Finalists announced for inaugural Women In Music Awards

Amy Shark, Camp Cope, Sarah Blasko, Tiddas, Katie Noonan, Deborah Cheetham, Gordi (Sophie Payten), Jen Cloher, Stella Donnelly, Ngaiire, Dallas Frasca, The Mission Songs Project and Roz Pappalardo are among the finalists for the inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA).

They are acknowledged in 14 categories, including leaders, collaborations aimed at diversity, Indigenous women, education, studio engineers & producers, live production, photographers, songwriters, humanitarian work and breakthrough talent.

The music leadership category—recognising a female CEO, managing director, label manager, A&R director, artist manager or publisher – had as finalists Mushroom Music’s head of A&R Linda Bosidis, Milk! Records co-founder and mentor Jen Cloher and Susan Heymann, general manager of promoter and artist management company Chugg Entertainment.

The winners will be unveiled at a Brisbane event on Wednesday, October 10.

“I welcome the inaugural AMWAs to Queensland’s thriving arts scene,” said Di Farmer, Queensland minister for child safety, youth and women and minister for the prevention of domestic and family violence.

“This initiative perfectly reflects our government’s vision for the future.

“We want to see the exceptional talents and achievements of our many female artists, and women from all fields, fully recognised, keenly supported and enthusiastically celebrated at every opportunity.”

Adds awards founding director and executive producer Vicki Gordon. “This will be a very special celebration of women in Australian music, those who have come before and those who continue to light the way.

“We are overwhelmed with support which we continue to receive from artists, the music community and the broader creative sector all of whom agree that the time for change has come.”

Gordon says that “hundreds of individual” nominations were received from every state and territory “and across all areas of diversity.

“The quality was exceptional with a broad representation from artists and music practitioners who operate outside the mainstream industry.

“It made the task of our jurors very tough.”

Among the performances on the night are the one-off reunion of Do Re Mi (led by Deborah Conway and Helen Carter, playing together for the first time in 30 years), Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Adalita, Lou Bennett (Tiddas), Sophie Koh, Kween G, Gordi, Ancestress and Emily Wurramara.

The AWMAs will also induct Helen Reddy onto the inaugural AWMA Honour Roll of female pioneers.

Her I Am Woman became an anthem for the women’s movement when released in 1971.

The AWMAs will also host a two-day program at the Brisbane Powerhouse on October 9 and 10 with a series of free forums and panel discussions, a photographic exhibition, the QLD premiere of the documentary Her Sound – Her Story, and a keynote address by Ceberano.