The APRA Music Awards of 2023 were the 41st annual series, known as the APRA Awards. 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. The APRA Music Awards are provided by APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) and celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers that have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields. In January, 20 songs shortlisted for Song of the Year were announced. On 30 March 2023, the final nominations were provided. Winners of the 2023 Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music were Colin Hay and Colleen Ironside. APRA Music Awards were presented on 27 April 2023 at International Convention Centre Sydney.
Art Music Awards were distributed by APRA AMCOS together with Australian Music Centre (AMC) on 15 August 2023 at Carriageworks in Sydney, Gadigal land. Screen Music Awards are jointly presented by APRA AMCOS and Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) to "acknowledge excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition." The ceremony was held on 9 November 2023 at The Forum, Melbourne, Naarm land.
APRA Music Awards Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music Colin Hay Colleen Ironside
APRA Song of the Year Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "I Feel Electric" by Daniel Johns featuring Moxie Raia Daniel Johns, Laura Raia Moxie Raia, Maxwell Bidstrup, Mark Landon BMG, Concord Music Publishing "Lupa" by King Stingray Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu Sony Music Publishing "Lydia Wears a Cross" by Julia Jacklin Julia Jacklin Mushroom Music "One Song" by Archie Roach Archie Roach Mushroom Music "Say Nothing" by Flume featuring May-a Harley Streten Flume, Sarah Aarons Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic, Sony Music Publishing
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result 18Yoman Vincent Goodyer Universal/M.C.A. Music Publishing Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, Peppa Lane (Spacey Jane) Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process Budjerah Budjerah Julum Slabb Mushroom Music Sampa the Great Sampa Tembo Kobalt Music Publishing Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu, Roy Kellaway (King Stingray) Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Australian Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Clarity" by Vance Joy Vance Joy James Keogh, Joel Little Mushroom Music Unified, Sony Music Publishing "Growing Up Is _____" by Ruel Ruel Ruel Van Dijk, M-Phazes Mark Landon, Julian Bunetta Universal Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing*, Mushroom Music Hipgnosis "Hurtless" by Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Jon Hume Universal Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing "On My Knees" by Rüfüs Du Sol Jonathon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist, Jason Evigan Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing "Stay" by the Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber The Kid Laroi Charlton Howard, Justin Bieber, Magnus Høiberg, Charlie Puth, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Michael Mule, Isaac De Boni Sony Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result Toni Watson (p.k.a. Tones and I) for "Dance Monkey" Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Publishing
Most Performed Alternative Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Apple Crumble" by Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba Louis Leimbach, Oli Leimbach, Dave Hammer, Idris Elba Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing "Hurtless" by Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Jon Hume Universal Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing "The Man Himself" by Gang of Youths Dominik Borzestowski, Maxwell Dunn, Thomas Hobden, Jung Kim, David Le'aupepe Universal Music Publishing "Superstar" by Sycco Sasha McLeod (p.k.a. Sycco) Sony Music Publishing "Touch Back Down" by Ocean Alley Nicholas Blom, Baden Donegal, Lachlan Galbraith, Mitchell Galbraith, Angus Goodwin, Tom O'Brien Warner Chappell Music
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "I Believe" by Ziggy Alberts Ziggy Alberts Kobalt Music Publishing "I Want You to Know" by Ash Grunwald Ash Grunwald, Fergus James Mushroom Music "Livin' Like Kings" by the Black Sorrows Joe Camilleri, Nicholas Smith Mushroom Music, Jesharo Music "My Heart Is in the Wrong Place" by Vika and Linda Ben Salter Universal Music Publishing "We Deserve to Dream" by Xavier Rudd Xavier Rudd Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Country Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Get It Girl" by Taylor Moss Taylor Moss, Michael Delorenzis, Michael Paynter, Alys Edwards Mushroom Music "God Took His Time on You" by Casey Barnes Casey Barnes, Kaci Brown, Samuel Gray Mushroom Music, Kobalt Music Publishing "Good Beer" by Seaforth Jordan Dozzi, Thomas Jordan, Mitchell Thompson, Rocky Block Warner Chappell Music "Love Is Real" by Morgan Evans Morgan Evans, Parker Nohe, Jordan Reynolds Warner Chappell Music "Raised Like That" by James Johnston James Johnston
Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Heavy" by Flight Facilities featuring Your Smith Hugo Gruzman, James Lyell, Jono Ma, Caroline Smith Your Smith Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic, Concord Music Publishing "Honest" by Peking Duk featuring Slayyyter Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles-Richards, Kristy Lee Peters, Catherine Garner Slayyyter BMG "On My Knees" by Rüfüs Du Sol Jonathon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist, Jason Evigan Kobal Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing "Running Away" by Rumor Mitchell Curley, Len Pearce "Say Nothing" by Flume featuring May-a Harley Streten Flume, Sarah Aarons Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic, Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Let's Trot!" by Brothers and Joel Fletcher Issam Ahmad, Bassam Ahmad, Joel Fletcher Allan Joel Fletcher 120 Publishing "Not Sober" by the Kid LAROI featuring Polo G & Stunna Gambino Charlton Howard The Kid LAROI, Khaled Rohaim, Isaias Garcia Stunna Gambino, Taurus Bartlett Polo G, Subhaan Rahman Sony Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing, Warner Chappell "Show Business" by Hilltop Hoods featuring Eamon Barry Francis ( DJ Debris), Matthew Lambert ( Suffa), Daniel Smith ( MC Pressure), Andrew Burford Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Wicked" by Say True God? Nixon Jackson "Wish You Well" by Baker Boy featuring Bernard Fanning Danzal Baker Baker Boy, Bernard Fanning, Pip Norman Universal Music Publishing, Mushroom Music
Most Performed Pop Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Clarity" by Vance Joy Vance Joy James Keogh, Joel Little Mushroom Music Unified, Sony Music Publishing "Complete Mess" by 5 Seconds of Summer Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin Sony Music Publishing "Glow by Jessica Mauboy Jessica Mauboy, Jessica Higgs ( George Maple), Cosmo Liney, Patrick Liney Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing "Growing Up Is _____" by Ruel Ruel Ruel Van Dijk, M-Phazes Mark Landon, Julian Bunetta Universal Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing*, Mushroom Music Hipgnosis "Stay" by the Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber The Kid Laroi Charlton Howard, Justin Bieber, Magnus Høiberg, Charlie Puth, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Michael Mule, Isaac De Boni Sony Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Bang My Line" by Cosmo's Midnight featuring Tkay Maidza Cosmo Liney, Patrick Liney, Tkay Maidza, Brett Ramson Kobalt Music Publishing, BMG "Safety" by Becca Hatch Becca Hatch, Hau Latukefu, Jamie Muscat, Willie Tafa, Solo Tohi Sony Music Publishing "Send My Love" by Jordan Rakei Jordan Rakei, Imraan Paleker, Jonathan Harvey, Christopher Hyson, James Macrae Sony Music Publishing "Still Dream" by Miiesha Miiesha Young, Lucy Blomkamp, Stephen Collins Sony Music Publishing "Tuesday" by Kye featuring Jerome Farah Kylie Chirunga, Jerome Farah, Jacob Farah, Vincent Goodyer Mushroom Music
Most Performed Rock Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Around in Circles" by Jimmy Barnes Jimmy Barne, Jane Barnes, Mark Lizotte Sony Music Publishing, Mushroom Music "Lunchtime" by Spacey Jane Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, Peppa Lane Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process "Milkumana" by King Stingray Roy Kellaway, Jerome Gotjirringu Yunupiŋu Sony Music Publishing "Rising Seas" by Midnight Oil Jim Moginie Sony Music Publishing "Struck by Lightning" by the Chats Matthew Boggis, Joshua Hardy, Eamon Sandwidth Universal Music Publishing
Most Performed International Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "ABCDEFU" by Gayle Taylor Rutherfurd Gayle, Sara Davis, David Pittenger Universal/MCA Music Publishing, Peermusic, Downtown Music "As It Was" by Harry Styles Harry Styles, Thomas Hull, Tyler Johnson Universal Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing "Easy on Me" by Adele Adele Adkins Adele, Greg Kurstin Universal Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran, Kal Lavelle, Steve Mac, Johnny McDaid Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "That's What I Want" by Lil Nas X Lil Nas X, Keegan Bach, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Ryan Tedder Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Universal/MCA Music Publishing, Downtown Music
Art Music Awards Work of the Year: Chamber Music TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult Pine Chant Lachlan Skipworth Sara Fraker, Jackie Glazier, Marissa Olegario, Lachlan Skipworth Septet Paul Dean Paul Dean, Trish Dean, Imants Larsen, Peter Luff, David Mitchell, Phoebe Russell, Natsuko Yoshimoto Sound Fields Felicity Wilcox Rubiks Collective String Quartet No. 2 Jack Symonds Australian String Quartet
Work of the Year: Choral TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult Brought to Light: Symphony No. 5 Stuart Greenbaum Cantori New York, Mark Shapiro (conductor) Heavenly Father Brooke Shelley Sydney Chamber Choir, Sam Allchurch (conductor) Swerve Meta Cohen / Leona Cohen Quartet Berlin-Tokyo, Theodor Schüz Ensemble, Philipp Amelung (artistic director) Three Night Songs Heather Percy Sydney Chamber Choir, Sam Allchurch (conductor)
Work of the Year: Dramatic TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult Panbe Zan Shervin Mirzeinali Maximillian Alduca, Majid Amani, Harry Birch, Danial Bozorgi, Arman Gouniaei, Ehsan Kachooei, Agnes Sarkis, Ali Yarmohammadi, Marjan Lotfali (director) Precious Bedeviller AKA One Person Watching May Lyon Australian Ballet Bodytorque Ensemble The Call Connor D'Netto / Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall Ali McGregor, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Zoe Zeniodi (conductor) Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan Joe Twist / Christos Tsiolkas, Alana Valentine Adelaide Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra, Christie Anderson (conductor)
Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art TitleComposerPerformerResult Gaze Upon the Liquid Sky Zinia Chan Jasper Ly, Peter Dumsday Mother Mindy Meng Wang Daniel Janestch, Anita Quayle, Mindy Meng Wang Spirals Rebecca Bracewell Rebecca Bracewell Tactable Liam Mulligan Liam Mulligan
Work of the Year: Jazz TitleComposerPerformerResult Busy/Quiet Nat Bartsch Nat Bartsch Quartet, Ellen Kirkwood, Loretta Palmeiro Hill of Grace Vanessa Perica Australian National Jazz Orchestra Youth Big Band, Vanessa Perica (conductor) Upon These Open Skins Emily-Rose Sarkova Emily-Rose and the Wild Things Written in the Dark Matthew Sheens Matt Penmann, Kenneth Salters, Matthew Sheens, Hugh Stuckey
Work of the Year: Large Ensemble