The APRA Music Awards of 2019 are the 37th annual awards given in the series of awards together known as APRA Awards, given in 2019. The awards are given in a series of categories in three divisions and in separate ceremonies throughout the year: the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards and Screen Music Awards. They are given by the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, known jointly as APRA AMCOS.
The Music Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements in contemporary songwriting, composing and publishing. The Music Awards ceremony was held on 30 April 2019 at the Melbourne Town Hall with Brian Nankervis as host; Sarah Aarons won four categories.
The Art Music Awards are provided in conjunction with the Australian Music Centre, and in 2019 the ceremony was held on 19 August at the Great Hall, University of Sydney. They were presented 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 are run in conjunction with the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), to "acknowledge excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition." Winners were announced on 20 November at a ceremony hosted by children's entertainer, Justine Clarke, at the Forum Melbourne.
Presenters The APRA Music Awards ceremony was hosted by Brian Nankervis. Guest presenters were Tina Arena, Briggs, Tania Doko, Tim Rogers, Dallas Frasca, Louis Schoorl, Megan Washington, François Tétaz, M-Phazes and G Flip.
Performances Performers on the night: The Rubens and Sarah Aarons - "Never Ever" Dean Lewis - "Stay Awake" Middle Kids and J.P. Shilo - "With the One I Love" J.P. Shilo, Fanny Lumsden and Henry Wagons - "Slow Mover" Radical Son and Samuel Pankhurst - "Native Tongue". Electric Fields - "I Said Hi" Max Sharam - "Society"
APRA Music Awards Blues & Roots Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Chateau" – Angus & Julia Stone Angus Stone, Julia Stone Sony/ ATV Music Publishing "Mystik" – Tash Sultana Tash Sultana Kobalt Music Publishing Tash Sultana "Second Hand Car" – Kim Churchill Kim Churchill / Nicholas Hodgson Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing "Tell It Like It Is" – Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Jack Ladder Sony/ATV Music Publishing "White Flag" – Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Jack Ladder Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Writer(s)Publisher(s)Result Danzal Baker Baker Boy Kobalt Music Publishing Specific Music Dean Lewis Kobalt Music Publishing Specific Music Georgia Flipo G Flip Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic Holly Rankin Jack River Mushroom Music Tash Sultana Kobalt Music Publishing Tash Sultana
Country Work of the Year +List of Country Work of the Year nomineesTitle and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Ain't Seen It Yet" – The Wolfe Brothers Brodie Rainbird, Nicholas Wolfe, Thomas Wolfe, Erik Anderson Perfect Pitch Publishing / Peermusic "Day Drunk" – Morgan Evans Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Lindy Robbins Warner/Chappell Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing "I Do" – Morgan Evans Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley Warner/Chappell Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing "In the Morning" – Tori Forsyth Tori Forsyth Universal Music Publishing Peppermintblue Publishing "The Campfire Song" – Kasey Chambers & the Fireside Disciples featuring Alan Pigram Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers, Alan Pigram Mushroom Music / Kobalt Music Publishing Checked Label Services
Dance Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Flames" – David Guetta, Sia Sia Furler, Christopher Braide, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Marcus Van Wattum Sony/ATV Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management / Origin Music Publishing / KobaltMusic Publishing "Go Bang" – Pnau Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes, Luke Steele Universal Music Publishing, 120 Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Let You Down" – Peking Duk featuring Icona Pop Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Styalz ( Kaelyn Behr), Samuel Manville, Robert Taylor BMG Rights Management / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Warner/Chappell Music "Tell Me You Love Me" – Galantis & Throttle Sarah Aarons, Christian Karlsson ( Bloodshy), Jimmy Koitzsch ( Svidden), Robert Bergin, Linus Eklöw ( Style of Eye), Edward Jenkins, Henrik Jonback Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Cobalt Music Publishing / Warner/Chappell Music "The Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Sarah Aarons, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha, Anton Zaslavski ( Zedd) Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro / BMG Rights Management / Kobalt Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing
International Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Havana" – Camila Cabello Louis Bell, Camila Cabello, Frank Dukes, Kaan Gunesberk, Brittany Hazzard, Brian Lee, Ali Temposi, Yung Thug, Andrew Watt, Pharrell Williams Sony/ATV Music Publishing/ Native Tongue Music Publishing / Warner/Chappell Music /Mushroom Music / Kobalt Music Publishing "Meant to Be" – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bleta "Bebe" Rexha Shout Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Warner/Chappell Music / BMG Rights Management "Perfect" – Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Rockstar" – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage Shéyaa Abraham-Joseph ( 21 Savage), Olufunmibi Awoshiley, Louis Bell, Post Malone, Carl Rosen, Jo Virginie BMG Rights Management / Sony/ATV Music Publishing /Universal/MCA Music Publishing / Mushroom Music "What About Us" – P!nk Alecia Moore ( P!nk), John McDaid, Steve McCutcheon Sony/ATV Music Publishing/ Kobalt Music Publishing/ Universal Music Publishing
Licensee of the Year Award VenueLocationResult Clancy's Fish Pub Western Australia
Most Played Australian Work Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Coming Home" – Sheppard Jason Bovino, Matthew Radosevich ( Matt Rad), Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, Christopher Wallace Mushroom Music Empire of Song / Native Tongue Music Publishing "Go Bang" – Pnau Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes, Luke Steele Universal Music Publishing / 120 Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing "I Said Hi" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark) Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED Music Publishing "The Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Sarah Aarons, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha, Anton Zaslavski ( Zedd) Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro / BMG Rights Management / Kobalt Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing "We're Going Home" - Vance Joy James Keogh ( Vance Joy), Daniel Wilson Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management
Most Played Australian Work Overseas Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Cheap Thills" by Sia Sia Furler, Greg Kurstin Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Overseas Recognition Award Writer(s)Publisher(s)Result Lindsay Rimes Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Pop Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Be Alright" – Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Jon Hume Kobalt Music Publishing Specific Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing "Coming Home" – Sheppard Jason Bovino, Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, Matthew Radosevich, Christopher Wallace Mushroom Music Empire of Song / Native Tongue Music Publishing "Healing Hands" – Conrad Sewell Stuart Crichton, Conrad Sewell, Stephen Wrabel Native Tongue Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing "I Said Hi" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark) Mushroom Music UNIFIED Music Publishing "We're Going Home" - Vance Joy James Keogh ( Vance Joy), Daniel Wilson Mushroom Music UNIFIED Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management
Rock Work of the Year +List of Rock Word of the Year nomineesTitle and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Confidence" – Ocean Alley Nic Blom, Baden Donegal, Lach Galbraith, Mitch Galbraith, Angus Goodwin, Tom O'Brien "Million Man" – The Rubens Scott Baldwin, Elliott Margin, Sam Margin, Zaac Margin, William Zeglis Mushroom Music Ivy League Music "Never Ever" – The Rubens featuring Sarah Aarons Sarah Aarons, Elliott Margin, Sam Margin MSony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro / Mushroom Music Ivy League Music "Slow Mover" – Angie McMahon Angie McMahon Kobalt Music Publishing "The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows" - Gang of Youths David Le'aupepe Universal Music Publishing
Song of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "I Said Hi" – Amy Shark Amy Billings ( Amy Shark) Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED Music Publishing "Native Tongue" – Mojo Juju De Luzuriaga Ruiz ( Mojo Juju), Joel Ma, Rita Seumanutafa Mushroom Music "Slow Mover" – Angie McMahon Angie McMahon Kobalt Music Publishing "Society" – Ainslie Wills Ainslie Wills, Bram Inscore, MoZella Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro / Kobalt Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing "With the One I Love" – Paul Kelly Paul Kelly Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Songwriter of the Year Sarah Aarons
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music Rob Potts
Outstanding International Achievement Award Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result Youngblood" – 5 Seconds of Summer Calum Hood, Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Andrew Watt, Ali Tamposi, Louis BellSony/ATV Music Publishing
Urban Work of the Year Title and/or artistWriter(s)Publisher(s)Result "Believe" – Bliss n Eso featuring Mario Max MacKinnon, Jonathan Notley, PJ Harding, Cameron Ludik, Damian Smith Mushroom Music / Universal Music Publishing "Clark Griswold" – Hilltop Hoods featuring Adrian Eagle DJ Debris (Barry Francis), MC Pressure (Daniel Smith), Suffa (Matthew Lambert), John Bartlett, Paul Bartlett Sony/ATV Music Publishing "I Miss You" – Thundamentals Jeswon (Jesse Ferris), Morgs (Morgan Jones), Tuka (Brendan Tuckerman), Carl Dimataga Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro "Marryuna" – Baker Boy featuring Yirrmal Baker Boy, Dion Brownfield, Jerome Farah, Yirrmal Marika Mushroom Music "Mr La Di Da Di" – Baker Boy Baker Boy, Dion Brownfield, Jerome Farah, Dallas Woods Mushroom Music
Art Music Awards Instrumental Work of the Year TitleComposerPerformerResult Ignis Mary Finsterer James Wannan (viola d'amore), Christopher Pidcock (cello) Piano Sonata Elizabeth Younan Joyce Yang Stalin's Piano Robert Davidson Sonya Lifschitz String Quartet No. 6 Andrew Ford Flinders Quartet
Jazz Work of the Year TitleComposerPerformerResult Gratitude and Grief Katie Noonan, Zac Hurren, Stephen Magnusson, Michael Leunig Elixir et al. Love, As We Know It Brenton Foster, Christopher Poindexter (lyricist) Brenton Foster, Gideon Brazil, Stephen Magnusson, Aaron McCollough, Jordan Tarento Nothing Remains Unchanged Ross McHenry Ross McHenry Quartet Trombone Song Cycle Joshua Kyle, Andrew Murray Joshua Kyle (voice), James Greening, James Macauley, Jordan Murray and Adrian Sherriff (trombones), Andrew Murray (conductor)
Orchestral Work of the Year TitleComposerPerformerResult "Daccord: A Diary of Discourse" Cathy Milliken Jessica Aszodi, Vladimir Gorbach, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey (conductor) Implacable Gifts (Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra) Carl Vine Kathryn Stott (piano), Piers Lane (piano), West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Rory Macdonald (conductor) "Lebewohl (Piano Concerto No. 3)" Elena Kats-Chernin Tamara-Anna Cislowska (piano), Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Alondra de la Parra (conductor) Ruler of the Hive Melody Eötvös Pamela Rabe (narrator), Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Marko Letonja (conductor)
Vocal / Choral Work of the Year