The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honoring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.
The 2025 APRA Music Awards will be held in Melbourne, Naarm on Wednesday 30 April.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Nominees and subsequent winners for the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year are determined by votes from APRA members. All APRA 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 AMCOS.
Emerging Songwriter of the Year
Emerging Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an external judging panel, as appointed by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, 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 judging panel'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.
Songwriter of the Year
Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an external judging panel, as appointed by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, 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 judging panel's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. A recipient may receive this award in consecutive years if their achievements are deemed worthy. All recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board.
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.
International Recognition Award
The International Recognition Award is assessed by an external judging panel, as appointed by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, based on international recognition for a songwriter or group of songwriters who are having remarkable success overseas. 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 Judging Panel's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, composed songs of outstanding quality. All recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board.
The award differs from our existing performance-based awards and provides the Board with the flexibility to recognise those members that have achieved major success overseas but have only experienced low level chart success in Australia. Accordingly, the award would preclude any member who is being considered in the current performance-based awards criteria/calculations. This category should be inclusive of all genres honouring excellence and achievements within their given genre and field.
Licensee of the Year Award
The Licensee of the Year Award, as decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, is designed to reward licensee groups for good music citizenship. The recommended recipient is selected against the criteria of consistent compliance and demonstrated support of music such as the presentation of local content or innovative use of music.
Most Performed Australian Work
Most Performed International Work
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas
Most Performed Alternative Work
List of works compiled from ARIA, AIR, Shazam, and the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
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.
A further list of works compiled from ARIA, AIR, & Shazam charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Country Work
List of works compiled from the Country Tracks Top 40 which is created from radio airplay of tracks released in Australia throughout the relevant period.
ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums chart is also used to cross reference with Country Tracks chart.
Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work
List of works compiled from ARIA Dance Singles, ARIA Dance Albums, AIR, Shazam and the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
List of works compiled from a ARIA, AIR, Shazam, the National Indigenous Music charts along with other streaming sources. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work
List of works compiled from ARIA Hip Hop / R&B, AIR, Shazam and the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Pop Work
List of works compiled from ARIA, AIR, Shazam, the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed Rock Work
List of works compiled from ARIA, AIR, Shazam, the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
Most Performed R&B/Soul Work
List of works compiled from ARIA Hip Hop / R&B, AIR, Shazam and the National Indigenous Music charts. This is based on all works charted and released in the relevant period.
1. 17 Awards are conferred
Twelve based on APRA's statistical analysis:
One based on voting by APRA members:
Four given at the discretion of the APRA Board of Directors:
2. The Award is in the form of a trophy suitably inscribed.
1. For Most Performed Works (Excluding Most Performed International Work)
a) An APRA writer member must have co-written a minimum share of 20% in the work.
b) The work must have been released in a 15-month period. For Awards held in 2025, the eligible release date period will be 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2024.
c) Repeat nominations in Most Performed categories over consecutive years will be reviewed by the APRA Board of Directors (including Most Performed International Work, excluding Song of the Year).
d) Nominees and subsequent winners are determined by performance activity across broadcast, digital downloads, streaming and live revenue sources, 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 one nomination per songwriter applies to these categories. This will be subject to review if there is a duplicate songwriter in the Top 5 with different APRA member co-writers.
2. For Most Performed International Work 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 Awards held in 2025, the eligible release date period will be 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2024.
3. Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Nominees and subsequent winners for the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year are determined by votes from APRA members (view terms & conditions here). All APRA members who are currently living in Australia or are Australian citizens living overseas are eligible to vote. Votes are received via the member portal.
a) An APRA writer member must have co-written a minimum share of 20% in the work.
b) The work must have been released in the relevant 12-month period. For Awards held in 2025, the eligible release date period will be 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.
4. Emerging Songwriter of the Year
Emerging Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an external judging panel, 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 judging panel'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.
5. Songwriter of the Year
Songwriter of the Year is assessed by an external judging panel, 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, awards and tours/supports; and the judging panel's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, released songs of outstanding quality. A recipient may receive this award in consecutive years if their achievements are deemed worthy. All recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board of Directors.
6. 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 Directors for an individual or group considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the music industry over a number of years.
7. International Recognition Award
The International Recognition Award is assessed by an external judging panel, as appointed by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, based on international recognition for a songwriter or group of songwriters who are having remarkable success overseas. 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 Judging Panel's assessment that the recipient has, in the past year, composed songs of outstanding quality. All recipients must be a member of APRA. The final determination of this Award lies with the APRA Board.
The award differs from our existing performance-based awards and provides the Board with the flexibility to recognise those members that have achieved major success overseas but have only experienced low level chart success in Australia. Accordingly, the award would preclude any member who is being considered in the current performance-based awards criteria/calculations. This category should be inclusive of all genres honouring excellence and achievements within their given genre and field.
8. Licensee of the Year Award
The Licensee of the Year Award as decided by the APRA Board of Directors, is designed to reward licensee groups for good music citizenship. The recommended recipient is selected against the criteria of consistent compliance and demonstrated support of music such as the presentation of local content or innovative use of music.
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 of Directors.