Pete Wentz Helped Sia Make Australian Music History At Last Night’s APRA Music Awards

Adelaide-born singer-songwriter Sia has won the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Songwriter Of The Year award for the third time, cementing herself in Australian music history as the first songwriter to ever receive the award three years in a row.

Sia was given the nod at the 2015 APRA Music Awards last night, where she also took home the peer-voted APRA Song Of The Year Award for her massive hit single, Chandelier.

“This is an unprecedented, and very likely, a never-to-be-repeated achievement by one of our most talented songwriters,” says APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle.

“Sia has been an APRA member since 1996 and was a co-winner of the inaugural Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Award in 2002. Since then she has become one of the most successful and acclaimed songwriters of her era. We’re incredibly proud of her achievements and honoured to represent her.”

In typical Sia fashion, her acceptance speeches were read by somebody else wearing a wig of her iconic blonde bob cut. This time around, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz took up the job.

“Thank you for giving me this award for the third time,” Wentz Sia said in his her acceptance speech for Songwriter Of The Year. “I am the fucking Michael Jordan of the APRAs. Thank you. Three-peat — He won three championships, and three more. So hopefully I’ll do that too.”

After taking out Song Of The Year, Sia’s Fall Out Boy persona said, “Thank you. I never knew that I would write such an epic song about chandeliers. And I actually the song’s not about chandeliers, it has a deeper message than that. But, when I listen to it, I just can’t imagine that my voice can go higher, and then it does — in the chourus.”

Other 2015 APRA Music Awards went to Brisbane band Sheppard, who took home two awards, as well as Aussie pop-rockers 5 Seconds of Summer, Illy and producer M-Phazes, siblings Angus & Julia Stone, Joel Fletcher, Adam Eckersley, Stonefield, Gotye and more. View the full list of winners alongside photos from the night, below.

The 2015 APRA Music Awards was hosted by Brian Nankervis of Rockwiz, and featured performances from Daniel Johns, Lisa Mitchell and the E Street Band’s Jake Clemons, Andy Bull and Thelma Plum, and Jimmy Barnes and Diesel covering Sia’s Chandelier.

Photos: 2015 APRA Music Awards / Photos: Tony Mott

Watch: Sia – Chandelier

2015 APRA Music Award Nominees & Winners

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 – WINNER
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

Songwriter of the Year

Writer: Sia
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

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) – WINNER
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) P/L

Writer: Troye Sivan

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Fifa Riccobono

Most Played Australian Work

Title: Chandelier
Artist: Sia
Writers: Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd

Title: Geronimo – WINNER
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

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 – WINNER
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

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 – WINNER
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

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) – WINNER
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*

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 – WINNER
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*

Rock Work of the Year

Title: Love You Deserve – WINNER
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

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 – WINNER
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#

Most Played Australian Work Overseas

Title: Somebody That I Used To Know
Artist: Gotye featuring Kimbra
Writers: Wally de Backer / Luiz Bonfa*
Publishers: J Albert and Son Pty Ltd / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd*

International Work of the Year

Title: Happy – WINNER
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+