Photos: Yael Stempler / Ashley Mar

Courtney Barnett & Tame Impala Rule 2016 APRA Music Awards

After already dominating the 2015 ARIA awards, Courtney Barnett and Tame Impala have continued to sweep accolades for their work at the 2016 APRA Music Awards at Carriageworks in Sydney last night.

Barnett was named Songwriter of the Year, more recognition for her 2015 album Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit. She had already won four ARIA awards including Breakthrough Artist and Best Female Artist, as well as the 2015 Australian Music Prize., and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Tame Impala also continued to pick up recognition for their scintillating 2015 record Currents, winning Song of the Year for Let It Happen. The Kevin Parker-led band has had a similarly spectacular year, winning five ARIA awards for Currents and also picking up a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album.

This year’s APRAs also saw the first presentation of an Overseas Music Award, given to children’s, country and pop record writer Phil Barton.

Other notable winners included Peking Duk, who took out Dance Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work for their collaboration with SAFIA – Take Me Over. 

Jarryd James took out Pop Work Of The Year, evergreen rappers Hilltop Hoods won Urban Work Of The Year, whilst Sia and Mark Ronson also took accolades for Chandelier and Uptown Funk respectively. Legends of Aussie rock Cold Chisel took out the gong for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

The night itself featured some outstanding performances as well, notably Urthboy and Bertie Blackman performing his Daughter of the Light, supplemented by a full choir. San Cisco played a cover of Courtney Barnett’s Pedestrian At Best, whilst Tame Impala’s Let It Happen was given a re-work by The Delta Riggs.

See the full list of winners, below.

Watch: Cold Chisel honoured at the 2016 APRA Music Awards

Song of the Year – Tame Impala: Let It Happen – 2016 APRA Music Awards

2016 APRA Music Award Winners

SONG OF THE YEAR

Birds of Tokyo: Anchor

Jarryd James: Do You Remember

Tame Impala: Let It HappenWINNER

Courtney Barnett: Pedestrian at Best

C.W. Stoneking: The Zombie

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Courtney Barnett – WINNER

BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Alex HopeWINNER

David Le’aupepe (Gang of Youths)

Jarryd James

Marlon Williams

Troye Sivan

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK

Jarryd James: Do You Remember

Sia: Elastic Heart

Jessie J: Flashlight

Vance Joy: Georgia

Peking Duk feat. Safia: Take Me OverWINNER

ROCK WORK OF THE YEAR

Birds of Tokyo: AnchorWINNER

The Rubens: Hoops

Kingswood: Micro Wars

AC/DC: Play Ball

AC/DC: Rock or Bust

POP WORK OF THE YEAR

Jarryd James: Do You RememberWINNER

Sia: Elastic Heart

Jessie J: Flashlight

Vance Joy: Georgia

The Veronicas: If You Love Someone

COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR

Lee Kernaghan: I Will Always Be With You

Kasey Chambers: Is God Real

Secondhand Man: Shane Nicholson

Lee Kernaghan: Spirit of the ANZACsWINNER

Ruby Boots: Wrap Me in a Fever

BLUES & ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR

Blue King Brown: All Nations

Xavier Rudd: Come People

Busby Marou: Days of GoldWINNER

The Bamboos feat. Tim Rogers: Easy

Ben Wright-Smith: No One

DANCE WORK OF THE YEAR

Mashd N Kutcher: Do It Now

Carmada: Maybe

Hayden James: Something About You

Peking Duk feat. Safia: Take Me OverWINNER

Generik feat. Nicky Van She: The Weekend

RUFUS: You Were Right

URBAN WORK OF THE YEAR

Hilltop Hoods: Cosby SweaterWINNER

Hilltop Hoods: Live and Let Go

Tkay Maidza: M.O.B.

Tkay Maidza: Switch Lanes

Hermitude feat. Mataya and Young Tapz: The Buzz

INTERNATIONAL WORK OF THE YEAR

Taylor Swift: Blank Space

OMI: Cheerleader

Taylor Swift: Style

Maroon 5: Sugar

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars: Uptown FunkWINNER

OVERSEAS RECOGNITION AWARD

Josef Salvat

Kylie Sackley

Phil BartonWINNER

Sam Dixon

Vassy

MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK OVERSEAS

Sia – Chandelier
 – WINNER

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Cold Chisel

Must Read