The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply the ARIAs) was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winner for the year was You Am I gaining six awards.
In addition to previous categories an Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Silverchair, which acknowledged "[their] conquering world charts with the single 'Tomorrow' and the debut album Frogstomp." A Special Achievement Award was presented to Slim Dusty. The ARIA Hall of Fame inducted: Australian Crawl and Horrie Dargie. Australian Crawl's founding guitarist Brad Robinson, was unable to attend; he was hospitalised with lymphoma (diagnosed three years earlier) and died two weeks after the ceremony. It was also the final Australian performance by INXS with original frontman Michael Hutchence before his death 14 months later.
Ceremony details Australian music journalist, Anthony O'Grady, observed, "It was the last of the Bigger-Than-Ben-Hur Award nights (for the foreseeable future). Over 4,000 (the largest crowd ever and 8 times the number at the first Awards) flooded into the [venue]... [with a] repast at over 200 tables supplied by a dozen kitchens." Deni Hines won a trophy for Breakthrough Artist – Single for "It's Alright". Her entire acceptance speech was:
Presenters and performers The ARIA Awards ceremony was hosted by American musicians Harry Connick Jr. and Chris Isaak. Presenters and performers were:
Presenter(s) Performer(s) Chris Isaak Harry Connick Jr. Harry Connick Jr. Jenny Morris Glenn A. Baker David Helfgott Richard O'Brien Michael Hutchence Neneh CherryKulcha, CDB "Ugly" Phil O'Neill Christine Anu Richard WilkinsPowderfinger – "Pick You Up" David Gates Anne Kirkpatrick Gina JeffreysGina Jeffreys, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee Kernaghan, Tommy Emmanuel Billy Birmingham Daryl Braithwaite Dave Graney Jimmy Barnes Tex Perkins Jimmy Barnes Helen Razer Deni Hines Mikey Robins Ash Savage GardenINXS Shirley Manson Chrissy Amphlett Cathy FreemanYou Am I Kieren Perkins Molly Meldrum
Awards Final nominees for awards are shown in plain, with winners in bold.
ARIA Awards Album of the Year You Am I – Hourly, Daily Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads John Farnham – Romeo's Heart Finn – Finn Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Single of the Year Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue – "Where the Wild Roses Grow" Ammonia – "Drugs" Tina Arena – "Wasn't It Good" Powderfinger – "Pick You Up" You Am I – "Mr. Milk" Highest Selling Album Tina Arena – Don't Ask John Williamson – True Blue – The Very Best of John Williamson Martin/Molloy – The Brown Album Merril Bainbridge – The Garden Max Sharam – A Million Year Girl
Highest Selling Single CDB – "Let's Groove" Crowded House – "Everything Is Good for You" Merril Bainbridge – "Under the Water" Peter Andre – "Mysterious Girl" Regurgitator – New (EP)
Best Group You Am I – Hourly, Daily The Badloves – Holy Roadside Crowded House – "Everything Is Good for You" Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Silverchair – "Blind" Best Female Artist Christine Anu – "Come On" Tina Arena – "Wasn't It Good" Kate Ceberano – "Change" Deni Hines – Imagination Max Sharam – "Is it OK" / "Huntinground" Best Male Artist Dave Graney – The Soft 'N Sexy Sound Diesel – Short Cool Ones John Farnham – Romeo's Heart Paul Kelly – Deeper Water Tex Perkins – "You're Too Beautiful" Best New Talent Monique Brumby – "Fool for You" Human Nature – "Got It Goin' On" Fiona Kernaghan – Cypress Grove Rail – Bad Hair Life Ute – Under the External Breakthrough Artist – Album Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Ammonia – Mint 400 Merril Bainbridge – The Garden Deni Hines – Imagination Pollyanna – Long Player Breakthrough Artist – Single Deni Hines – "It's Alright" Monique Brumby – "Fool for You" Nikka Costa – "Master Blaster" Rail – "Immune Deficiency" Savage Garden – "I Want You" Best Dance Release Future Sound of Melbourne – Chapter One DJ Darren (Darren Briais) & DJ Pee Wee – "I Feel It" Infusion – Smoke Screen Itch-E and Scratch-E – "Howling Dog" Renegade Funktrain – Renegade Funktrain Best Pop Release Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue – "Where the Wild Roses Grow" Christine Anu – "Come On" Tina Arena – "Wasn't It Good" Hoodoo Gurus – Blue Cave Swoop – The Woxo Principle Best Country Album Dead Ringer Band – Home Fires Graeme Connors – The Here and Now Lee Kernaghan – 1959 Tania Kernaghan – December Moon The Wheel – The Wheel Best Independent Release You Am I – Hourly, Daily Custard – Wisenheimer Ed Kuepper – The Exotic Mail Order Moods of Ed Kuepper TISM – "Greg! The Stop Sign!!" Underground Lovers – Rushall Station Best Alternative Release Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads Pollyanna – Long Player Spiderbait – The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake You Am I – Hourly, Daily Best Indigenous Release Christine Anu – "Come On" Kev Carmody – Images and Illusions Blekbala Mujik – Blekbala Mujik Various – Our Home, Our Land Warumpi Band – Too Much Humbug Best Adult Contemporary Album John Farnham – Romeo's Heart Kate Ceberano – "Change" Stephen Cummings – Escapist Tommy Emmanuel – Classical Gas Mick Harvey – Intoxicated Man Best Comedy Release Martin/Molloy – The Brown Album Austen Tayshus – I'm Jacques Chirac Bucko & Champs – Aussie Christmas Silverpram – Frogstamp The Vaughans – "Who Farted?"
Fine Arts Awards Best Jazz Album Paul Grabowsky Trio – When Words Fail Bob Barnard – Live at the Sydney Opera House Bob Bertles Quintet – Rhythm of the Heart The Engine Room – Full Steam Ahead Barney McAll – Exit Best Classical Album Australian Chamber Orchestra – Peter Sculthorpe: Music for Strings Australian Chamber Orchestra – Spirit Australia Ensemble – Shostakovich Macquarie Trio – Beethoven Piano Trios Marshall McGuire – Awakening Best Children's Album The Wiggles – Wake Up Jeff! Bananas in Pyjamas – It's Singing Time! Christine Hutchinson – The Grand Fairies' Ball Gillian Eastoe – Gillian Eastoe's Extra Awesome Intergalactical Expedition Into The Far Reaches And Back Peter Combe – Little Groover Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Recording Australian Cast Recording – Beauty & the Beast Australian Cast Recording – The Secret Garden Iva Davies – The Berlin Tapes Cezary Skubiszewski – Lilian's Story Nigel Westlake – Babe Best World Music Album Mara! – Rulno Vlno Cafe of the Gate of Salvation – A Window in Heaven Dead Can Dance – Spiritchaser Sirocco – Stars and Fires Various – Womadelaide '95
Artisan Awards Song of the Year Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue – "Where the Wild Roses Grow" Tina Arena – "Wasn't It Good" Tim Finn & Neil Finn – "Suffer Never" Powderfinger – "Pick You Up" Swoop – "Apple Eyes" Producer of the Year You Am I – You Am I – Hourly, Daily David Bridie – Monique Brumby – Fool for You The Badloves, Doug Roberts – The Badloves – Holy Roadside Magoo, Regurgitator – Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Victor Vaughan – Dave Graney & the Coral Snakes – The Soft 'N Sexy Sound Engineer of the Year Paul McKercher, Wayne Connolly – You Am I – Hourly, Daily Doug Brady – John Farnham – Romeo's Heart Chris Dickie - Six Mile High - "Homebaker", "Hallowed ground" / Header - "Restoration" Magoo – Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Tom Whitten – Powderfinger - "Pick You Up" / Automatic - Sister K / Bluebottle Kiss - Double Yellow Tarred Best Video Andrew Lancaster – You Am I – "Soldiers" Robbie Douglas-Turner – The Cruel Sea – "Too Fast for Me" John Fransic – Swoop – "Apple Eyes" John Hillcoat, Polly Borland – Frente! – "Sit on My Hands" John Witteron – Hoodoo Gurus – "Waking up Tired" Best Cover Art Reg Mombassa – Mental As Anything – Liar Liar Pants on Fire Simon Anderson – You Am I – Hourly, Daily Rockin' Doodles, Quan Yeomans, Ben Ely – Regurgitator – Tu-Plang Janet English, George Stajsic – Spiderbait – The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake Tony Mahoney – Dave Graney – The Soft 'N Sexy Sound
Achievement awards Outstanding Achievement Award Silverchair
Special Achievement Award Slim Dusty
ARIA Hall of Fame inductees The Hall of Fame inductees were: Australian Crawl Horrie Dargie
Notes
References
External links ARIA Awards official website List of 1996 winners