATV Ballad / Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo ZZR Music LLC / Warner/Chappell Music Australia obo Mars Force Music, Thou Art The Hunger and BMG Gold Songs / Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Songs Of Zelig / Minder Music Australia obo New Songs Administration Limited / Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Trinlanta Publishing and Tig7 Publishing LLC |
Most Played Australian Work
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Do You Remember" – Jarryd James | Jarryd James, Joel Little | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| "Elastic Heart" – Sia | Sia Furler, Thomas Pentz, Andrew Swanson | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Native Tongue Music Publishing Australia obo I Like Turtles Music / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Andrew Swanson Music | |
| "Flashlight" – Jessie J | Sia Furler, Christian Guzman, Jason Moore, Samuel Smith | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo UPG Music Publishing/ Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Stellar Songs and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Naughty Words and Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo UPG Music Publishing | |
| "Georgia" – Vance Joy | Vance Joy | Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing | |
| "Take Me Over" – Peking Duk featuring Safia | Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Styalz Fuego, Ben Woolner | Universal Music Publishing/ Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia |
Most Played Australia Work Overseas
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Chandelier" – Sia | Sia Furler, Jesse Shatkin | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia |
Overseas Recognition Award
| Writer | Publisher | Result |
| Phil Barton | Warner/Chappell Music Australia obo Better Boat Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. | |
| Josef Salvat | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Sony ATV Music Publishing | |
| Kylie Sackley | ||
| Sam Dixon | Mushroom Music obo BMG Chrysalis | |
| Vassy |
Pop Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Do You Remember" – Jarryd James | Jarryd James, Joel Little | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| "Elastic Heart" – Sia | Sia Furler, Thomas Pentz, Andrew Swanson | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Native Tongue Music Publishing Australia obo I Like Turtles Music / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia obo Andrew Swanson Music | |
| "Flashlight" – Jessie J | Sia Furler, Christian Guzman, Jason Moore, Samuel Smith | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo UPG Music Publishing/ Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Stellar Songs and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Naughty Words and Universal/MCA Music Publishing obo UPG Music Publishing | |
| "Georgia" – Vance Joy | Vance Joy | Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing | |
| "If You Love Someone" – The Veronicas | Jessica Origliasso, Lisa Origliasso, Anthony Egizii, David Musumeci, Joshua Katz | Universal Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Universal Music Publishing obo The Kennel AB |
Rock Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| Anchor – Birds of Tokyo | Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston | Mushroom Music | |
| "Hoops" – The Rubens | Scott Baldwin, Elliott Margin, Izaac Margin, Samuel Margin, William Zeglis | Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music | |
| "Micro Wars" – Kingswood | Alexander Laska | Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| "Play Ball" – AC/DC | Angus Young, Malcolm Young | J Albert and Son | |
| "Rock or Bust" – AC/DC | Angus Young, Malcolm Young | J Albert and Son |
Song of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Anchor" – Birds of Tokyo | Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston | Mushroom Music | |
| "Do You Remember" – Jarryd James | Jarryd James, Joel Little | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| "Let It Happen" – Tame Impala | Kevin Parker | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia | |
| "Pedestrian at Best" – Courtney Barnett | Courtney Barnett | Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| "The Zombie" – C. W. Stoneking | C. W. Stoneking |
Songwriter of the Year
- Courtney Barnett
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
- Cold Chisel
Urban Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Cosby Sweater" – Hilltop Hoods | DJ Debris, MC Pressure, Suffa, Demitris Christopoulos, John Kelman | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / J Albert and Son obo Cherry Red Songs | |
| "Live and Let Go" – Hilltop Hoods | DJ Debris, MC Pressure, Suffa, Andrew Burford, Ali Newman, Michael Stafford | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / Universal Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia obo Sony/ATV Music Publishing | |
| "M.O.B." – Tkay Maidza | Tkay Maidza, Luke McKay | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia | |
| "Switch Lanes" – Tkay Maidza | Tkay Maidza, Michael Perry | Kobalt Music Publishing Australia / Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Boss Level | |
| "The Buzz" – Hermitude featuring Mataya and Young Tapz | Luke Dubber, Angus Stuart, Tim Levinson | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia / J Albert and Son |
Art Music Awards
Instrumental Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| Patañjali | Michael Kieran Harvey | Michael Kieran Harvey, Arabella Teniswood-Harvey, Eugene Ughetii, Arjun von Caemmerer | |
| read/write error | Tristan Coelho | Ensemble Offspring | |
| Saudade | Natalie Williams | Doric String Quartet, Pavel Haas Quartet | |
| Semaphore | Kate Neal | Semaphore band and dancers |
Jazz Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| Beginning and End of Knowing | Laurence Pike, Mike Nock | Laurence Pike, Mike Nock | |
| Nyilipidgi | Paul Grabowsky, Young Wägilak Group | Paul Grabowsky, the Young Wägilak Group and the Monash Art Ensemble | |
| Spiel | Paul Grabowsky, Niko Schäuble | Paul Grabowsky, Niko Schäuble | |
| Water Pushes Sand | Erik Griswold | Erik Griswold, Vanessa Tomlinson, Australian Art Orchestra and Sichuan musicians |
Orchestral Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| Darkest Light | Mary Finsterer | Monash Academy Orchestra | |
| Earth Plays | Catherine Milliken | Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Fiona Campbell Peter Rundel | |
| From Joyous Leaves | Elliott Gyger | Arcko Symphonic Ensemble, Zubin Kanga, Timothy Phillips | |
| Jerusalem | Georges Lentz | Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson |
Vocal / Choral Work of the Year
| Title | Composer / librettist | Performer | Result |
| Fly Away Peter | Elliott Gyger / Pierce Wilcox, after the novel by David Malouf | Sydney Chamber Opera | |
| Le Molière Imaginaire for eight voices | Andrew Schultz / Timothy Knapman, after the final scene of Molière's Le Malade Imaginaire | I Fagiolini | |
| Malala | Paul Jarman | PLC Sydney Chamber Choir and soloists | |
| Paradise, five songs for soprano, cello and piano | Andrew Schultz | Felicitas Fuchs, Qin Li-Wei, Bernard Lanskey |
Performance of the Year
| Title | Composer / librettist | Performer | Result |
| "Electroacoustic Music for One Percussionist" | Warren Burt, James Hullick, Stuart James, Andrián Pertout, Lindsay Vickery | Louise Devenish | |
| Fly Away Peter | Elliott Gyger | Sydney Chamber Opera | |
| Semaphore | Kate Neal | Semaphore band and dancers | |
| "String Quartet no. 3" | Paul Stanhope | Goldner String Quartet |
Award for Excellence by an Individual
| Individual | Work | Result |
| Andrée Greenwell | Composer and Artistic Director of Green Room Music | |
| Claire Edwardes | Performance, advocacy and artistic leadership | |
| Peter Knight | Sustained contribution through composition, performance and leadership | |
| Ros Dunlop | Sustained contribution to Australian music for over 30 years |
Award for Excellence by an Organisation
| Organisation | Work | Result |
| Arcko Symphonic Ensemble | Presenting From Sorrowing Earth, a celebration of Nigel Butterley | |
| Ensemble Offspring | 2015 activities and sustained services to Australian music for 20 years | |
| Speak Percussion | 2015 Program: performance, commissions, collaborations and education | |
| The Music Show | Promotion, discussion and analysis of Australian music over 25 years |
Award for Excellence in Music Education
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Artology | Fanfare Competition | |
| Australian Art Orchestra | Creative Music Intensive residency project | |
| Queensland Music Festival | Cape York Instrumental Program | |
| SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Compose 120 Projects |
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Moorambilla Voices | Moorambilla Voices 2015 Tenth Anniversary Season | |
| Queensland Music Festival | Under This Sky, a large scale production in the community of Logan | |
| TURA New Music | 2015 Reflection Tour to regional, remote and very remote Australia | |
| Tyalgum Music Festival | 2015 Tyalgum Music Festival |
Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Clan Analogue | Intone: Voice Abstractions | |
| Decibel | After Julia program | |
| Leah Barclay | WIRA River Listening | |
| Speak Percussion | 2015 Music Program |
Award for Excellence in Jazz
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Alister Spence Trio | Alister Spence Trio: Live | |
| Australian Jazz Real Book | Australian Jazz Real Book | |
| Mark Isaacs | Sustained contribution over four decades and 2015 Queensland Regional Tour | |
| WA Youth Jazz Orchestra | Outstanding 2015 annual program |
Distinguished Services to Australian Music
| Organisation / individual | Result |
| Helen Gifford |
Screen Music Awards
Feature Film Score of the Year
| Title | Composer | Result |
| 99 Homes | Antony Partos, Matteo Zingales | |
| Crew Cut | Timothy Cheel, Christopher Larkin | |
| Oddball | Cezary Skubiszewski | |
| The Dressmaker | David Hirschfelder |
Best Music for an Advertisement
| Title | Composer | Result |
| 2016 AICP Opening | Jeremy Yang | |
| Cadbury Marvellous Creations | Rafael May | |
| Country Racing Victoria: – "It's Got it All" | Robert Upward | |
| Rio 2016 Olympics | Sarah Aarons, Anthony Egizii, David Musumeci, Graham Donald |
Best Music for Children's Television
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Bottersnikes and Gumbles: "Up, Up and Away" | Michael Szumowski | |
| ': "Homecoming" | Ricky Edwards, Brett Aplin | |
| The New Adventures of Figaro Pho: "Odd Socks" | Michael Darren, Luke Jurevicius, Christopher Larkin | |
| ': "The Last of Morocco" | Christopher Elves |
Best Music for a Documentary
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Getting Frank Gehry | Caitlin Yeo | |
| Neon | Antony Partos | |
| Putuparri and the Rainmakers | David Bridie | |
| The Will to Fly | Tom Rouch |
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
| Title | Composer | Result |
| The Beautiful Lie | Alan John | |
| DNA Nation | Matteo Zingales | |
| Michael Yezerski, Ashley Irwin | ||
| Secret City | David Bridie |
Best Music for a Short Film
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Banana Boy | Adam Moses | |
| Daisy Chain | Hylton Mowday | |
| Letting Blood | Nicholas Robert Thayer | |
| Ravens | Michael Yezerski, Helen Grimley |
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
| Series or Serial | Episode title | Composer | Result |
| Glitch | "There Is No Justice" | Cornel Wilczek | |
| Janet King | "The Invisible Wound" | Antony Partos | |
| The Principal | Roger Mason | ||
| Wanted | "Series 1 Episode 6" | Michael Yezerski |
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
| Song title | Work | Composer | Result |
| "Dancing in the Darkness" | The Letdown | Darren Seltmann, Sally Seltmann | |
| "Maurice's Big Adventure" | Big Adventure | Sean Peter | |
| "Those Friends of Mine" | Pawno | Tristan Dewey, Tai Jordan, Mark Pearl | |
| "When You Were on the Run" | No Activity | Cameron Bruce |
Best Soundtrack Album
| Title | Composer | Result |
| All About E | Basil Hogios | |
| Only the Dead | Michael Yezerski | |
| Sherpa | Antony Partos | |
| The Dressmaker | David Hirschfelder |
Best Television Theme
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Compass | Caitlin Yeo | |
| Here Come the Habibs | Kyls Burtland | |
| Nos Youm | Peter Cavallo | |
| Tomorrow When the War Began | Cameron Giles-Webb, Colin Simkins |
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
| Composer | Result |
| Adam Gock, Dinesh Wicks | |
| Jay Stewart | |
| Neil Sutherland | |
| Nick Perjanik |
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas
| Composer | Result |
| Adam Gock, Dinesh Wicks | |
| Alastair Ford | |
| Neil Sutherland | |
| Ricky Edwards |