The annual music awards were held virtually for the first time ever last night.
Last night marked the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards, forgoing the usual live gala to celebrate the success of Australian songwriters with a digital event.
The Awards saw Tones And I adding to her collection of awards, taking out the coveted Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year award for ‘Dance Monkey’ as well as being announced the 2020 Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year.
Fellow dual winners Hilltop Hoods took out Songwriter of the Year and Most Performed Urban Work for ‘Leave Me Lonely’, while KIAN and co-writer Jerome Farah received awards for Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Alternative Work for ‘Waiting’.
Hosted by APRA AMCOS Ambassador and previous Songwriter of the Year honouree Briggs, with performances curated by Musical Director Kate Miller-Heidke, the virtual ceremony featured performances by John Butler, Mama Kin, Kira Puru and Mo’Ju, William Crighton, Nikka Costa and Justin Stanley and The Dawn of MAY.
If you missed the action, you can still watch the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards until Wednesday June 24.
See the full list of winners below.
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
‘Dance Monkey’ by Tones And I
Writer: Toni Watson
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tones and I
Songwriter of the Year
Hilltop Hoods
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Toni Watson aka Tones And I
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Tones And I
Most Performed Australian Work
‘Waiting’ by KIAN
Writers: Kian Brownfield / Jerome Farah
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo KB Recording / Mushroom Music
Most Performed Alternative Work
‘Waiting’ by KIAN
Writers: Kian Brownfield / Jerome Farah
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo KB Recording / Mushroom Music
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
‘Just Call’ by John Butler Trio
Writer: John Butler
Publishers: Downtown Music Publishing obo Family Music
Most Performed Country Work
‘Young Again’ by Morgan Evans
Writers: Morgan Evans / Chris DeStefano / Joshua Kear
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing* / Downtown Music Publishing^
Most Performed Dance Work
‘Better Together’ by Hayden James feat. Running Touch
Writers: Hayden James / Matthew Kopp / Jack Glass / Cassian Stewart-Kasimba
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic / BMG Rights Management / Universal Music Publishing
Most Performed Pop Work
‘7 Minutes’ by Dean Lewis
Writers: Dean Lewis / Nicholas Atkinson / Edward Holloway
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Specific Music / BMG Rights Management
Most Performed Rock Work
‘Shutting Down Our Town’ by Jimmy Barnes ft Troy Cassar-Daley
Writer: Troy Cassar-Daley
Publisher: Mushroom Music
Most Performed Urban Work
‘Leave Me Lonely’ by Hilltop Hoods
Writers: Barry Francis (DJ Debris) / Matthew Lambert (Suffa) / Daniel Smith (Pressure)/ Leigh Ryan / Richard Berry
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Campbell Connelly
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas
‘Cheap Thrills’ by Sia
Writers: Sia Furler / Greg Kurstin
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing obo Kurstin Music
Most Performed International Work
‘Shallow’ by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Writers: Stefani Germanotta / Mark Ronson / Anthony Rossomando / Andrew Wyatt
Publishers: Universal/MCA Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Downtown Music Publishing
Licensee of The Year:
Meredith Music Festival
You can watch the 2020 Virtual APRA Music Awards here until Wednesday June 24.
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