Judges for the 9th Coopers AMP announced

The eleven-strong judging panel for The 9th Coopers AMP was announced this morning and, as usual, features a mix of musicians, journalists and music retailers. The panel will comprise of:

• Dave Faulkner (Chairperson)
• Bernard Zuel (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Renee Geyer
• Tim Levinson (Urthboy)
• Chris Johnston (The Age)
• Mikey Cahill (Herald Sun)
• Mike Glynn (JB Hi FI)
• Christopher Powell (Blackwood Sounds, Adelaide – retail)
• Shannon Logan (Jet Black Cat Music, Brisbane – retail)
• Chris Berkley (Red Eye Records, Sydney – retail)
• Nate Nott (Polyester Records, Melbourne – retail)

The Coopers AMP, now in its ninth year, has risen to be regarded as one of the most feted awards in the Australian media landscape. Unlike other awards in a similar space, commercial performance, genre, and accessibility don’t factor into the decision, with each album being judged purely on its quality. Past winners include The Drones, Lisa Mitchell and Hermitude – who, last year, was the first hip hop artist to win the prize, for their record HyperParadise.

Hoodoo Gurus vocalist Dave Faulkner said of the award: “The overriding principle has been to make the Coopers Australian Music Prize responsive to the changing nature of Australian music and to celebrate genuine musical excellence without fear or favour”.

Entires for the AMP close November 1, and albums must have been released in this calendar year. Records slated to be released in November or December are also eligible.

So far, the nine albums have been long-listed for the award, and a cursory glance over the list suggests that the 2013 field will be the most diverse to date, with artists including Sydney rapper The Tongue, soundscape sculptors PVT, folk singer Jen Cloher, manic experimentalist Kirin J. Callinan, twee pop artists Big Scary, and the legendary Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The full list is below.

Surrender To Victory by The Tongue
Hex Lover Killer by The Delta Riggs
Deleted Scenes by Standish/Carlyon
Homosapien by PVT
In Blood Memory by Jen Cloher
She Beats by Beaches
Embracism by Kirin J.Callinan
I See Seaweed by The Drones
Familiar Stranger by Bob Evans
Kiss My Apocalypse by Abbe May
Not Art by Big Scary
The Cold Light Of Day by Dialectrix
Push The Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds