APRA Music Awards of 2018
The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2018 are a series of related awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards of 2018 was the 36th 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 10 April 2018 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. The host for the ceremony was Julia Zemiro.
The Art Music Awards ceremony was held on 21 August 2018 at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. They were presented by APRA, AMCOS 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 19 November at the Melbourne Recital Centre by APRA, AMCOS and Australian Guild of Screen Composers, which "acknowledges excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition."
In mid-March nominations for the APRA Music Awards were announced on multiple news sources: M-Phazes and Peter James Harding Thief both received the most with four nominations each. Midnight Oil were honoured by the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Songwriter of the Year was A.B. Original's Adam Briggs and Daniel Rankine. A new category, Licensee of the Year Award, was introduced and the Settlers Tavern in Margaret River, Western Australia is the inaugural winner.
APRA Music Awards
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| Alex Lahey | Alex Lahey | Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| Ben Abraham | Ben Abraham | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia WGBR Music | |
| Celia Pavey Vera Blue | Celia Pavey | Universal Music Publishing / Canal Music Publishing | |
| Gretta Ray | Gretta Ray | ||
| Sarah Aarons | Sarah Aarons | Sony/ATV Music Publishing |
Country Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Ain't No Little Girl" – Kasey Chambers | Kasey Chambers | Mushroom Music | |
| "Don't Wish It All Away" – The McClymonts | Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont, Lindsey Jackson | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| "House" – The McClymonts | Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont, Sarah Aarons, Michael Fatkin | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing | |
| "Kiss Somebody" – Morgan Evans | Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne | Warner/Chappell Music Publishing SongsByMe, Sony/ATV Music Publishing CDs Words & Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Smackville Music and Anderson Fork in the Road Music | |
| "My Breakup Anthem" – Caitlyn Shadbolt | Caitlyn Shadbolt, Jared Porter |
Dance Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Call on Me " – Starley | Starley Hope, Peter Wadams | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Alive and Well Songs, Kobalt Music Publishing P-Money Music | |
| "Chameleon" – Pnau | Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes | Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Chenfeld | |
| "Fake Magic" – Peking Duk featuring AlunaGeorge | Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Sam Littlemore, Laura Lowther, Frances Dewji, George Reid | Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing | |
| "Mind Made Up" – Cookin' on 3 Burners featuring Kylie Auldist | Lance Ferguson, Ivan Khatchoyan, Jake Mason | Universal Music Publishing, Origin Music Publishing | |
| "Stranger" – Peking Duk featuring Elliphant | Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Kaelyn Behr, Elliphant, Daniel Goudie, Ashley Milton | Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Publishing Company Ten AB and Prescription Songs, BMG |
International Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "24K Magic" – Bruno Mars | Bruno Mars, Christopher Brown, Philip Lawrence | Warner/Chappell Music, Warner/Chappell Music Late 80's Music and Thou Art the Hunger, Universal/MCA Music ZZR Music | |
| "Castle on the Hill" – Ed Sheeran | Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing Please Don't Forget to Pay Me Music | |
| "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran | Ed Sheeran, Kevin Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle, Steven McCutcheon, John McDaid | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, BMG and Warner/Chappell Music She K'em Down and Pepper Drive Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Kandacy Music and Tony Mercedes Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Tiny Tam Music and Tony Mercedes Music, Universal Music Publishing Rokstone Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Spirit B-Unique Polar Patrol | |
| "Something Just Like This" – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay | Andrew Taggart, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nice Hair Publishing, Universal Music Publishing MGB | |
| "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" – Shawn Mendes | Shawn Mendes, Scott Friedman, Teddy Geiger, Geoffrey Warburton | Universal/MCA Music Publishing Mendes Music, Warner/Chappell Music, BMG and Mushroom Music Big Deal Music LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing |
Licensee of the Year Award
| Venue | Location | Result |
| Settlers Tavern | Margaret River, Western Australia |
Most Played Australian Work
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Adore" – Amy Shark | Amy Billings, Mark Landon | Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing | |
| "Call on Me " – Starley | Starley Hope, Peter Wadams | Sony/ATV Music Publishing Alive and Well Songs, Kobalt Music Publishing P-Money Music | |
| "Chameleon" – Pnau | Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes | Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Chenfeld | |
| "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy | Kayla Rae Bonnici, Peter James Harding, Louis Schoorl | Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music | |
| "Stranger" – Peking Duk featuring Elliphant | Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Kaelyn Behr, Elliphant, Daniel Goudie, Ashley Milton | Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Publishing Company Ten AB and Prescription Songs, BMG |
Most Played Australian Work Overseas
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Cheap Thrills" – Sia | Sia Furler, Gregory Kurstin | Sony/ATV Music Publishing |
Overseas Recognition Award
| Writer | Publisher | Result |
| Ben Abraham | Sony/ATV Music Publishing WGBR Music | |
| Kylie Sackley |
Pop Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Adore" – Amy Shark | Amy Billings, Mark Landon | Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing | |
| "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy | Kayla Rae Bonnici, Peter James Harding, Louis Schoorl | Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music | |
| "Lay It on Me" – Vance Joy | James Keogh, Dave Bassett | Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Reservoir Media Music | |
| "Set in Stone" – Guy Sebastian | Guy Sebastian, Stuart Crichton, Taylor Parks | Universal Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music Taylor Monet Music | |
| "Waves" – Dean Lewis | Dean Lewis, Nicholas Atkinson, Edward Holloway | Kobalt Music Publishing Specific Music, BMG Stage 3 Music Publishing, BMG |
Rock Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Brace" – Birds of Tokyo | Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston | Mushroom Music | |
| "Creepin" – Kingswood | Alex Laska | Native Tongue Music Publishing | |
| "Empire" – Birds of Tokyo | Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston, David Bottrill | Mushroom Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Real World Music | |
| "Scott Green" – Dune Rats | Danny Beusaraus, Brett Jansch, BC Michaels, Zachary Carper | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Big Deal Music LLC | |
| "The Producer" – Cable Ties | Shauna Boyle, Nicholas Brown, Jennifer McKechnie |
Song of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy | Kayla Rae Bonnici, Peter James Harding, Louis Schoorl | Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music | |
| "Firewood and Candles" – Paul Kelly | Paul Kelly, Billy Miller | Sony/ATV Music Publishing | |
| "Running Second" – Ainslie Wills | Ainslie Wills, Lawrence Folvig | Sony/ATV Music Publishing | |
| "Weekends" – Amy Shark | Amy Billings | Mushroom Music | |
| "What Can I Do if the Fire Goes Out" – Gang of Youths | David Le'aupepe | Universal Music Publishing |
Songwriter of the Year
- A.B. Originals Adam Briggs Briggs and Daniel Rankine Trials
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
- Midnight Oil members Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Martin Rotsey, Jim Moginie and Bones Hillman
Urban Work of the Year
| Title and/or artist | Writer | Publisher | Result |
| "Catch 22" – Alasdair Murray Illy featuring Anne-Marie | Alasdair Murray Illy, Mark Landon M-Phazes, Grant Michaels, Suzanne Shinn | Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing Songs Music Publishing | |
| "Moments" – Bliss n Eso featuring Gavin James | Kaelyn Behr, Peter James Harding Thief, Max Mackinnon MC Eso, Nicholas Martin, Jonathan Notley MC Bliss, Ryan Vojtesak | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Mushroom Music, Universal/MCA Music Publishing | |
| "Oh My" – Illy featuring Jenna McDougall | Alasdair Murray, Mark Landon M-Phazes, Jefferson Wolfe | Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing | |
| "Simulation" – Tkay Maidza | Tkay Maidza, Jessica Higgs George Maple, Luke McKay | Kobalt Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Utopian Ideas Pty Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process | |
| "Think About It" – Thundamentals featuring Peta & the Wolves | Jesse Ferris, Morgan Jones, Kevin Kerr, Brendan Tuckerman, Peta Jeffress | Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing The Kennel AB |
Art Music Awards
Instrumental Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| Aspects of Return | Jakub Jankowski | Nicolas Altstaedt and Aleksandar Madžar | |
| Cantor | Lisa Illean | Ensemble Offspring | |
| Up in the Clouds | Corrina Bonshek | All of the Above | |
| When We Speak | Lisa Cheney | Gemma Tomlinson |
Jazz Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| part | Ellen Kirkwood | Sirens Big Band, Andrea Keller, Sandy Evans, Gian Slater | |
| American Counterpoint | Matthew Sheens | Matthew Sheens, Lyndon Gray, Myele Manzanza, Zephyr String Quartet | |
| Opioid | Johannes Luebbers | Johannes Luebbers Dectet | |
| rockpoolmirror | Sandy Evans | Sandy Evans, Steve Elphick, Alon Ilsar, Satsuki Odamura, Adrian Sherriff, Bobby Singh |
Orchestral Work of the Year
| Title | Composer | Performer | Result |
| "Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra" | Paul Stanhope | Joshua Davis, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Asher Fisch | |
| "Entropia for Symphony Orchestra, no. 441 " | Andrián Pertout | Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, Guerassim Voronkov | |
| "Spirals for Clarinet, Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra" | Maria Grenfell | Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, James Feddeck, Andrew Seymour, Tahnee van Herk | |
| Spiritus | Lachlan Skipworth | West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Blendulf |
Vocal / Choral Work of the Year
| Title | Composer / librettist | Performer | Result |
| Biographica | Mary Finsterer / Tom Wright | Sydney Chamber Opera, Ensemble Offspring, Jack Symonds | |
| Comeclose and Sleepnow: six Liverpool love songs | Andrew Ford / poems by Adrian Henri, Brian McGough, Brian Patten | The Monash Art Ensemble, with Gian Slater, Paul Grabowsky | |
| Fiat Lux: The Light Cycle | Alice Chance | Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, The Song Company, Alice Chance, Benjamin Burton, Michelle Leonard | |
| On Earth as in Heaven | Anne Cawrse / text by Michael Leunig | Adelaide Chamber Singers, Christie Anderson |
Performance of the Year
| Title | Composer / librettist | Performer | Result |
| A Book of Migrations | Liam Flenady | Matthew Horsley | |
| Lobster Tales and Turtle Soup | Holly Harrison | Eighth Blackbird | |
| Maali, op. 101 – "Concerto for oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn with orchestra" | Andrew Schultz | West Australian Symphony Orchestra and soloists; Simone Young | |
| "String Quintet No. 2" | Gordon Kerry | Australian String Quartet and Pieter Wispelwey |
Award for Excellence by an Individual
| Individual | Work | Result |
| Carl Vine | 2017 activities | |
| Connor D'Netto | Outstanding artistic direction of Argo throughout 2017 | |
| Keyna Wilkins | Activities in original art music throughout 2017 as a composer-musician including the release of three original albums |
Award for Excellence by an Organisation
| Organisation | Work | Result |
| Australian Art Orchestra | Collaboration, touring, mentorship and innovative programming | |
| Gondwana Choirs | "Songs of My Country" collaboration with the Vienna Boys Choir | |
| Move Records | 50 years of recording and release of new music | |
| Tura New Music | 30 years of presenting, producing, commissioning, exhibiting, publishing, advocating and supporting Australian art music |
Award for Excellence in Music Education
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Australian Art Orchestra | Creative Music Intensive | |
| Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Wind Symphony | MCM Wind Symphony Performances | |
| MLC School, Sydney | MLC School Sydney Opera House Concert 2017 | |
| Young Music Society | 50 years of community youth music activity |
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Big hART | Acoustic Life of Sheds | |
| Moorambilla Voices | 2017 season | |
| The Orpheus Club String Quartet | 2017 "Festival in a String Quartet" Central QLD tour | |
| Tyalgum Music Festival | 2017 Tyalgum Music Festival |
Award for Excellence in Experimental Music
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Chamber Made | Between 8 and 9 with lead artists Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey | |
| Eugene Ughetti | Assembly Operation | |
| Splinter Orchestra | New work, performances, exhibitions and concerts | |
| Vanessa Tomlinson, Leah Barclay and John Ferguson | 100 Ways to Listen |
Award for Excellence in Jazz
| Organisation / individual | Work | Result |
| Alister Spence Trio | Not Everything But Enough | |
| Barney McAll | Hearing the Blood | |
| Jeremy Rose | Recording, performance, composition and promotion of contemporary jazz through Earshift Music | |
| Sandy Evans | rockpoolmirror |
Distinguished Services to Australian Music
| Organisation / individual | Result |
| Robyn Holmes |
Screen Music Awards
Feature Film Score of the Year
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Brothers' Nest | Richard Pleasance | |
| Fahrenheit 451 | Matteo Zingales, Antony Partos | |
| Ladies in Black | Christopher Gordon | |
| The Butterfly Tree | Caitlin Yeo |
Best Music for an Advertisement
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Forty Winks | Jackson Milas | |
| Singapore Airlines: "The Briefcase" | Scott Langley | |
| Tiger Beer: "Chinese New Year" | Ben Lam | |
| Tourism Tasmania: "Go Behind the Scenery XI" | Nicholas West, Daniel Higson, Antony Smith |
Best Music for Children's Television
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Guess How Much I Love You: "Christmas to the Moon and Back" | Ryan Grogan | |
| Jar Dwellers SOS! | David Cheshire | |
| The Deep: "The Missing" | Nerida Tyson-Chew | |
| The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill: "The Budgie Smuggler" | Russell Thornton |
Best Music for a Documentary
| Title | Composer | Result |
| My Mother's Lost Children | Dale Cornelius | |
| The Director and the Jedi | Antony Partos | |
| A Stargazer's Guide to the Cosmos | Sean Tinnion | |
| The Story of Earth | Dale Cornelius |
Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Mystery Road | Antony Partos, Matteo Zingales | |
| The House with Annabel Crabb | Caitlin Yeo | |
| Burkhard Dallwitz | ||
| Wake in Fright | Antony Partos, Matteo Zingales |
Best Music for a Short Film
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Abandon Tryptich | Kyls Burtland | |
| Barbara | Caitlin Yeo | |
| Lost and Found | Adrian Sergovich | |
| The Passion Films: Alice | Basil Hogios |
Best Music for a Television Series or Serial
| Series or Serial | Composer | Result |
| The Doctor Blake Mysteries | Dale Cornelius | |
| Glitch | Cornel Wilczek | |
| Harrow | Matteo Zingales | |
| Picnic at Hanging Rock | Cezary Skubiszewski, Jan Skubiszewski |
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen
| Song title | Work | Composer | Result |
| "Everywhere's a Dance Floor" | The Justine Clarke Show | Justine Clark, Sean Peter | |
| "Grace Beside Me" | Grace Beside Me | Amanda Brown, Emily Wurramara | |
| "Now I Know" | Pulse | Oscar Joe Gross | |
| "Prison Bound" | Brothers' Nest | Richard Pleasance, Jojo Rainwater |
Best Soundtrack Album
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Every Day | Elliott Wheeler | |
| Fahrenheit 451 | Matteo Zingales, Antony Partos | |
| Ghosthunter | Rafael May | |
| The Butterfly Tree | Caitlin Yeo |
Best Television Theme
| Title | Composer | Result |
| Harrow | Matteo Zingales | |
| Lawless - The Real Bushrangers | Rafael May | |
| Oddlands | Joff Bush | |
| A Stargazer's Guide to the Cosmos | Sean Tinnion |
Most Performed Screen Composer – Australia
| Composer | Result |
| Adam Gock, Dinesh Wicks | |
| Jay Stewart | |
| Mitch Stewart | |
| Neil Sutherland |
Most Performed Screen Composer – Overseas
| Composer | Result |
| Alastair Ford | |
| Garry McDonald, Lawrence Stone | |
| Jed Kurzel | |
| Neil Sutherland |
Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen
| Organisation / individual | Result |
| Robert Connolly |