The full nominations for the 2015 Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Music Awards have been announced with Brisbane band Sheppard capping off a huge year by picking up four nominations, trailed by Sia, 5 Seconds Of Summer and Dan Sultan who received three each.
It’s a strong field in 2014, with a number of artists having also enjoyed huge international success. Both Sia and 5 Seconds of Summer achieved the mighty feat of a number one album in the US while Sheppard’s Geronimo reached the top ten in many countries across Europe.
The big one, Song of the Year, has been whittled down from an initial shortlist of 24 to just five. Up for the top gong is country legend Kasey Chambers for Bittersweet, bluesy rocker Dan Sultan for Kimberley Calling, The Veronicas for their number one hit You Ruin Me, International pop queen Sia for Chandelier and newcomers Sheppard for Geronimo.
Watch clips of the songwriters discussing their work below.
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is a particularly strong category, highlighting the mighty strength of Australia’s new crop of artists. Chet Faker, 5 Seconds of Summer, The Preatures, Sheppard, M-Phazes and Troye Sivan have all been recognised.
It’s a pretty impressive list of “newcomers”, given that many have already achieved great things. YouTube sensation Troye Sivan hit the top 10 around the world with his EP TRXYE, M-Phazes won a Grammy for his work with Eminem and 5 Seconds of Summer have, of course, covered teenage girls’ bedroom walls around the world.
Two special awards for Songwriter of the Year and the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services To Australian Music will be awarded on the night to as-yet-unannounced recipients. There will also be an award for the Most Played Australian Work Overseas.
Check out all the nominees below.
Watch: Song of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Song of the Year
Title: Bittersweet
Artist: Kasey Chambers and Bernard Fanning
Writers: Kasey Chambers* and Bernard Fanning
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd*
Title: Chandelier
Artist: Sia
Writers: Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Geronimo
Artist: Sheppard
Writers: Jason Bovino / Amy Sheppard / George Sheppard
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Empire of Songs (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Kimberley Calling
Artist: Dan Sultan
Writer: Dan Sultan
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: You Ruin Me
Artist: The Veronicas
Writers: Anthony Egizii* / David Musumeci* / Jessica Origliasso / Lisa Origliasso
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Watch: Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Writer: Chet Faker
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Writers: Isabella Manfredi, Jack Mofitt, Gideon Bensen, Thomas Champion & Luke Davison (The Preatures)
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Writers: Jason Bovino, Amy Sheppard & George Sheppard (Sheppard)
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Empire of Songs (Australia) Pty Ltd
Writer: M-Phazes
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Writers: Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood & Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds of Summer)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) P/L
Writer: Troye Sivan
Watch: Most Played Australian Work – 2014 APRA Nominees
Title: Chandelier
Artist: Sia
Writers: Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Geronimo
Artist: Sheppard
Writers: Jason Bovino / Amy Sheppard / George Sheppard
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Empire of Songs (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Like A Drum
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian / David Harris (BMI)*/ Romain Lorenzo (BMI)^ / Samuel Martin (ASCAP)~
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd / Peace Pourage Music* / Warner/Chappell Music
Australia Pty Ltd obo Quinleez Music and Artist 101 Publishing Group^/ Warner/Chappell
Music Australia Pty Ltd obo Sam Martin Music Publishing and Artist Publishing Group West~
Title: She Looks So Perfect
Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer
Writers: Michael Clifford / Ashton Irwin / Jacob Sinclair (BMI)*
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo BMG Chrysalis*
Title: Swing (Joel Fletcher Remix)
Artist: Joel Fletcher feat. Savage
Writers: Joel Fletcher Allan* / Demetrius Savelio / Nathan Holmes / Aaron Ngawhika
Publishers: 120 Publishing Pty Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Dawn Raid Music Ltd
Watch: Blues and Roots Work of the Year
Blues and Roots Work of the Year
Title: Dulcify
Artist: Halfway
Writers: John Busby / Christopher Dale / Liam Fitzpatrick / Noel Fitzpatrick / Elwin Hawtin / Benjamin
Johnson / Luke Peacock / John Willsteed
Publishers: Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Plus One Records
Title: Get Home
Artist: Angus & Julia Stone
Writers: Angus Stone and Julia Stone
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Heart Beats Slow
Artist: Angus & Julia Stone
Writers: Angus Stone and Julia Stone
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Livin’ In The City
Artist: John Butler Trio
Writer: John Butler
Publishers: Family Music Pty Ltd / J Albert & Son Pty Ltd
Title: Window To The Sky
Artist: Kim Churchill
Writer: Kim Churchill
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Watch: Country Work of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Country Work of the Year
Title: Freedom Rebels
Artist: Adam Brand
Writers: Adam Brand / Barry Dean* (BMI) / Troy Verges^ (BMI)
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd / Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia obo
Barrytones* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Songs from the Engine Room^
Title: Give Her The World
Artist: Adam Eckersley Band
Writers: Adam Eckersley / Danelle Leverett* (ASCAP) / Jason Reeves* (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd*
Title: Going Under (Didn’t Have To)
Artist: The McClymonts
Writers: Brooke McClymont / Mollie McClymont / Samantha McClymont / Lindsay Rimes
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Here’s To You And I
Artist: The McClymonts
Writers: Stuart Crichton* / Brooke McClymont / Mollie McClymont / Samantha McClymont
Publishers: Native Tongue Music Publishing* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: One Eye For An Eye
Artist: Morgan Evans
Writers: Morgan Evans and Mark Wells
Watch: Dance Work of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Dance Work of the Year
Title: Braveheart
Artist: Neon Jungle
Writers: Cassie Davis and Sean Mullins
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: Drop The Game
Artist: Flume & Chet Faker
Writers: Flume & Chet Faker*
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Future Classic Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd*
Title: High
Artist: Peking Duk Feat. Nicole Millar
Writers: Adam Hyde / Sam Littlemore*/ Nicole Millar / Reuben Styles
Publisher: 120 Publishing Pty Ltd*
Title: Swing (Joel Fletcher Remix)
Artist: Joel Fletcher feat. Savage
Writers: Joel Fletcher Allan* / Demetrius Savelio / Nathan Holmes / Aaron Ngawhika
Publishers: 120 Publishing Pty Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Dawn Raid Music Ltd
Title: Tear It Down
Artist: The Aston Shuffle
Writers: Kaelyn Behr (pka Styalz Fuego) / Mikah Freeman*/ Vance Musgrove*/ Amanda Ghost (PRS)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd*
Watch: Pop Work of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Pop Work of the Year
Title: Borrow My Heart
Artist: Taylor Henderson
Writers: Alex Hope / Louis Schoorl* / Hayley Warner^
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Allegro (Australia) Pty Ltd / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd*/
Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Chandelier
Artist: Sia
Writers: Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Geronimo
Artist: Sheppard
Writers: Jason Bovino / Amy Sheppard / George Sheppard
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Empire of Songs (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Like A Drum
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian / David Harris (BMI)*/ Romain Lorenzo (BMI)^ / Samuel Martin (ASCAP)~
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd / Peace Pourage Music* / Warner/Chappell Music
Australia Pty Ltd obo Quinleez Music and Artist 101 Publishing Group^/ Warner/Chappell
Music Australia Pty Ltd obo Sam Martin Music Publishing and Artist Publishing Group West~
Title: She Looks So Perfect
Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer
Writers: Michael Clifford / Ashton Irwin / Jacob Sinclair (BMI)*
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo BMG Chrysalis*
Watch: Rock Work of the Year – 2015 APRA Nominees
Rock Work of the Year
Title: Love You Deserve
Artist: Stonefield
Writers: Amy Findlay / Hannah Findlay / Holly Findlay / Sarah Findlay
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Sucker Punch
Artist: Kingswood
Writer: Alexander Laska
Publisher: Native Tongue Music Publishing
Title: The End
Artist: The Jezabels
Writers: Nikolas Kaloper / Samuel Lockwood / Hayley Mary / Heather Shannon
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: The Same Man
Artist: Dan Sultan
Writers: Pip Norman and Dan Sultan
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Under Your Skin
Artist: Dan Sultan
Writers: Alexander Burnett* / Pip Norman / Dan Sultan
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Ivy League Music* / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Watch: Urban Work of the Year – 2015 Nominees
Urban Work of the Year
Title: Live It Up
Artist: 360 feat. Pez
Writers: 360* / Kaelyn Behr (pka Styalz Fuego)^ / Pez / Dennis Dowlut / Nicholas Martin
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd^
Title: My Life
Artist: Bliss n Eso feat. Ceekay Jones
Writers: Max MacKinnon*/ Jonathan Notley*/ Matthew Kirk (BMI) / Nigel Kirk (BMI) / Ebony West
(BMI)^
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd obo Runway Star Music
Publishing and WB Music Corp^
Title: Price Of Fame
Artist: 360 feat. Gossling
Writers: 360 and Kaelyn Behr (pka Styalz Fuego)*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd / Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd*
Title: Tightrope
Artist: Illy feat. Scarlett Stevens
Writers: Illy and M-Phazes*
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo We Are Unified Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd*
Title: Won’t Let You Down
Artist: The Hilltop Hoods feat Maverick Sabre
Writers: Barry Francis / Matthew Lambert / Daniel Smith / James Diamond (PRS)*/ Tony Hymas
(PRS)^/ Cameron Ludik# / Michael Stafford(PRS)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Diamond Brothers Music*/ Warner/Chappell
Music Australia Pty Ltd obo Heatpar Ltd of Fairview Cottage^ / Universal Music Publishing Pty
Ltd#
Watch: International Work of the Year – 2015 Nominees
International Work of the Year
Title: Happy
Artist: Pharrell Williams
Writer: Pharrell Williams
Publishers: Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Universal Pictures Music and Sony/ATV Music
Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd
Title: Rather Be
Artist: Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne
Writers: Grace Chatto / Nicole Marshall / James Napier* / Jack Patterson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Salli
Isaak Songs Ltd*
Title: Rude
Artist: Magic!
Writers: Nasri Atweh / Adam Messinger* / Mark Pellizzer^ / Ben Spivak# / Alexander Tanasijczuk~
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L obo
Messy Music* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Mark Pelli Music Inc^ / Kobalt
Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Kobalt Music Services America Inc# / Mushroom Music
Pty Ltd obo BMG Chrysalis~
Title: Stay With Me
Artist: Sam Smith
Writers: Jeffrey Lynne / James Napier* / Tom Petty^ / William Phillips# / Sam Smith
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Salli
Isaak Songs Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Gone Gator Music^ / Universal
Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Method Paperwork Ltd#
Title: The Monster
Artist: Eminem feat Rihanna
Writers: Marshall Mathers* / Maki Athanasiou / Jonathan Bellion^ / Robyn Fenty# / Bryan Fryzel~ /
Aaron Kleinstub` / Bleta Rexha+
Publishers: Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd Obo Shroom Shady Music* / J Albert and Son Pty
Ltd obo Art In The Fodder Music and Songs of a Beautiful Mind^ / Sony/ATV Music Publishing
(Australia) Pty Ltd# / Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Freq Show Music~ /
Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo BMG Chrysalis` / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo BMG Chrysalis+