The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2012 (generally known as APRA Awards) are a series of related awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards of 2012 was the 30th annual ceremony by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) to award outstanding achievements in contemporary songwriting, composing and publishing. The ceremony was held on 28 May 2012 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Art Music Awards were introduced in 2011 to replace the Classical Music Awards (last held in 2009) and were distributed on 3 April at the Sydney Opera House. They are sponsored by APRA and the Australian Music Centre (AMC) to "recognise achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian music". The Screen Music Awards were issued on 19 November by APRA and Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), which "acknowledges excellence and innovation in the genre of screen composition".
On 2 May nominations for the APRA Music Awards were announced on multiple news sources, with Lanie Lane being the most nominated artist. Hosts for the 2012 APRA Music Awards were Missy Higgins and Jonathan Biggins. A total of 12 awards were presented. Sydney-based talent agent, Mary Lopez, was honoured with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Gotye (aka Wally de Backer) received the most awards, winning Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Most Played Australian Work. The APRA Music Awards ceremony is due to be broadcast on the MAX network on 12 June 2012.
Presenters At the APRA Music Awards, aside from the hosts, Missy Higgins and Jonathan Biggins, the presenters were Yusuf Islam, Felicity Urquhart, Philip Mortlock and New South Wales Premier, Barry O'Farrell.
Performances The APRA Music Awards ceremony showcased performances by: Tina Arena featuring Tex Perkins – "Somebody That I Used to Know" Kate Miller-Heidke – "You Should Consider Having Sex With a Bearded Man" Bob Evans – "I Started a Joke" Kram – "Oh Well, That's What You Get For Falling in Love With a Cowboy" Russell Morris and PVT – "The Real Thing" Sophia Brous – "Cameo Lover" Bertie Blackman – "Brother"
APRA Music Awards Blues & Roots Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Biding My Time" – Busby MarouThomas Busby, Jeremy MarouSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Compass" – Saltwater BandCharlie Yunupingu, David YunupinguSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo SFM Publishing"Falling" – The WaifsJosh Cunningham, Donna Simpson, Vikki ThornNative Tongue Music Publishing Pty Ltd"(Oh Well) That's What You Get (Falling in Love with a Cowboy)" – Lanie LaneLanie LaneIvy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd"What Do I Do" – Lanie LaneLanie LaneIvy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Sing It (The Life of Riley)" – DraphtDaniel Rankine, Paul Ridge (aka Drapht)Sony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo Blue Max Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty LtdBoy & BearKillian Gavin, Jonathon Hart, Timothy Hart, David Hosking, Jacob TarasenkoMushroom MusicKimbraKimbra (aka Kimbra Johnson)Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd obo WB Music CorpLanie LaneLanie LaneIvy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty LtdMatt CorbyMatt CorbyMushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Rocky Lane Music LLP
Country Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Bad Machines" – Shane NicholsonShane NicholsonMushroom Music Pty Ltd"Beautiful Mess" – Kasey ChambersKasey ChambersMushroom Music Pty Ltd"Famous Last Words" – Shane NicholsonShane NicholsonMushroom Music Pty Ltd"Meant to Be" – O'SheaKim Carnes, Mark O'Shea, Jay SmithWarner, Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd, J Albert and Son Pty Ltd"Serves You Right" – Jetty RoadLee Bowman, Paula Bowman, Chris Burke-Gaffney, Keith MacPherson, Alexander Ross, Julian Sammut
Dance Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Finally See Our Way" – Art vs. ScienceJames Finn, Daniel McNamee, Daniel WilliamsKobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"From the Music" – The PotbelleezDavid Greene, Ilan Kidron, Marisa Lock, Jonathan Murphy, Justin ShaveUniversal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Sunlight" – Bag RaidersDaniel Black, Jack Glass, Christopher StraceySony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Titanium" – David Guetta featuring SiaSia Furler (aka Sia), David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Nick Van De WallEMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, J Albert and Son Pty Ltd, Sony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Mushroom Music Pty Ltd"We Run the Night" – Havana BrownCassie Davis, Sean Mullins (aka Snob Scrilla or Sean Ray)Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
International Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Animal" – Neon TreesChristopher Allen, Branden Campbell, Elaine Doty, Tyler Glenn, Timothy PagnottaMushroom Music Pty Ltd"Moves Like Jagger" – Maroon 5 featuring Christina AguileraAdam Levine, Benjamin Levin, Ammar Malik, Johan SchusterUniversal Music Publishing MGB Australia Pty Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Party Rock Anthem" – LMFAOSkyler Gordy, Stefan Gordy, David Listenbee, Peter SchroederKobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Price Tag" – Jessie J featuring B.o.BJessie J, Lukasz Gottwald (aka Dr. Luke), Claude Kelly, B.o.B Sony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Warner, Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd, Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Rolling in the Deep" – AdeleAdele Adkins (aka Adele), Paul EpworthUniversal Music Publishing Pty Ltd, EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Most Played Australian Work Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"From the Music" – The PotbelleezDavid Greene, Ilan Kidron, Marisa Lock, Jonathan Murphy, Justin ShaveUniversal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Own This Club" – Marvin PriestAntonio Egizii, David Musumeci, Marvin PriestEMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd"She's Like a Comet" – JebediahChristopher Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell (aka Bob Evans), Vanessa ThorntonSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring KimbraWally de Backer (aka Gotye), Luiz Bonfá J Albert and Son Pty Ltd, Warner, Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd"Wild at Heart" – Birds of TokyoAnthony Jackson, Ian Kenny, Adam Spark, Adam WestonMushroom Music Pty Ltd
Rock Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Heartbreak Made Me a Killer" – Short StackShaun DivineySunday Morning Music administered by Mushroom Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Love Is a Drug" – Eskimo JoeStuart MacLeod, Joel Quartermain, Kav TemperleyMushroom Music Pty Ltd"She's Like a Comet" – JebediahChristopher Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa ThorntonSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Switch Me On" – Shannon NollBenji Madden, Joel Madden, Shannon Noll, Lindsay RimesEMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Wild at Heart" – Birds of TokyoAnthony Jackson, Ian Kenny, Adam Spark, Adam WestonMushroom Music Pty Ltd
Song of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Brother" – Matt CorbyMatt CorbyMushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Rocky Lane Music LLP"Cameo Lover" – KimbraKimbra JohnsonWarner, Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd obo WB Music Corp"(Oh Well) That's What You Get (Falling in Love with a Cowboy)" – Lanie LaneLanie LaneIvy League Music administered by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd"Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring KimbraWally de Backer, Luiz BonfáJ Albert and Son Pty Ltd, Warner, Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd"You Should Consider Having Sex with a Bearded Man" – The BeardsJoel McMillan
Urban Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Own This Club" – Marvin PriestAntonio Egizii, David Musumeci, Marvin PriestEMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd"Reflections" – Bliss n EsoNoam Dishon, Max MacKinnon, Jonathan NotleyMushroom Music Pty Ltd"Simple Man" – Diafrix featuring Daniel MerriweatherKhaled Abdulwahab, Kaelyn Behr, Glen Christiansen, Mohamed Komba, Daniel MerriweatherMushroom Music Pty Ltd, Sony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Marlin Publishing Pty Ltd"Sing It (The Life of Riley)" – DraphtDaniel Rankine, Paul RidgeSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo Blue Max Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd"Throw It Away" – 360 featuring Josh PykeKaelyn Behr, Matthew ColwelSony, ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Most Played Australia Work Overseas Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result"Highway to Hell" – AC/DCAngus Young, Malcolm Young, Ronald ScottJ Albert & Son
Songwriter of the Year Gotye
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music Mary Lopez
Art Music Awards Work of the Year – Instrumental TitleComposerPerformerResultFlesh and GhostAnthony PaterasSpeak Percussion...out of ObscurityElliott GygerZubin KangaQinothPaul StanhopeACO2, Australian Chamber Orchestra's young artists' training ensemble led by Dale BarltropSextetBrett DeanAustralia Ensemble
Work of the Year – Jazz TitleComposerPerformerResultAffectationsAndrea KellerBennetts Lane Big BandDissolve for Two Pianos Tom O'HalloranTom O'Halloran, Graham WoodUnknowness 1Peter KnightPeter Knight (trumpet and laptop), Adam Simmons (contra bass clarinet), Frank Di Sario (double bass), Erik Griswold (prepared piano), Vanessa Tomlinson (percussion), Joe Talia (drum kit and electronics)River Meeting SuiteJeremy RoseCompass Saxophone Quartet plus Bobby Singh and Sarangan Sriranganthan
Work of the Year – Orchestral TitleComposerPerformerResultGardener of TimeBarry ConynghamMelbourne Symphony OrchestraMissa Solis – Requiem for EliNigel Westlake; text: John Weiley, Hannie Rayson & Michael Cathcart Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nigel Westlake (conductor)Spirit GroundRoss EdwardsWest Australian Symphony Orchestra, Margaret Blades (soloist)The Shining IslandPeter Sculthorpe
Work of the Year – Vocal or Choral TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResultBlackwoodIain GrandageSara Macliver (soprano), Allan Meyer (clarinet), Graeme Gilling (piano)Osanna MassClare MacleanSydney Chamber Choir, Paul Stanhope (conductor)Pomegranate FriendsGerardo DirieFusion Vocal EnsembleSacred Kingfisher PsalmsRoss EdwardsThe Song Company
Performance of the Year TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResultStille SpracheAndrew SchultzFelicitas Fuchs, Qian Zhou, Bernard LanskeyPiano Sonata No 3Lawrence WhiffinMichael Kieran HarveyMissa Solis – Requiem for EliNigel Westlake / John Weiley, Hannie Rayson, Michael Cathcart Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nigel Westlake (conductor)Two Memorials for Anton Webern and John LennonJames LedgerWest Australian Symphony Orchestra, Paul Daniel (conductor)
Award for Excellence by an Organisation or an Individual Organisation / individualWorkResultArcko Symphonic Project2011 Concert SeriesClaire EdwardesFlash: Marimba Miniatures recording projectGraeme MortonServices to Australian MusicSpeak Percussion2011 Annual Program
Award for Excellence in Music Education Organisation / individualWorkResultGondwana Choirs2011 ProgramGraeme MortonContribution to music education through St Peters ChoraleKirsty BeilharzDiffuse series of educational concerts in 2011Moorambilla VoicesEducation strategy in North Western NSW
Award for Excellence in a Regional Area