Nominations open for inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards, set up to “shine a light on the depth of female talent”

Nominations have opened for the inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA), held in Brisbane on October 9 and 10.

The event will turn the spotlight on women with 14 categories.

These are:

Lifetime Achievement Award, for outstanding artistic contribution to the field of recording and/or live performance during her lifetime.

Educator Award, for significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and/or to empowering Indigenous female artists in remote and regional communities.

Diversity in Music Award, which recognises individual artists or female-driven musical collaborations for their contribution to advancing a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry.

Auriel Andrews Memorial Award, which recognises a true pioneer of Aboriginal women in music. Auriel Andrews OAM was a ground-breaking country music performer who passed in 2017 aged 69.

Studio Production Award, to recognise a female sound engineer or producer who has made contributions of outstanding significance in the studio recording environment.

Live Production Award, to recognise a female working in a live production or touring environment making significant impact in her field including tour management, live sound, lighting, backstage and road crew.

Music Leadership Award, to put a spotlight on a female CEO, managing director, label manager, A&R director, artist manager or publisher making a significant impact in music industry leadership.

Songwriter Award, for a female songwriter or composer who has made an extraordinary impact nationally and/or internationally in the past 12 months.

Breakthrough Artist Award, for an artist who has had a significant breakthrough impact nationally in the past 12 months.

Music Photographer Award, for a photographer currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work.

Film-maker Award, covering a music videographer, clip-maker or film-maker currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work.

Artistic Excellence Award, to recognise exceptional creative achievement from a female artist/musician across any genre.

Creative Leadership Award, a curatorial award recognising excellence in creative programming from a woman working in a music festival, live performance/venue or media setting to champion female artists.

Musical Excellence, to acknowledge exceptional musicianship from a female musician across any genre.

The aim of the AWMAs is to redress the underrepresentation of women in the Australian music scene by recognising the value, achievements and contributions of women in the industry.

There is a considerable gender imbalance in radio airplay, festival lineups, award wins and in the boardrooms.

Awards’ organisers point out that women represent only one-fifth of songwriters and composers registered with APRA, despite making up 45% of qualified musicians.

Of the 100 most played songs on commercial radio in 2016, only 31 were by a female act or act with a female lead.

Since the first Australian Independent Records Association awards in 2006, only 22 of the total 103 awards presented have been won by acts with a female lead, or equal numbers of women and men.

Last night, Tina Arena on ABC-TV’s The Weekly with Charlie Pickering suggested the problem started “at the top” and that music industry needed a shake-up.

Arena, along with Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, Debra Byrne, Katie Noonan, Christine Anu, Clare Bowditch, Isabella Manfredi, Jen Cloher, Sophie Koh, Kween G, Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Amphlett, the late Chrissy Amphlett, the late Ruby Hunter and APRA chair Jenny Morris are among artists backing the ground-breaking initiative.

Queensland minister for women, Di Farmer, says, “The music industry is clearly a male-dominated one and I urge women to seize this opportunity to showcase their industry worth, not only for those talented women on stage but also the many skilled ones behind the scenes.

“These awards are not just about picking up prizes – they also shine a light on the depth of female talent in the industry.”

The AWMAs are supported by the Queensland government and Canon Australia.

Canon Australia’s director of consumer imaging, Jason McLean, emphasises, “As the major partner for the inaugural AWMA Canon Australia is extremely excited about what the two-day event can do in advancing our female talent in the music industry.

“Creativity and curiosity are the key elements in so many artistic pursuits and the key drivers for people to explore the imaging journeys.

“I can’t wait to see the array of fabulous women who are recognised in the AWMAs, and as importantly see the larger industry come together to celebrate each other.”

Nominations can be made via the Australian Women in Music Awards website until July 12.

Finalists will be announced on September 3.