COVID-19 forces APRA Music Awards to a new home on the internet

The growing list of cancelled and postponed industry events won’t include the 2020 APRA Music Awards, with organisers APRA AMCOS moving the annual soiree online.

For the first time, due to social distancing measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, the songwriter awards will be live-streamed for the world to watch.

The event was scheduled for April 28 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.

“In these extraordinary times, the APRA Music Awards will change its format for 2020 and will be streamed online for the first time to music fans around the world as a virtual event on Tuesday 26 May,” read a statement from APRA AMCOS.

More details will be announced in the coming weeks, but TMN can confirm that the format will feature presenters, winners and performances of the Song of the Year finalists.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke returns for a second year as the musical director, curating the event’s always-unforgettable music performances.

Jenny Morris, chair of the APRA board, said it was important that the awards proceed.

“This is an unprecedented time in all our lives, it’s not easy to make any sort of decision right now about the near future,” said Morris.

“But everyone involved with the APRA Music Awards decided that going ahead with the awards was something we could and should do – albeit in a very different way, but one that brings the awards to music fans far and wide for the first time.

“It’s important to celebrate and acknowledge the success and artistry of our songwriters whose work enriches our lives. They will be the ones who help us get through this time.”

The nominees for the “reimagined” 2020 APRA Music Awards will be announced on April 7.

APRA AMCOS has also introduced an award for the Most Performed Alternative Work.

As with all the genre categories, the nominees and winners are determined by royalties earned from Australian performances of the song across broadcast, digital downloads, streaming services, and live performance.

The award has been created to acknowledge the significant commercial and cultural impact of the alternative genre on the Australian music scene.

APRA AMCOS thanks its major event sponsors Marsh and Songtradr and event supporters Chugg Entertainment & Frontier Touring, Shure, Show Group Enterprises and Studios 301.