APRA AMCOS and NFSA Launch The National Songbook

APRA AMCOS and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia have launched The National Songbook, a new annual initiative designed to formally recognise the songs and scores that have helped shape Australia's cultural identity.

Established as APRA celebrates its centenary and the NFSA marks its 90th anniversary, The National Songbook will combine industry recognition with long-term cultural preservation. 

Each year, a selection of significant Australian works will be inducted into what the organisations describe as a “living collection,” honouring their creators while ensuring the music remains accessible to futures generations. 

The inaugural class of 10 songs will be inducted at the NFSA in Canberra on Wednesday, November 4th, opening this year's Ausmusic Month celebrations. 

Unlike a conventional awards program or public poll, inductees will be selected by a panel drawn from across the music and cultural sectors, including songwriters, composers, academics and media representatives. 

The panel will be co-chaired by APRA Chair Jenny Morris and NFSA Chair Annette Shun Wah, with members independently nominating songs to form a longlist spanning different generations, genres and communities. 

To be eligible, a song must have been written or co-written by an Australian APRA member and released at least 10 years ago, allowing time for its broader cultural impact to be assessed. 

Works must also be original compositions that have been professionally recorded or published and demonstrate a significant influence within Australia. Songs from all genres and eras will be considered, alongside screen compositions and soundtracks deemed to have national cultural significance.

The criteria position The National Songbook as both an industry honour and an attempt to build a more permanent Australian musical canon, moving beyond commercial performance or awards-season success to consider how songs become embedded in the country's shared history. 

“The National Songbook will recognise and celebrate the iconic songs and scores that define who we are as Australians,” APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said.

“The music that carries our stories, our histories and our shared moments, connecting us across generations and communities across the nation.”

Ormston said APRA's centenary presented an opportunity to formalise its partnership with the NFSA and honour the depth and diversity of Australian songwriting.

Meagan Loader, Chief Curator of the NFSA, added, “Songs are more than entertainment — they are cultural touchstones that describe who we are, capture the moments that have shaped us and live in our muscle memory, in our very heart beats… Our partnership with APRA AMCOS honours the creators of these extraordinary works and helps safeguard their legacy long term.”

For more information on The National Songbook, visit nfsa.gov.au.