APRA Music Awards 2018

Song of the Year

Nominations and winner for Song of the Year will be determined by APRA members. All members who are currently living in Australia or are Australian citizens living overseas are eligible to vote. Votes are received electronically and tallied by APRA.

Songwriter of the Year

Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an independent Advisory Group, as appointed by the APRA Board, rewarding the songwriter or group of songwriters who have achieved the most impressive body of work in the previous year as reflected by single and album releases, charts, co-writes, awards and tours/supports; and the advisory committee's assessment of the outstanding quality of that body of work. A recipient may receive this award in consecutive years if their achievements are deemed worthy by the Committee. All nominees/recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music is decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors for an individual or group considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the Music industry over a number of years.

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an independent Advisory Group, as appointed by the APRA Board, for an emerging songwriter or group of writers. The recipients’ work should reflect achievements in the previous year based on single and album releases, charts, awards and tours/supports; and the advisory committee's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. All nominees/recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

Overseas Recognition Award

The Overseas Recognition Award is assessed by the APRA Board under the guidance of a Board appointed independent specialist Advisory Committee, for a songwriter or group of writers. The recipients’ work should reflect achievements in the previous year based on International single and album releases, International charts, awards and tours/supports; and the Advisory Committee's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. All nominees/recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

• This category should be inclusive of all genres honouring excellence and achievements within their given genre and field.
• Songwriter or group of songwriters eligible must have at 20% ownership within the work/s being honoured or recognized

Licensee of the Year Award

The Licensee of the Year Award, as assessed by the APRA Board, is designed to reward licensee groups for good music citizenship. The recommended recipient has been selected against the criteria of consistent compliance and demonstrated support of music such as the presentation of local content or innovative use of music.

THE FOLLOWING AWARDS ARE GIVEN BASED ON APRA'S STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

Most Performed Australian Work

Most Performed International Work of the Year

Most Performed Australian Work Overseas

Most Performed Blues and Roots Work of the Year

Call for Blues & Roots Release information is emailed to APRA's membership. Members are asked to submit eligible works via APRA's website for the relevant period.

Data gathered via the website is cross referenced with AIR charts.

Most Performed Country Work of the Year

List of works compiled from the Country Tracks Top 30. This is compiled from radio airplay of tracks released in Australia throughout the relevant period.

Music Network Country Music chart is also used to cross reference with Country Tracks chart.

Most Performed Dance Work of the Year

List of works compiled from ARIA club and AIR dance/electronica charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.

Most Performed Urban Work of the Year

List of works compiled from ARIA Urban chart and cross referenced with ARIA singles Top 100 chart. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.

Most Performed Rock Work of the Year

List of works compiled from ARIA charts and cross referenced with ARIA singles Top 100 chart. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.

Most Performed Pop Work of the Year

List of works compiled from ARIA charts and cross referenced with ARIA singles Top 100 chart. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.

THE AWARDS

1. 15 Awards are conferred

Nine based on APRA's statistical analysis:

• Most Performed Australian Work
• Most Performed Australian Work Overseas
• Most Performed International Work of the Year
• Most Performed Country Work of the Year
• Most Performed Dance Work of the Year
• Most Performed Urban Work of the Year
• Most Performed Blues and Roots Work of the Year
• Most Performed Rock Work of the Year
• Most Performed Pop Work of the Year

One based on voting by APRA members:

• Song of the Year

Five given at the discretion of the Board of Directors of APRA;

• Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
• Songwriter of the Year
• Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Service to Australian Music
• Overseas Recognition Award
• Licensee of the Year

2. The Award is in the form of a trophy suitably inscribed.

ELIGIBILITY AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. For Most Played and Works of the Year (Excluding Most Played Australian Work Overseas and International Work of the Year)

a) An APRA writer member must have co-written a minimum share of 30% in the work.

b) The work must have been released in a 15 month period. For example, for Awards held in 2020, the eligible release date period will be 1st July 2016 to 30th September 2017.

c) Repeat nominations in Work of the Year categories over consecutive years will be reviewed by the APRA Board of Directors.

d) (Including Most Played Australian Work Overseas and International Work of the Year, excluding Song of the Year) Nominees and subsequent winners are determined by performance activity, as reflected by earnings, according to APRA's statistical analysis for the relevant 12 month period.

e) Genre categories are cross referenced with all available chart information, as well as iTunes categories, genres and sub genres.

f) A maximum of two nominations per songwriter applies to these categories

2. For International Work of the Year nominations

a) The work must have been written principally by a member of a collecting society affiliated with APRA.

b) The work must have been released in a 15 month period. For example, the Awards held in 2020, the eligible release date period will be 1st July 2016 to 30th September 2017.

3. Most Played Australian Work Overseas

a) An APRA writer member must have co-written a minimum share of 30% in the work.

b) Nominees and subsequent winners are determined by performance activity, as reflected by earnings, according to APRA's statistical analysis for the relevant 12 month period.

4. The Award for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an independent Advisory Group, as appointed by the APRA Board, for an emerging songwriter or group of writers. The recipients’ work should reflect achievements in the previous year based on single and album releases, charts, awards and tours/supports; and the Advisory Committee's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. All nominees/recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

5. The Award for Songwriter of the Year

Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an independent Advisory Group, as appointed by the APRA Board, rewarding the songwriter or group of songwriters who have achieved the most impressive body of work in the previous year as reflected by single and album releases, charts, co-writes, awards and tours/supports; and the Advisory Committee's assessment of the outstanding quality of that body of work. A recipient may receive this award in consecutive years if their achievements are deemed worthy by the Committee. All nominees/recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

6. The Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music is decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors for an individual or group considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the Music industry over a number of years.

7. APRA Song of the Year

Nominations and winner for Song of the Year will be determined by APRA members. All members who are currently living in Australia or are Australian citizens living overseas are eligible to vote. Votes are received electronically and tallied by APRA.

a) An APRA writer member must have co-written a minimum share of 30% in the work.

b) The work must have been released in the relevant 12 month calendar period. For example, the Awards held in 2020, the eligible release date period will be 1st October 2016 to 30th September 2017.

8. Overseas Recognition Award

The Overseas Recognition Award is assessed by the APRA Board under the guidance of a Board appointed independent specialist Advisory Committee, for a songwriter or group of writers. This category should be inclusive of all genres honouring excellence and achievements within their given genre and field. The recipients’ work should reflect achievements in the previous year based on International single and album releases, International charts, awards and tours/supports; and the Advisory Committee's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. All recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.

9. Licensee of the Year Award

The Licensee of the Year Award as assessed by the APRA Board, is designed to reward licensee groups for good music citizenship. The recommended recipient has been selected against the criteria of consistent compliance and demonstrated support of music such as the presentation of local content or innovative use of music.

INFORMATION, ADVICE AND DISPUTES

For assistance with information, advice or the resolution of disputes, members in the first instance should direct queries to the Director of Member Services, who may respond directly or refer the matter to the APRA Board.