ARIA Tweaks Criteria For 2023 Awards

ARIA rings in the changes to the criteria for this year’s flagship awards ceremony, which, organisers say, should “help shine a greater light on local artists.”

The tweaks are announced today (June 21), a month out from the official opening of entries for the 2023 ARIA Awards.

All told, at least ten categories are tweaked, many of which see an expansion — or complete removal — in the chart criteria which dictates whether an act is eligible.

Among them is the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist category, which extends the chart criteria to cover releases in Australian Artist charts to a depth of top 50, up from the top 40.

Another important change sees the removal altogether of chart appearance criteria from the Best Soul/RnB Release category, after only a handful of artists entered the race last time.

“Broadly speaking,” says ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, “the changes see our criteria expanded for a number of categories to allow more Australian artists to submit for nominations and help shine a greater light on local artists; particularly those in emerging genres like RnB, which certainly deserves more than the four eligible artists who submitted last year.”

While there is “absolutely more work to be done in ensuring greater reach and recognition for our brilliant local artists – and we will continue to converse, consult and evolve – this is an important step and something we can’t wait to celebrate with the nominees later in the year,” she continues.

The criteria for the ARIAs is reviewed each year in consultation with members, Herd adds, and this year “we have stepped up that process to create further channels for open communication, conducting deeper consultation with leaders and artists particularly in emerging and evolving genres. We will continue to work closely with the community and do our best to deliver an ARIA Awards that local musicians can rally behind and are proud of.”

The adjustments are about “broadening the chart criteria on categories that have it,” ARIA general manager Lynne Small explained during an industry panel discussion hosted by The Music Network and facilitated by The Brag Media’s editor-in-chief Poppy Reid.

“Chart criteria has been part of the awards for at least 10 years,” adds Small, “and that’s really to help filter the entries.”

Introducing the requirement for chart success is “about trying to refine” the process, particularly to lighten the load for the judging academy.

Herd also used the platform of the panel to debunk common misconceptions related to the ARIAs, and why a televised show will remain a fixture.

“ARIA exists to promote and showcase Aussie music and help more Australian artists reach more fans, both here and around the world,” she explains in a statement issued today.

“The ARIA Awards are our single most important initiative to do that. Every year they place Australian music on a national and international stage to showcase the best of the best, but for that reason, it’s important for us to ensure we are representing each category in a way that the community is proud of.”

Nominations for the 2023 ARIA Awards open on July 21.

See below for the notable changes to the ARIAs criteria. And click here for the full list of changes.

• Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist category: extended chart criteria to cover releases in Australian Artist charts to a depth of Top 50 (previously only Top 40)

• Best Pop Release category: introduce additional optional chart criteria of Australian Artist Top 50 Singles or Albums (previously only the main Top 100 singles or albums qualified)

• Best Dance/Electronic Release category: introduce additional option of charting in the Australian Artist Top 20 Dance Singles Chart or Top 10 Australian Artist Albums Dance Chart (previously main Dance genre charts or Club Chart only)

• Best Soul/RnB Release category: removed Chart appearance criteria altogether, instead entries must only have been surveyed for the Hip Hop/RnB Charts.

• Best Rock Album category: extended chart criteria to also cover releases on the Australian Artist Top 50 Albums Chart (previously Main Top 100 Album Chart only)

• Best Adult Contemporary Album: extended chart criteria to also cover releases on the Australian Artist Top 50 Albums Chart (previously Main Top 100 Album Chart only)

• Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album category: extended chart criteria to also cover releases on the Australian Artist Top 50 Albums Chart (previously Main Top 100 Album Chart only)

• Mix Engineer – Best Mixed Album category: changed to Best Engineered Release to allow for the inclusion of high-impact singles. Extended chart criteria to also cover releases on the Australian Artist Top 50 Albums Chart, ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart and ARIA Top 50 Australian Artist Singles Chart (previously Main Top 100 Album Chart only)

• Producer – Best Produced Album category: Changed to Best Produced Release to allow for the inclusion of high-impact singles. Extend chart criteria to also cover releases on the Australian Artist Top 50 Albums Chart, ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart and ARIA Top 50 Australian Artist Singles Chart (previously Main Top 100 Album Chart only)

• Simplification of the declaration required for the Best Independent Release category, with the requirement for a statutory declaration to apply on an ‘’as needed’’ basis only