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News March 30, 2023

APRA Music Award 2023 Unveils Complete List of Nominees

Senior Journalist, B2B
APRA Music Award 2023 Unveils Complete List of Nominees

Future classics recorded by Daniel Johns, King Stingray, Julia Jacklin, Flume and the late Archie Roach will vie for the coveted song of the year at the 2023 APRA Music Awards, set for April 27 at ICC Sydney.

The peer-voted song of the year is one of the single most important categories on the music industry calendar, and this year’s shortlist is a cross-genre who’s who of homegrown superstars.

Contenders this time are Johns’ “I Feel Electric” (co-written by Johns, Laura Raia, Maxwell Bidstrup and Mark Landon), the Stingers “Lupa” (written by Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu), Jacklin’s “Lydia Wears a Cross” (written by Jacklin), Flume’s “Say Nothing” (featuring MAY-A, written by Flume and Sarah Aarons) and Roach’s “One Song” (written by Roach).

Also on the night, Stingers songwriters Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu and Roy Kellaway are chances for breakthrough songwriter of the year, which sees them face-off with Sampa the Great; Budjerah; Vincent Goodyer (aka 18YOMAN); and Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama and Peppa Lane, who collective blast-away as Spacey Jane.

Breakthrough songwriter of the year is determined by the APRA board of writer and publisher directors.

Multiple nominees at this year’s APRAs include Grammy Award winners Rüfüs Du Sol, Flume and M-Phazes, along with Spacey Jane, Flume, Sarah Aarons, Vincent Goodyer and Ruel.

The Kid Laroi dominated last year’s 40th anniversary ceremony, winning three circular trophies, including the night’s top prize.

As previously reported, Celia Pacquola, Fred Leone and Henry Wagons are on hosting duties for this year’s event, while François Tétaz as musical director.

See the full list of 2023 APRA Awards nominees below.

Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
 
Title:                 I Feel Electric
Artist:                Daniel Johns
Writers:             Daniel Johns / Laura Raia / Maxwell Bidstrup^ / Mark Landon+
Publishers:        BMG^ / Concord Music Publishing+

Title:                  Lupa
Artist:                 King Stingray
Writer:                Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu 
Publisher:           Sony Music Publishing

Title:                  Lydia Wears a Cross
Artist:                 Julia Jacklin
Writer:                Julia Jacklin
Publisher:           Mushroom Music

Title:                  One Song
Artist:                 Archie Roach
Writer:                Archie Roach 
Publisher:           Mushroom Music          

Title:                   Say Nothing (feat. MAY-A)
Artist:                  Flume
Writers:               Flume* / Sarah Aarons 
Publishers:          Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic* / Sony Music Publishing

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
 
Writer:               18YOMAN (Vincent Goodyer)
Publisher:           Universal/MCA Music Publishing

Writers:            Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama & Peppa Lane
                          
(Spacey Jane)
Publishers:         Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process

Writer:              Budjerah          
Publisher:          Mushroom Music

Writers:            Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu  (King Stingray)
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing

Writer:              Sampa the Great 
Publisher:          Kobalt Music Publishing
 
Most Performed Australian Work 
 
Title:                 Clarity
Artist:                Vance Joy
Writers:             Vance Joy / Joel Little*
Publishers:        Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED / Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                  Growing Up Is ___
Artist:                 Ruel
Writers:              Ruel Van Dijk / Mark Landon* / Julian Bunetta^
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing* /
                          Mushroom Music obo Hipgnosis^

Title:                 Hurtless
Artist:                Dean Lewis
Writers:             Dean Lewis / Jon Hume*
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing*

Title:                 On My Knees
Artist:                RÜFÜS DU SOL
Writers:             Jonathon George / James Hunt / Tyrone Lindqvist /
                         Jason Evigan*                        
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                 STAY
Artist:                The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Writers:             The Kid LAROI / Justin Bieber* / Isaac De Boni# / Omer Fedi* /
                          Magnus Hoiberg^ / Michael Mule# / Charlie Puth+ / Subhaan Rahman^ /
                          Blake Slatkin*
Publishers:        Sony Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing* /
                          Warner Chappell Music^ /  Kobalt Music Publishing+ /
                          Concord Music Publishing#
 
Most Performed Alternative Work
 
Title:                  Apple Crumble
Artist:                 Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba
Writers:              Louis Leimbach* / Oli Leimbach* / Dave Hammer^ / Idris Elba*
Publishers:         Universal Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^

Title:                  Hurtless
Artist:                 Dean Lewis
Writers:              Dean Lewis / Jon Hume*
Publishers:         Kobalt Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing*

Title:                  The Man Himself
Artist:                  Gang of Youths
Writers:               Dominik Borzestowski / Maxwell Dunn / Thomas Hobden /
                           Jung Kim / David Le’aupepe*                    
Publisher:            Universal Music Publishing*
 
Title:                  Superstar
Artist:                 Sycco
Writer:                Sasha McLeod pka Sycco
Publisher:           Sony Music Publishing
 
Title:                   Touch Back Down
Artist:                  Ocean Alley
Writers:               Nicholas Blom / Baden Donegal / Lachlan Galbraith / Mitchell Galbraith /
                           Angus Goodwin / Tom O’Brien
Publisher:           Warner Chappell Music

Title:                  Waste A Day
Artist:                 The Rubens
Writers:              Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Sam Margin / Zaac Margin /
                           William Zeglis           
Publishers:         Mushroom Music obo Ivy League Music
 
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work 
 
Title:                  I Believe
Artist:                 Ziggy Alberts
Writer:                Ziggy Alberts
Publisher:          Kobalt Music Publishing

Title:                  I Want You To Know
Artist:                 Ash Grunwald
Writers:              Ash Grunwald / Fergus James
Publisher:           Mushroom Music

Title:                 Livin’ Like Kings
Artist:                The Black Sorrows
Writers:             Joe Camilleri / Nicholas Smith*
Publishers:        Mushroom Music / Jesharo Music*

Title:                 My Heart Is In The Wrong Place
Artist:                Vika & Linda
Writer:               Ben Salter
Publisher:          Universal Music Publishing

Title:                 We Deserve To Dream
Artist:                Xavier Rudd
Writer:               Xavier Rudd
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing
 
Most Performed Country Work 

Title:                 Get It Girl
Artist:                Taylor Moss
Writers:             Taylor Moss / Michael Delorenzis* / Michael Paynter* / Alys Edwards
Publisher:          Mushroom Music*

Title:                 God Took His Time On You
Artist:                Casey Barnes
Writers:             Casey Barnes / Kaci Brown* / Samuel Gray*
Publishers:        Mushroom Music / Kobalt Music Publishing*

Title:                 Good Beer
Artist:                Seaforth
Writers:             Jordan Dozzi / Thomas Jordan / Mitchell Thompson / Rocky Block
Publisher:          Warner Chappell Music

Title:                 Love Is Real
Artist:                Morgan Evans
Writers:             Morgan Evans / Parker Nohe / Jordan Reynolds              
Publisher:          Warner Chappell Music

Title:                 Raised Like That
Artist:                James Johnston
Writer:               James Johnston

Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work 
 
Title:                Heavy 
Artist:                Flight Facilities feat. Your Smith
Writers:             Hugo Gruzman* / James Lyell* / Jono Ma / Caroline Smith^
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic* / Concord Music Publishing^

Title:                 Honest (feat. Slayyyter)
Artist:                Peking Duk
Writers:             Adam Hyde* / Reuben Styles-Richards* / Kristy Lee Peters/ Slayyyter     
Publisher:          BMG*

Title:                 On My Knees
Artist:                RÜFÜS DU SOL
Writers:             Jonathon George / James Hunt / Tyrone Lindqvist /
                          Jason Evigan*                        
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                 Running Away
Artist:                 Rumor
Writers:              Mitchell Curley / Len Pearce       

Title:                 Say Nothing (feat. MAY-A)
Artist:                Flume
Writers:             Flume* / Sarah Aarons 
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing obo Future Classic* / Sony Music Publishing

Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work 
 
Title:                 LET’S TROT!
Artist:                Brothers & Joel Fletcher
Writers:             Bassam Ahmad / Issam Ahmad / Joel Fletcher*                
Publisher:         120 Publishing*

Title:                 Not Sober
Artist:                The Kid LAROI feat. Polo G & Stunna Gambino
Writers:             The Kid LAROI* / Khaled Rohaim^ / Stunna Gambino / Polo G* /
                          Subhaan Rahman+
Publishers:        Sony Music Publishing* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing^ /
                          Warner Chappell+

Title:                  Show Business
Artist:                 Hilltop Hoods feat. Eamon
Writers:              Barry Francis (DJ Debris)* / Matthew Lambert (Suffa)* /
                          Daniel Smith (MC Pressure)* / Andrew Burford
Publishers:         Sony Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing 

Title:                 Wicked
Artist:                Say True God?
Writer:               Nixon Jackson

Title:                 Wish You Well
Artist:                Baker Boy feat. Bernard Fanning
Writers:             Baker Boy / Bernard Fanning* / Pip Norman^
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^
 
Most Performed Pop Work 

Title:                 Clarity
Artist:                Vance Joy
Writers:             Vance Joy / Joel Little*
Publishers:        Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED / Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                 Complete Mess 
Artist:                 5 Seconds of Summer
Writers:              Michael Clifford / Luke Hemmings / Calum Hood / Ashton Irwin
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing

Title:                 Glow    
Artist:                Jessica Mauboy
Writers:             Jessica Mauboy / Jessica Higgs* / Cosmo Liney* / Patrick Liney*
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing*

Title:                 Growing Up Is ___
Artist:                Ruel
Writers:             Ruel Van Dijk / Mark Landon* / Julian Bunetta^
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing* /
                          Mushroom Music obo Hipgnosis^

Title:                 STAY
Artist:                The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Writers:             The Kid LAROI / Justin Bieber* / Isaac De Boni# / Omer Fedi* /
                          Magnus Hoiberg^ / Michael Mule# / Charlie Puth+ / Subhaan Rahman^ /
                          Blake Slatkin*
Publishers:        Sony Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing* /
                          Warner Chappell Music^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ /
                          Concord Music Publishing#
 
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work 
 
Title:                 Bang My Line
Artist:                Cosmo’s Midnight feat. Tkay Maidza
Writers:             Cosmo Liney / Patrick Liney / Tkay Maidza / Brett Ramson*          
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing / BMG*

Title:                 Safety
Artist:                Becca Hatch
Writers:             Becca Hatch / Hau Latukefu / Jamie Muscat / Willie Tafa / Solo Tohi*        
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                 Send My Love
Artist:                Jordan Rakei
Writers:             Jordan Rakei* / Imraan Paleker / Jonathan Harvey / Christopher Hyson /
                          James Macrae
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                  Still Dream
Artist:                 Miiesha
Writers:              Miiesha* / Lucy Blomkamp* / Stephen Collins                  
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing*
 
Title:                 Tuesday                                 
Artist:                 KYE feat. Jerome Farah
Writers:              Kylie Chirunga* / Jerome Farah^ / Jacob Farah^ / Vincent Goodyer+
Publishers:        Sentric Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music^ /
                          Universal/MCA Music Publishing+
 
Most Performed Rock Work    
     
Title:                 Around in Circles
Artist:                Jimmy Barnes
Writers:             Jimmy Barnes / Jane Barnes* / Mark Lizotte*
Publishers:        Sony Music Publishing / Mushroom Music*

Title:                 Lunchtime
Artist:                Spacey Jane
Writers:             Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu / Caleb Harper / Kieran Lama / Peppa Lane
Publishers:        Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process 
 
Title:                 Milkumana
Artist:                King Stingray
Writers:             Roy Kellaway / Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu         
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing

Title:                 Rising Seas
Artist:                Midnight Oil
Writer:               Jim Moginie
Publisher:          Sony Music Publishing

Title:                  Struck By Lightning
Artist:                 The Chats
Writers:              Matthew Boggis / Joshua Hardy / Eamon Sandwith
Publisher:           Universal Music Publishing

Most Performed International Work 
 
Title:                 abcdefu
Artist:                GAYLE
Writers:             Taylor Rutherfurd / Sara Davis* / David Pittenger^
Publishers:        Universal/MCA Music     Publishing / Peermusic* / Downtown Music^

Title:                 As It Was
Artist:                Harry Styles
Writers:             Harry Styles / Thomas Hull / Tyler Johnson*
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing*

Title:                 Easy On Me
Artist:                Adele
Writers:             Adele / Greg Kurstin*
Publishers:        Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*

Title:                  Shivers
Artist:                 Ed Sheeran
Writers:              Ed Sheeran* / Kal Lavelle* / Steve Mac^ / Johnny McDaid*
Publishers:         Sony Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing^

Title:                  That’s What I Want
Artist:                  Lil Nas X
Writers:               Lil Nas X / Keegan Bach* / Omer Fedi^ / Blake Slatkin^ / Ryan Tedder+
Publishers:         Sony Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing* / 
                           Universal/MCA Music Publishing^ / Downtown Music+

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