New Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award announced
First prize of $5,000 cash and $20,000 worth of industry mentoring sessions
Applications open now until Monday 16 June
The recipients will be announced at the APRA AMCOS offices in Sydney on Thursday 24 July
A brand-new award for Australian songwriters, the Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award, has been announced today in honour of the late artist manager, who sadly passed away in September 2024.
Torossian was a passionate supporter of local songwriters, finding and nurturing some of the country’s most prolific songwriting talent including David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA), Lindsay Rimes and Sarah Aarons, and the award aims to continue that legacy.
The inaugural Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award, which will be presented in July 2025, is open to all songwriters who are aspiring to make a career in the music industry and have started to establish a commercial body of work. Entrants must be APRA AMCOS members based in Australia who are committed to a career as a songwriter.
There are two career-changing prizes up for grabs. First prize is $5,000 cash plus $20,000 worth of songwriting and mentoring sessions with some of the industry’s leading names.
There are five songwriting sessions with Andrew Lowden (Thrones), David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi (DNA), Evie Irie, Gary Pinto and Michael Fatkin, and five mentoring sessions with Lorrae McKenna (Golden Grants), Michael Parisi (management), Paul Harris (Warner Music A&R), Rachel Kelly (Unified Publishing) and Sammie Walsh (Beehive PR).
Second prize is a year's career development course ‘Songwriter Success Masterplan’ at the Australian Songwriters Conference, valued at $6,500.
David Musumeci from DNA Songs, explains: “Diana's passing left a gaping hole in the hearts of the many lives she touched. Di managed us (DNA) for over 16 years and together we experienced so many incredible moments that will never be forgotten.
“Diana loved music. She loved everything about it; the artists, the industry, but above all the songs. Di loved working with songwriters as she believed they were the unsung heroes of the music world. I’m so proud that her legacy gets to live on through this amazing award.”
“Di was not only my manager but also my best friend and being a part of her life journey for me was a blessing I’m not sure will ever be beaten”, adds Andrew Lowden.
“She was, as anyone that knew her knows, a firebrand of fierce advocacy for writers and producers, a publishing and sync oracle and an all-round storm in a teacup. This was all fueled by a quiet deep reverence for the power of music and I’d give anything to have one more late-night conversation with her about Siouxsie and the Banshees or Monsoon.
“I’m overjoyed that her legacy gets to live on in the form of this award and I know that she would be so proud that she can still have a hand in shepherding songwriters to the world.”
Entries are open now until 5.30PM (AEST) Monday 16 June 2025. A panel of leading industry professionals will judge the award with the winners announced at a special event on Thursday 24 July at the APRA AMCOS offices in Sydney.
Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, concludes: “Diana’s untimely passing last year was a huge loss to the Australian music community. Given her dedication and passion for Australia’s best and brightest new talent, it seems only fitting that this award has been established in her name, and we are delighted to be able to support it to help the next generation of songwriters get their foot on the ladder.”
