The National Songbook announced with the NFSA
A new national honour celebrating the songs that define Australia
The first 10 iconic songs will be inducted at the NFSA in Canberra on 4 November
The songs will be chosen by a panel of eminent industry experts, chaired by APRA Chair Jenny Morris MNZM OAM and NFSA Chair Annette Shun Wah
In celebration of 100 years of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and 90 Years of the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA), the two organisations have established The National Songbook, a major new national honour recognising the songs that have helped shape Australia’s cultural identity.
The National Songbook is a brand-new annual event and collection celebrating the music that has shaped Australia's cultural identity across generations. Each year, a selection of the nation’s most culturally significant songs will be inducted and preserved, honouring their creators and ensuring these culturally significant works remain accessible for future generations.
The songs will be chosen by a panel of eminent industry experts from across the musical spectrum, including songwriters, composers, media and academics, chaired by APRA Chair Jenny Morris MNZM OAM and NFSA Chair Annette Shun Wah.
For songs to be eligible for consideration, they must be written or co-written by an Australian APRA member; have been released at least 10 years ago to allow for cultural reflection; be an original composition, professionally recorded and/or published; and demonstrate significant cultural impact within Australia. Songs from all genres and eras will be considered, including screen compositions and soundtracks of national cultural significance.
Panel members will each independently nominate songs for consideration, forming a long list of potential inductees spanning generations, genres and communities. The inaugural induction honouring the first 10 songs will take place at the NFSA in Canberra on Wednesday 4 November, kicking off Ausmusic Month with a celebration of Australian songwriting.
Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS explains: “The National Songbook will recognise and celebrate the iconic songs and scores that define who we are as Australians. The music that carries our stories, our histories and our shared moments, connecting us across generations and communities and across the nation.
“As we celebrate our centenary this year, there is no more fitting moment to formalise this rare and important partnership with a national cultural institution. Together with the NFSA, we will honour the extraordinary depth and diversity of Australian songwriting, and ensure these works are preserved, celebrated and made accessible to all Australians for generations to come.”
Meagan Loader, Chief Curator of the NFSA adds: “Songs are more than entertainment – they are cultural touchstones that describe who we are, capture the moments that have shaped us and live in our muscle memory, in our very heart beats. The National Songbook will be a living collection of Australia's most significant songs, ensuring they are celebrated as part of our national story. Our partnership with APRA AMCOS honours the creators of these extraordinary works and helps safeguard their legacy long term.”
The National Songbook is the latest in a year-long calendar of centenary celebrations for APRA, which was founded in 1926 and now as APRA AMCOS is Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest music rights management organisation, representing over 128,000 music creators.
For more information on The National Songbook, visit nfsa.gov.au.
