The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2018 (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 2018 was the 36th 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 10 April 2018 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. The host for the ceremony was Julia Zemiro.
The Art Music Awards ceremony was held on 21 August 2018 at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. They were presented by APRA, AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC), to "recognise achievement in the composition, performance, education and presentation of Australian art music. Art music covers activity across contemporary classical music, contemporary jazz and improvised music, experimental music and sound art." The Screen Music Awards were issued on 19 November at the Melbourne Recital Centre by APRA, AMCOS and Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), which "acknowledges excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition."
In mid-March nominations for the APRA Music Awards were announced on multiple news sources: M-Phazes and Peter James Harding Thief both received the most with four nominations each. Midnight Oil were honoured by the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Songwriter of the Year was A.B. Original's Adam Briggs and Daniel Rankine. A new category, Licensee of the Year Award, was introduced and the Settlers Tavern in Margaret River, Western Australia is the inaugural winner.
APRA Music Awards Blues & Roots Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Best Part of Me" – Busby Marou Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou, Jon Hume Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Getaway Car" – Busby Marou Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou, David Ryan Harris Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Isn't It a Pity" – Bernard Fanning Bernard Fanning "Jungle" – Tash Sultana Tash Sultana Kobalt Music Publishing Tash Sultana P/L "Reckless" – Bernard Fanning Bernard Fanning
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result Alex Lahey Alex Lahey Native Tongue Music Publishing Ben Abraham Ben Abraham Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia WGBR Music Celia Pavey Vera Blue Celia Pavey Universal Music Publishing / Canal Music Publishing Gretta Ray Gretta Ray Sarah Aarons Sarah Aarons Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Country Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Ain't No Little Girl" – Kasey Chambers Kasey Chambers Mushroom Music "Don't Wish It All Away" – The McClymonts Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont, Lindsey Jackson Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing "House" – The McClymonts Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont, Sarah Aarons, Michael Fatkin Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Kiss Somebody" – Morgan Evans Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Josh Osborne Warner/Chappell Music Publishing SongsByMe, Sony/ATV Music Publishing CDs Words & Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Smackville Music and Anderson Fork in the Road Music "My Breakup Anthem" – Caitlyn Shadbolt Caitlyn Shadbolt, Jared Porter
Dance Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Call on Me (Ryan Riback Remix)" – Starley Starley Hope, Peter Wadams Sony/ATV Music Publishing Alive and Well Songs, Kobalt Music Publishing P-Money Music "Chameleon" – Pnau Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Chenfeld "Fake Magic" – Peking Duk featuring AlunaGeorge Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Sam Littlemore, Laura Lowther, Frances Dewji, George Reid Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing "Mind Made Up" – Cookin' on 3 Burners featuring Kylie Auldist (Lenno vs CO3B) Lance Ferguson, Ivan Khatchoyan, Jake Mason Universal Music Publishing, Origin Music Publishing "Stranger" – Peking Duk featuring Elliphant Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Kaelyn Behr ( Styalz), Elliphant, Daniel Goudie, Ashley Milton Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Publishing Company Ten AB and Prescription Songs, BMG
International Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "24K Magic" – Bruno Mars Bruno Mars, Christopher Brown ( Brody Brown), Philip Lawrence Warner/Chappell Music, Warner/Chappell Music Late 80's Music and Thou Art the Hunger, Universal/MCA Music ZZR Music "Castle on the Hill" – Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran, Benjamin Levin Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing Please Don't Forget to Pay Me Music "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran, Kevin Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle, Steven McCutcheon, John McDaid Sony/ATV Music Publishing, BMG and Warner/Chappell Music She K'em Down and Pepper Drive Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Kandacy Music and Tony Mercedes Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Tiny Tam Music and Tony Mercedes Music, Universal Music Publishing Rokstone Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Spirit B-Unique Polar Patrol "Something Just Like This" – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay Andrew Taggart, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nice Hair Publishing, Universal Music Publishing MGB "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" – Shawn Mendes Shawn Mendes, Scott Friedman, Teddy Geiger, Geoffrey Warburton Universal/MCA Music Publishing Mendes Music, Warner/Chappell Music, BMG and Mushroom Music Big Deal Music LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Licensee of the Year Award VenueLocationResult Settlers Tavern Margaret River, Western Australia
Most Played Australian Work Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Adore" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark), Mark Landon ( M-Phazes) Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Call on Me (Ryan Riback Remix)" – Starley Starley Hope, Peter Wadams Sony/ATV Music Publishing Alive and Well Songs, Kobalt Music Publishing P-Money Music "Chameleon" – Pnau Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Chenfeld "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy Kayla Rae Bonnici ( Ivy Adara), Peter James Harding ( Thief), Louis Schoorl Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music "Stranger" – Peking Duk featuring Elliphant Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Kaelyn Behr ( Styalz), Elliphant, Daniel Goudie, Ashley Milton Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Publishing Company Ten AB and Prescription Songs, BMG
Most Played Australian Work Overseas Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Cheap Thrills" – Sia Sia Furler, Gregory Kurstin Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Overseas Recognition Award Writer(s)Publisher(s)Result Ben Abraham Sony/ATV Music Publishing WGBR Music Kylie Sackley
Pop Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Adore" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark), Mark Landon ( M-Phazes) Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy Kayla Rae Bonnici ( Ivy Adara), Peter James Harding ( Thief), Louis Schoorl Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music "Lay It on Me" – Vance Joy James Keogh ( Vance Joy), Dave Bassett Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Reservoir Media Music "Set in Stone" – Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian, Stuart Crichton, Taylor Parks Universal Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music Taylor Monet Music "Waves" – Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Nicholas Atkinson, Edward Holloway Kobalt Music Publishing Specific Music, BMG Stage 3 Music Publishing, BMG
Rock Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Brace" – Birds of Tokyo Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston Mushroom Music "Creepin'" – Kingswood Alex Laska Native Tongue Music Publishing "Empire" – Birds of Tokyo Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston, David Bottrill Mushroom Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Real World Music "Scott Green" – Dune Rats Danny Beusaraus, Brett Jansch, BC Michaels, Zachary Carper Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Big Deal Music LLC "The Producer" – Cable Ties Shauna Boyle, Nicholas Brown, Jennifer McKechnie
Song of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Fallin'" – Jessica Mauboy Kayla Rae Bonnici ( Ivy Adara), Peter James Harding ( Thief), Louis Schoorl Kobalt Music Publishing Prescription Songs, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing I Am a Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music "Firewood and Candles" – Paul Kelly Paul Kelly, Billy Miller Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Running Second" – Ainslie Wills Ainslie Wills, Lawrence Folvig Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Weekends" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark) Mushroom Music "What Can I Do if the Fire Goes Out" – Gang of Youths David Le'aupepe Universal Music Publishing
Songwriter of the Year A.B. Originals Adam Briggs Briggs and Daniel Rankine Trials
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music Midnight Oil members Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Martin Rotsey, Jim Moginie and Bones Hillman
Urban Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Catch 22" – Alasdair Murray Illy featuring Anne-Marie Alasdair Murray Illy, Mark Landon M-Phazes, Grant Michaels, Suzanne Shinn Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing Songs Music Publishing "Moments" – Bliss n Eso featuring Gavin James Kaelyn Behr (Styalz), Peter James Harding Thief, Max Mackinnon MC Eso, Nicholas Martin, Jonathan Notley MC Bliss, Ryan Vojtesak Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Mushroom Music, Universal/MCA Music Publishing "Oh My" – Illy featuring Jenna McDougall Alasdair Murray ( Illy), Mark Landon M-Phazes, Jefferson Wolfe Mushroom Music Unified Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Simulation" – Tkay Maidza Tkay Maidza, Jessica Higgs George Maple, Luke McKay Kobalt Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Utopian Ideas Pty Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process "Think About It" – Thundamentals featuring Peta & the Wolves Jesse Ferris, Morgan Jones, Kevin Kerr, Brendan Tuckerman, Peta Jeffress Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing The Kennel AB
Art Music Awards Instrumental Work of the Year TitleComposerPerformerResult Aspects of Return Jakub Jankowski Nicolas Altstaedt and Aleksandar Madžar Cantor (after Willa Cather) Lisa Illean Ensemble Offspring Up in the Clouds Corrina Bonshek All of the Above When We Speak Lisa Cheney Gemma Tomlinson
Jazz Work of the Year TitleComposerPerformerResult [A]part Ellen Kirkwood Sirens Big Band, Andrea Keller (piano), Sandy Evans (saxophones), Gian Slater (voice) American Counterpoint Matthew Sheens Matthew Sheens, Lyndon Gray, Myele Manzanza, Zephyr String Quartet Opioid Johannes Luebbers Johannes Luebbers Dectet rockpoolmirror Sandy Evans Sandy Evans (saxophone), Steve Elphick (double bass), Alon Ilsar (drums), Satsuki Odamura (koto), Adrian Sherriff (trombone), Bobby Singh (tabla)
Orchestral Work of the Year