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Nominees revealed for the 2022 APRA Music Awards!

Media Published Thursday 7 April 2022

APRA is proud to announce the nominees for the 2022 APRA Music Awards.

The Awards will be presented on Tuesday 3 May at Melbourne Town Hall.


APRA AMCOS has today announced the nominees for the 2022 APRA Music Awards – the annual marquee event that recognises the achievements of its songwriter and publisher members. And what a list it is! Led by The Kid LAROI with four nods, closely followed by Vance Joy with three (Most Performed Australian Work, Most Performed Alternative Work for Missing Piece and Most Performed Pop Work as a co-writer on You with Benny Blanco and Marshmello), the roll call features songwriters spanning Pop, Rock, Country, R&B, Hip Hop, Rap, Soul, Blues & Roots, and Dance genres.

The Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year cohort sees Rob Hirst on the list for the second year in a row. This year Rob has been nominated with co-writer Tasman Keith for the uncompromising First Nation from Midnight Oil’s The Makarrata Project. Rob Hirst and co-writers Bunna Lawrie and Joel Davison took out Song of the Year in 2021 with Gadigal Land.

The rise and rise of The Kid LAROI continues as he makes his first appearance in the Peer-Voted category with the punchy anthem STAY, the global hit co-written with Justin Bieber. The Kid LAROI was the 2021 Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and is this year’s leading nominee.

Landing on the Peer-Voted Song of the Year list for the first time is Amyl and The Sniffers with the blistering Guided by Angels. This recognition by their peers is the debut in any APRA category for songwriters Fergus Romer, Amy Taylor and Bryce Wilson. 2022 Grammy nominees Hiatus Kaiyote have also scored their maiden APRA nomination. The future soul band is acknowledged for the stripped back drum and groove song Red Room from their third album Mood Valiant.

Another songwriter making his APRA debut is Genesis Owusu. With co-writers Michael Di Francesco, Andrew Klippel and Julian Sudek they are acknowledged for The Other Black Dog. Genesis has been on a roll, taking out the Australian Music Prize and top honours in the 2021 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition.

Genesis Owusu is also nominated in a strong field for the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. He is joined by Brisbane-based artist Sycco, whose 2020 single Nicotine instantly captured attention, paving the way for her unique songwriting to shine. Sycco is joined by Khaled Rohaim, the Grammy-nominated producer who works from his studio in Sydney and has produced songs for the likes of Rihanna and Ariana Grande. Also on the Breakthrough list are Sydney rapper Masked Wolf and Tyron Hapi, who took social media by storm with Astronaut in the Ocean, which became TikTok’s song of the year in 2021. First time nominees, in 2021 they joined APRA AMCOS' The 1,000,000,000 List, a special award that recognises more than one billion streams across the major streaming platforms.

R&B wunderkind Budjerah rounds out the Breakthrough category capping off an incredible year since the release of his self-titled debut Budjerah in 2021.

Budjerah is a dual nominee along with multiple APRA Award-winner Amy Shark, who showcases her songwriting versatility on collaborations with Travis Barker in the Most Performed Alternative Work for C’Mon and Ed Sheeran in the Most Performed Country Work for Love Songs Ain’t For Us, featuring Keith Urban.

Guy Sebastian is nominated twice for Love On Display, in the same categories as Tones And I (Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work) for Fly Away. John Courtidis and his co-writers, including songwriting partner Dan Dare (the duo pka Kolidescopes) receive nods with writing credits on Joel Corry’s Head & Heart (Feat. MNEK), the blockbuster hit that saw John earn a place on The 1,000,000,000 List.

The 40th anniversary edition of the APRA Music Awards will be held on Tuesday 3 May at Melbourne Town Hall, co-hosted by Julia Zemiro and R&B / Soul Work nominee Jerome Farah (for Vibrate). Musical Director François Tétaz will curate the live performances for the milestone event.

Stayed tuned for more details and an announcement of live performances.

Playlists of the nominated songs can be streamed on YouTube Music, Spotify and Apple Music.


2022 APRA Music Awards nominations

Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year

Title: First Nation
Artist: Midnight Oil feat. Jessica Mauboy & Tasman Keith
Writers: Rob Hirst / Tasman Keith*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / SFM Publishing*

Title: Guided by Angels
Artist: Amyl and the Sniffers
Writers: Fergus Romer / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson

Title: Red Room
Artist: Hiatus Kaiyote
Writers: Paul Bender / Simon Mavin / Perrin Moss / Naomi Saalfield
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing

Title: STAY
Artist: The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Writers: The Kid LAROI / Justin Bieber* / Isaac De Boni# / Omer Fedi* / Magnus Hoiberg^ / Michael Mule# / Charlie Puth+ / Subhaan Rahman / Blake Slatkin*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Warner Chappell Music^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Native Tongue Music Publishing#

Title: The Other Black Dog
Artist: Genesis Owusu
Writers: Genesis Owusu / Michael Di Francesco* / Andrew Klippel^ / Julian Sudek*
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Ourness Songs / Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic* / Mushroom Music obo Ourness Songs^

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Writer: Budjerah
Publisher: Mushroom Music

Writer: Genesis Owusu
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Ourness Songs

Writer: Khaled Rohaim
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / BMG

Writers: Tyron Hapi & Harry Michael* pka Masked Wolf
Publishers: BMG / Warner Chappell Music*

Writer: Sycco
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

Most Performed Australian Work

Title: Fly Away
Artist: Tones and I
Writer: Toni Watson
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Head & Heart
Artist: Joel Corry feat. MNEK
Writers: Jonathan Courtidis# / Joel Corry / Uzoechi Emenike* / Neve Applebaum# / Daniel Dare# / Robert Harvey^ / Kashif Siddiqui# / Lewis Thompson+
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music* / Mushroom Music^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Sony Music Publishing#

Title: Love On Display
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian* / Julian Bunetta^ / Ian Franzino / Andrew Haas^ / John Ryan^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^

Title: Missing Piece
Artist: Vance Joy
Writers: James Keogh pka Vance Joy / Joel Little*
Publishers: Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*

Title: Without You
Artist: The Kid LAROI
Writers: The Kid LAROI / Omer Fedi* / Blake Slatkin* / Billy Walsh*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing*

Most Performed Alternative Work

Title: C’Mon
Artist: Amy Shark feat. Travis Barker
Writers: Amy Shark / Travis Barker*
Publishers: Mushroom Music / BMG*

Title: Falling Up
Artist: Dean Lewis
Writers: Dean Lewis / Thomas Barnes^ / Hayden Calnin* / Peter Kelleher^ / Benjamin Kohn^ / Philip Plested+
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / Gaga Music* / BMG^ / Sony Music Publishing+

Title: Masterpiece
Artist: The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Zac Margin / Samuel Margin / William Zeglis
Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Missing Piece
Artist: Vance Joy
Writers: Vance Joy / Joel Little*
Publishers: Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*

Title: Reality Check Please
Artist: Lime Cordiale
Writers: Louis Leimbach* / Oliver Leimbach* / David Haddad^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^

Most Performed Blues & Roots Work

Title: Catch Me
Artist: Robbie Miller
Writer: Robert Miller

Title: Hungry Heart
Artist: Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald
Writers: Josh Teskey / Ash Grunwald
Publisher: Mushroom Music

Title: Letting Go
Artist: Ziggy Alberts
Writer: Ziggy Alberts
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Power Without Greed
Artist: The Bamboos
Writers: Kylie Auldist / Lance Ferguson
Publisher: BMG

Title: Stoney Creek
Artist: Xavier Rudd
Writer: Xavier Rudd
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

Most Performed Country Work

Title: Breakups
Artist: Seaforth
Writers: Cameron Bedell / Thomas Jordan / Liz Rose / Mitchell Thompson
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music

Title: Come Turn Me On
Artist: Casey Barnes
Writers: Casey Barnes / Kaci Brown* / Samuel Gray*
Publishers: Mushroom Music / Kobalt Music Publishing*

Title: Dig
Artist: Fanny Lumsden
Writers: Fanny Lumsden* / Benjamin Corbett / Dan Freeman
Publishers: Cooking Vinyl Publishing*

Title: Love Songs Ain’t For Us
Artist: Amy Shark feat. Keith Urban
Writers: Amy Shark / Ed Sheeran*
Publishers: Mushroom Music / Sony Music Publishing*

Title: Short Lived Love
Artist: Brad Cox
Writer: Brad Cox
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work

Title: Get on the Beers
Artist: Mashd N Kutcher feat. Dan Andrews
Writers: Adam Morris / Matthew Ough
Publisher: BMG

Title: Head & Heart
Artist: Joel Corry feat. MNEK
Writers: Jonathan Courtidis# / Joel Corry / Uzoechi Emenike* / Neve Applebaum# / Daniel Dare# / Robert Harvey^ / Kashif Siddiqui# / Lewis Thompson+
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music* / Mushroom Music^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Sony Music Publishing#

Title: Let’s Love
Artist: David Guetta & SIA
Writers: Sia Furler* / David Guetta^ / Giorgio Tuinfort / Marcus van Wattum
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Origin Music Publishing^

Title: Nothing to Love About Love
Artist: Peking Duk & The Wombats
Writers: Adam Hyde* / Matthew Murphy^ / Reuben Styles-Richards* / Tyler Spry
Publishers: BMG* / Kobalt Music Publishing^

Title: River
Artist: PNAU & Ladyhawke
Writers: Phillipa Brown* / Nick Littlemore / Sam Littlemore^ / Peter Mayes
Publishers: BMG* / 120 Music Publishing^

Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work

Title: Loyalty
Artist: HP Boyz
Writers: Samoa Fune / Nepomsein Irakunda / Savelio Mika / Augustino Taito

Title: My City
Artist: OneFour & The Kid LAROI
Writers: Isaac De Boni / Spencer Magalogo* / Jerome Misa* / Michael Mule / Subhaan Rahman^ / Khaled Rohaim+ / The Kid LAROI* / Solo Tohi* / Willie Tafa / Keanu Torres*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Warner Chappell Music^ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing+

Title: Send It
Artist: Hooligan Hefs
Writers: Kiril Ivanovski / Simeona Malagamaalii*
Publishers: BMG / Mushroom Music*

Title: Stand For
Artist: ChillinIT feat Lisi
Writers: Benjamin Sutton* / Blake Turnell^ / Rilind Kocinaj / Tahlis Poasa
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^

Title: Without You
Artist: The Kid LAROI
Writers: The Kid LAROI / Omer Fedi* / Blake Slatkin* / Billy Walsh*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing*

Most Performed Pop Work

Title: Dramatic
Artist: Cat & Calmell
Writers: Cat Stratton / Calmell Teagle / Andrew Hopkins*
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing*

Title: Fly Away
Artist: Tones And I
Writer: Toni Watson
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

Title: Josh
Artist: Peach PRC
Writers: Sharlee Curnow* / Liam Quinn
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing*

Title: Love On Display
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian / Julian Bunetta* / Ian Franzino* / Andrew Haas* / John Ryan*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music*

Title: You
Artist: Benny Blanco, Marshmello & Vance Joy
Writers: Vance Joy+ / Benny Blanco* / Marshmello^ / Caroline Pennell^ / Blake Slatkin*
Publishers: Mushroom Music obo WAU Publishing+ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^

Most Performed R&B / Soul Work

Title: Higher
Artist: Budjerah
Writers: Matt Corby / Budjerah*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Mushroom Music*

Title: How?
Artist: Youngn Lipz
Writers: Filipo Faaoloii / Peter Klappas

Title: Made for Silence
Artist: Miiesha
Writers: Miiesha Young* / Lucian Blomkamp* / Stephen Collins / Jordan Panasewych^
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / BMG^

Title: Please U
Artist: Becca Hatch
Writers: Becca Hatch / Isaia Atoni* / Jakiel Fuimaono* / Jamie Muscat / Edward Tafa* / Willie Tafa / Solo Tohi^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^

Title: Vibrate
Artist: Jerome Farah
Writer: Jerome Farah
Publisher: Mushroom Music

Most Performed Rock Work

Title: Flesh and Blood
Artist: Jimmy Barnes
Writers: Jimmy Barnes / Mark Lizotte*
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Mushroom Music*

Title: Lots of Nothing
Artist: Spacey Jane
Writers: Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu / Caleb Harper / Kieran Lama / Peppa Lane
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process

Title: Shot in the Dark
Artist: AC/DC
Writers: Angus Young / Malcolm Young
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing obo Australian Music Corporation

Title: The Angel of 8th Avenue
Artist: Gang of Youths
Writers: Dominik Borzestowski / Maxwell Dunn / Thomas Hobden/ Jung Kim / David Le’aupepe*
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing*

Title: The Waterboy
Artist: You Am I
Writer: Tim Rogers
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing

Most Performed International Work

Title: drivers license
Artist: Olivia Rodrigo
Writers: Olivia Rodrigo / Daniel Nigro
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

Title: Lasting Lover
Artist: Sigala & James Arthur
Writers: James Arthur^ / Bruce Fielder* / Lewis Capaldi+ / Luke Fitton^ / Benjamin Goldwasser* / Jarl Hasselquist / Corey Sanders# / Andrew Vanwyngarden*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^ / BMG+ /
Kobalt Music Publishing#

Title: Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Artist: Lil Nas X
Writers: Lil Nas X * / Denzel Baptiste^ / David Biral^ / Omer Fedi^ / Rosario Lenzo^
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing^

Title: Take You Dancing
Artist: Jason Derulo
Writers: Jason Derulo / Teemu Brunila* / Shawn Charles / Emanuel Kiriakou^ / Sarah Solovay#
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^ / Native Tongue Music Publishing#

Title: The Business
Artist: Tiësto
Writers: Tiësto / James Bell* / Julia Karlsson^ / Anton Rundberg^
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / BMG* / Warner Chappell Music^