Entries for SA music awards now open

The People’s Choice Awards will host 12 genre-based awards, each presented with the support of a key South Australian business partner. Winners will be decided by a public vote,which is set to be opened in early August.

Deemed the most weighted awards of the night, The Peer-Voted Awards will be judged by a stellar lineup of 20 local and national industry experts, including those from Double J, AU Review and The Harbour Agency.

Among those on the judging panel is music director for local independent radio station Radio Adelaide Luke Penmen, who highlightedthat being able to say that artists have won an award – or even been named as a finalist – is a huge help for their future.

“So much of the music industry is convincing strangers to listen to your music,” he said.

In terms of what he is looking for in a winner, Penmen explained that he’s after “someone who’s done lots but clearly has a lot more coming up soon”.

“For me, it’s gotta be artists who I like playing on-air, who I like listening to at home, who I know kills when playing live, and generally someone who seems to have a plan and a lot of momentum going on.”

Previous SAM Awards winners includethe Hilltop Hoods, Bad//Dreems, Tkay Maidza and A.B. Original.