Nominations Open For 2024 Australian Women in Music Awards

Nominations in 19 award categories are now open for the 2024 Australian Women in Music Awards, set for Wednesday, Oct. 2 in Meanjin/Brisbane.

The fifth annual music industry event recognises “the vast contributions of women across the sector,” reads a statement, and shines a light on female First Nations and culturally diverse artists, artists with disability, behind-the-scenes experts and music professionals.

The categories also reward excellence in art, from rock through to opera, with Opera Australia coming onboard this year as an AWMA supporting partner.

“The inaugural AWMA in 2018 was a watershed moment for the Australian music industry,” comments founding executive producer and program director Vicki Gordon.

Since that first-up event, AWMA has received 1,544 nominations, named 190 finalists celebrated 73 award recipients.

“In a long overdue and much needed expression of solidarity and leadership,” adds Gordon, “AWMA set the foundation for change, igniting collaboration and support nationally for diverse female creatives, non-binary and LGBTQI+ and GNC artists, First Nations and multicultural female artists, students, techs, female artists living in remote and regional areas, and music practitioners across all genres of music.”

The Opera Australia Impact Award, through support from Opera Australia, will “acknowledge the significant contribution of women working both on and off the stage to make opera that is contemporary and relevant to Australian audiences,” comments Fiona Allan, the organisation’s CEO.

Allan’s comments follow the publication by Opera Australia of a report that found women in that field are often overlooked for creative team roles, including composer, conductor and director spots.

Australian Women in Music Awards is supported by the Queensland government.

“The future of our music industry looks bright,” comments Queensland minister for health, mental health and ambulance services and minister for women Shannon Fentiman, “as our government continues to invest in a 10-year roadmap to promote arts, culture, and creativity.”

Nominations have a cut-off date of May 28, 2024.

See the categories in full below, and cast votes here.

AWMA 2024 Award Categories (with 2023 recipients where available):
1. Lifetime Achievement Award – Presented to a female artist or musician who has made an outstanding artistic contribution to the field of recording and/or live performance during her lifetime. 2023 Recipients: Kate Ceberano, Jeannie Lewis and Clare Moore.
2. Tina Arena Special Impact Award – Honours an unsung champion of the Australian music industry. 2023 Recipient: Oana Gilbert (Posthumous).
3. Humanitarian Award – Recognises an individual (female, male and GNC) who has made a significant and lasting contribution in assisting female artists working in remote and/or regional communities. 2023 Recipient: Alison Hams.
4. Diversity in Music Award – Recognises individual artists or female-driven musical collaborations for their contribution to advancing a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry. 2023 Recipient: Cerisa Benjamin.
5. Excellence in Classical Music Award – Recognises a mid-to-late career female classical music artist who has demonstrated musical excellence throughout her career. Recipient: Celia Craig.
6. Heavy Music Award – Recognises a female who has made contributions of outstanding significance as an artist, musician, music practitioner, agent, artist or label manager, supporter and/or advocator of Heavy Music. 2023 Recipient: Emmy Mack.
7. Creative Leadership Award – A curatorial award recognising excellence in creative programming from women working in broadcast media (radio, tv, online, streaming services), a music festival or live performance/venue to champion female artists. 2023 Recipient: Claire Edwardes.
8. Artistic Excellence Award – Recognises exceptional creative achievement from a female artist/musician across any genre. 2023 Recipients: Vika & Linda.
9. Studio Production Award – Recognises a female sound engineer or producer who has made contributions of outstanding significance in the studio recording environment. 2023 Recipient: Robyn Lee Payne.
10. Live Creative Production Award – Recognises a female working in a live production environment making significant impact in her field; includes but is not limited to roles such as Live Sound, Lighting & Visual Design, Set Design, Show Producer etc. 2023 Recipient: Naomi Price. …/4 -4-
11. Live Production Touring Award – Recognises a female working in a live production or touring environment making significant impact in her field: Includes Tour/Operations/Promotions Management, Tour Assistant, Backstage, Roadcrew, and other related support roles. 2023 Recipient: Jenny Moon.
12. Music Leadership Award – Recognises a female Managing Director, Label Manager, A&R Director, Artist Manager or Publisher making significant impact in music industry leadership. 2023 Recipient: Marianna Annas.
13. Songwriter Award – Recognises an outstanding female songwriter or composer. 2023 Recipient: Toni Watson (Tones and I).
14. Emerging Artist Award – Acknowledges an outstanding emerging female artist between the ages of 18-25 years inclusive. 2023 Recipient: ASHLI.
15. Music Photographer Award – Recognises a female music photographer currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work. 2023 Recipient: Mia Mala McDonald.
16. Filmmaker Award – Recognises a female music videographer, clip-maker, filmmaker, or music animator currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work. 2023 Recipient: Triana Hernandez.
17. ARIA Executive Leader Game Changer Award – Recognises the exceptional leadership of an Executive Leader who creates significant and positive change to generate equality for women in the Australian music industry. This award category is open to a CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, MD and GM. 2023 Recipient: Emily Collins.
18. Music Journalist Award – Recognises a female music journalist, blogger or editor who has made a creative contribution and courageous impact in truth telling and innovative reporting in the Australian music industry. 2023 Recipient: Jane Gazzo.
19. The Opera Australia Impact Award – Acknowledges a woman working in the field of opera as an artist, creative producer or manager, through which her vision and agency has made a significant impact on the ongoing development of the artform.