Oana Gilbert, Emily Collins and Jane Gazzo Among Finalists For 2023 AWMAs

The late Mushroom Group veteran Oana “Wani” Gilbert is shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Women In Music Awards (AWMAs), set for Sept. 27 in Meanjin/Brisbane.

Gilbert is posthumously nominated for the Tina Arena Special Impact Award, a category that “honours an unsung champion of the Australian music industry.” Lisa Smith and Kylie Thompson also earn nods, organisers announced Monday (July 17).

Meanwhile, interim head of Sound NSW (and former managing director of Music NSW) Emily Collins will duke it with Nazlican Eren and Sophie Galaise for the Inaugural ARIA Executive Leader Game Changer Award.

The new category recognises the “exceptional leadership of an executive leader who creates significant and positive change to bring about equality for women in the Australian music industry.”

Emily Collins

Author and broadcaster Jane Gazzo is nominated for the second consecutive year in the music journalist category, alongside Stephanie Eslake and Stephanie Eslake.

Other nominees for this year’s AWMAs include Kate Ceberano, Marianna Annas, Beth Appleton, Andrea Smith, Jessica Mauboy, Sarah McLeod, Beccy Cole, Vika & Linda, and others.

Twenty awards will be handed out on the night, gleaned from a public and self-nomination process that attracted “hundreds of individual nominations,” reps say, with each assessed by a 37-strong panel of industry experts.

Jane Gazzo

Founded in March 2018 by music industry veteran Vicki Gordon, the awards acknowledge the “vast contributions” and shine a light on the “incredible accomplishments of women across all areas of industry,” from on stage, to those working behind the scenes, technicians, leaders, elders, performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, filmmakers and photographers, music journalists and more.

“AWMA has raised the collective voice – demanding equitable access, safety and recognition for women in the Australian music industry,” comments Gordon, AWMA founding executive producer & program director.

“We support and promote women as vital, essential contributors to the future business growth of the sector and are calling on the industry to adopt gender equality as a core music industry value.”

Gender equity, she continues, “is still a long way in the future and we all need to remain vigilant.”

https://twitter.com/WomenInMusicAus/status/1642999174718169088

Australian Women in Music Awards is an initiative of Cicada International Ltd, and the Queensland Government is the major sponsor of awards and conference programme.

“Our government is proud to have supported the Australian Women in Music Awards for several years – hosting some of the country’s most brilliant performers at major Brisbane venues including The Tivoli,” comments Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, a guest at last year’s edition.

“This event not only celebrates the most innovative, committed, and visionary singers and songwriters in Australian music, it provides an opportunity to further promote gender equality and diversity including the voices of First Nations women.”

ABC TV will air the ceremony at an undisclosed later date.

For more visit Women In Music Awards for the full list of nominations.