Troye Sivan Cleans up at 2023 ARIA Awards

Troye Sivan was in a rush at the 2023 ARIA Awards, where the Australian pop star cleaned up with four awards.

Sivan, the Rolling Stone AUNZ cover star, snagged the public-voted category for song of the year (for “Rush”), best solo artist, and shared with Styalz Fuego in the best engineered and produced categories, lifting his career total to six pointed trophies.

It’s been some month for the Western Australian artist, who earlier grabbed Grammy Award nominations for best pop dance recording and best music video.

Also at the ARIAs, Genesis Owusu converted three wins from his seven nominations, including a win for album of the year (Struggler), the night’s top prize.

G Flip and Forest Claudette both won a brace of ARIAs, while Kylie Minogue broke her 21-year-long drought, scooping the ARIA Award for best pop release (“Padam Padam”).

Other winners on the night included Taylor Swift (most popular international artist), DMA’S (best group), MK & Dom Dolla (best dance/electronic release), King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (best rock album), RS cover stars The Teskey Brothers (best blues & roots album), Parkway Drive (best hard rock/heavy metal album) and Fanny Lumsden, winner of best country album who had one of the all-time great flexes by hearing her name called out by Dolly Parton.

Teenage Dads were anointed as the next big thing in Australia music, by claiming the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist accolade. Noone enjoyed the win more than Michael Chugg, who signed and delivered the alternative rock act through his independent company, Chugg Music. Chuggi’s table let out a roar, the concert promoter punched the air and maybe shed a tear, as his proteges won the award named after his good friend and business partner, the late MG.

In this, the 50th year since Gudinski founded the Mushroom Group, the memory of the late music entrepreneur lived on through the ARIAs, through sizzle reels, and multiple speeches. Dan Sultan, winner of best adult contemporary album, even channeled MG with his famous gravelly-voice with his “I knew you could do it.”

Though the remodeled format, a swanky set up with industry guests seated (and fed) at tables, was given the thumbs-up by many, if not most of the guests, the broadcast numbers tell a different tale. 

Some 238,000 tuned into Nine’s 7.30pm broadcast, across the five capital cities — the lowest viewing audience ever, lower than the 243,000 who watched across the metros last year, according to ratings published by Mumbrella. 

“We are so proud of tonight’s result,” says ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, “a true reflection of the excellence in Australian music, a celebration of the genuinely diverse range of artists we should be thrilled to call our own, and an exciting glimpse of the sheer success our incredible industry can achieve in the near future. Congratulations to all the winners, the nominees, and everyone who supported this year’s ARIA Awards in any way. Most of all, thank you.”

Performers included G Flip, Budjerah, DMA’S, Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, Jessica Mauboy, Meg Mac, Peach PRC, and Jet, who were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Also, guests were treated to a celebration of 50 Years of Hip Hop, a medley performance with Bliss n Eso, BARKAA, 1200 Techniques, DJ Krissy, and Sound Unlimited Posse featuring KYE.

The 2023 ARIA Awards were a partnership with YouTube and supported by the NSW Government through Destination NSW.

2023 ARIA Awards winners

Album of the Year
DMA’S – How Many Dreams? (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
G Flip – DRUMMER (Future Classic)
Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS) (WINNER)
Matt Corby – Everything’s Fine (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group)

Best Solo Artist
Budjerah – 2step – Ed Sheeran (Feat. Budjerah) (Warner Music Australia)
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan (Liberation Records)
Dom Dolla – Eat Your Man (Three Six Zero/Sony Music)
G Flip – DRUMMER (Future Classic)
Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS)
Jen Cloher – I Am The River, The River Is Me (Milk! Records/Remote Control Records)
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Meg Mac – Matter Of Time (EMI Music Australia)
The Kid LAROI – Love Again (Columbia/Sony Music)
Troye Sivan – Rush (EMI Music Australia) (WINNER)

Best Group presented by Stan
Cub Sport – Jesus At The Gay Bar (Cub Sport/Believe)
DMA’S – How Many Dreams? (I OH YOU/Mushroom) (WINNER)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth… (Virgin Music Australia)
Parkway Drive – Darker Still (Parkway Records/Cooking Vinyl Australia)
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group)

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist
Charley – TIMEBOMBS (EMI Music Australia)
grentperez – When We Were Younger (Fast Friends/AWAL Records)
Pacific Avenue – Flowers (BMG)
Royel Otis – Sofa Kings (OURNESS)
Teenage Dads – Midnight Driving (Chugg Music/MGM) (WINNER)

Best Pop Release
Amy Shark – Can I Shower At Yours (Sony Music)
Budjerah – Therapy (Warner Music Australia)
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam (Liberator Music/Mushroom) (WINNER)
Peach PRC – Perfect For You (Republic Records & Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Troye Sivan – Rush (EMI Music Australia)

Best Dance / Electronic Release
FISHER & Aatig – Take It Off (etcetc Music)
Golden Features – Sisyphus (Warner Music Australia)
Lastlings – Perfect World (Liberation Records/Mushroom)
MK and Dom Dolla – Rhyme Dust (Area 10/Big On Blue/Sony Music UK) (WINNER)
PNAU and Troye Sivan – You Know What I Need (etcetc Music)

Best Hip Hop / Rap Release
Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS) (WINNER)
KAHUKX – NOTHING TO SOMETHING (AURA Entertainment/ADA)
Kerser – A Gift & A Kers (ABK Records/ADA)
ONEFOUR Feat. CG – Comma’s (Independent Releases/Tunecore (AU/NZ)/Ditto (ROW)
TKay Maidza and Flume – Silent Assassin (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Soul / R&B Release
Chanel Loren – Rollin’ (Sony Music)
Forest Claudette – Mess Around (feat. EARTHGANG) (Sony Music) (WINNER)
Jada Weazel – Skin (EMI Music Australia)
KYE – Ribena (Sony Music)
PANIA – P STANDS 4 PLAYA (Say Less)

Best Independent Release presented by PPCA
Cub Sport – Jesus At The Gay Bar (Cub Sport/Believe)
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan (Liberation Records / Mushroom)
G Flip – DRUMMER (Future Classic)
Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS) (WINNER)
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam (Liberator Music/Mushroom)

Best Rock Album
Bad//Dreems – Hoo Ha! (BMG/ADA)
DMA’S – How Many Dreams? (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
G Flip – DRUMMER (Future Classic)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushroom and Lava (Virgin Music Australia) (WINNER)
Pacific Avenue – Flowers (BMG)

Alex Lahey – The Answer Is Always Yes (Liberation Records / Mushroom)
Dan Sultan – Dan Sultan (Liberation Records/ Mushroom) (WINNER)
Kate Ceberano – My Life Is A Symphony (ABC Music/The Orchard)
Mo’Ju – ORO, PLATA, MATA (Virgin Music Australia)
Tina Arena – Love Saves (Positive Dream/ADA)

Best Country Album
Brad Cox – Acres (Sony Music)
Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley – Up, Down & Sideways (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Fanny Lumsden – Hey Dawn (Cooking Vinyl Australia/The Orchard) (WINNER)
Henry Wagons – South Of Everywhere (Cheatin’ Hearts Records/Spunk Records)
The Wolfe Brothers – Livin’ The Dream (BMG/ADA)

Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album
DZ Deathrays – R.I.F.F (DZ Worldwide/The Orchard)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth… (Virgin Music Australia)
Parkway Drive – Darker Still (Parkway Records/Cooking Vinyl Australia) (WINNER)
The Amity Affliction – Not Without My Ghosts (Warner Music Australia)
These New South Whales – TNSW (Damaged Records/Inertia Music)

Best Blues & Roots Album
Cash Savage and The Last Drinks – So This Is Love (Mistletone)
Katie Wighton – The End (ABC Music/The Orchard)
The Bamboos – Live At Hamer Hall With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (BMG/ADA)
The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group) (WINNER)
Ziggy Alberts – DANCING IN THE DARK (Commonfolk Records/Ingrooves)

Best Children’s Album
Emma Memma – Emma Memma (GYROstream) (WINNER)
Peter Combe – Planet Earth 3rd From The Sun (Universal Music Australia)
Play School – Very Jazzy Street Party (ABC Music/The Orchard)
The Wiggles – Ready, Steady, Wiggle! (ABC Music/The Orchard)
Whistle & Trick – Bananas And Other Delicious Things (ABC Kids/The Orchard)

Best Video presented by YouTube
Can I Shower At Yours – Bolster, Amy Shark (Sony Music)
Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend – DMA’S, Joel Burrows (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
Gila Monster – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Spod (Virgin Music Australia)
Give You Love – Jessica Mauboy (feat. Jason Derulo), Rowena Rasmussen; Joel Rasmussen (Warner Music Australia)
Good Enough – G Flip, Kyle Caulfield (Future Classic) (WINNER)
LOLA – MAY-A, Murli Dhir (Arcadia Music, Sony Music)
Lookin’ Out – King Stingray, Sam Brumby (Cooking Vinyl Australia, The Orchard)
Manic Dream Pixie – Peache PRC, Kyle Caulfield (Republic Records and Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Stay Blessed – Genesis Owusu, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS)
Therapy – Budjerah, Murli Dhir, Made In Katana Studios (Warner Music Australia)

Best Australian Live Act
Baker Boy – Regional Vic Tour (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Brad Cox – ACRES TOUR (Sony Music)
Budjerah – Budjerah Australian Tour (Warner Music Australia)
DMA’S – DMA’S Live at Falls Festival (I OH YOU/Mushroom)
Dom Dolla – Dom Dolla Australian Summer Festival Tour (Three Six Zero/Sony Music)
G Flip – DRUMMER Australian Tour (Future Classic) (WINNER)
Julia Jacklin – PRE PLEASURE TOUR (Liberation Records)
King Stingray – That’s Where I Wanna Be Tour (Cooking Vinyl Australia/The Orchard)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – RÜFÜS DU SOL AUSTRALIAN 2022 TOUR (Rose Avenue Records/Warner Music)
Tame Impala – Slow Rush Tour (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)

Song of the Year presented by YouTube
Budjerah – Therapy (Warner Music Australia)
Day1 feat. KAHUKX – MBAPPÉ (db Music/Warner Music Australia)
Dean Lewis – How Do I Say Goodbye (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Joji – Die For You (88rising/Warner Records)
Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Luude and Mattafix – Big City Life (Sweat It Out/Warner Music Australia)
MK and Dom Dolla – Rhyme Dust (Area10/Big On Blue/Sony Music UK)
R3hab and Amy Shark – Sway My Way (Wonderlick/Kobalt Music Publishing)
The Kid LAROI – Love Again (Columbia/Sony Music)
Troye Sivan – Rush (EMI Music Australia) (WINNER)

Beyonce – Renaissance (Columbia/Sony Music)
Drake and 21 Savage – Her Loss (Republic Records/Universal Music Australia)
Ed Sheeran – (Atlantic UK/Warner Music Australia)
Luke Combs – Gettin’ Old (Columbia Nashville/Sony Music)
Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains (Republic Records/Universal Music Australia)
Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time (Mercury Nashville/Universal Music Australia)
Nicki Minaj – Queens Radio (Universal Records USA/Universal Music Australia)
P!NK – Trustfall (RCA/Sony Music)
SZA – SOS (RCA/Sony Music)
Taylor Swift – Midnights (Universal Records USA/Universal Music Australia) (WINNER)

Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award
Hank Lewerissa – Upper Coomera State College, Yugambeh Country, Gold Coast, QLD
Jessie Copeman – Ainslie School, Ngunnawal Country, Canberra, ACT
Peter Earl – The Music Guy, Dharug and Gundungurra Country, Blue Mountains, NSW
Sue Lowry – Southport Special School, Yugambeh Country, Gold Coast, QLD

ARTISAN AWARDS

Best Cover Art
Connor Dewhurst for Brad Cox – ACRES (Sony Music)
Harry Allen – Studio Balcony for Private Function – 370HSSV 0773H (Still on Top Records)
Jeremy Koren (Grey Ghost) and Michelle Grace Hunder – Everything Was Green – Forest Claudette (Sony Music) (WINNER)
Peach PRC, Billy Zammit for Manic Dream Pixie – Peach PRC (Republic Records & Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Sam Netterfiled, Mia Rankin – Jesus At The Gay Bar – Cub Sport (Cub Sport/Believe)

Engineer – Best Engineered Release
Dann Hume, Chris Collins, Matt Corby for Matt Corby – Everything’s Fine (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – Eat Your Man (Three Six Zero/Sony Music)
Eric J Dobowsky, Sam Teskey, Wayne Connelly for The Teskey Brothers – The Winding Way (Ivy League Records/Mushroom Group)
Simon Cohen, Dave Hammer Julian Sudek for Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS)
Styalz Fuego for Troye Sivan – Rush (EMI Music Australia) (WINNER)

Andrew Klippel and Dave Hammer for Genesis Owusu – STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL RECORDINGS)
Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – Eat Your Man (Three Six Zero/Sony Music)
Matt Corby, Chris Collins, Nat Dunn, Alex Henrikssen for Matt Corby – Everything’s Fine (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
M-Phazes for Ruel – 4th Wall (RCA/Sony Music)
Styalz Fuego for Troye Sivan – Rush (EMI Music Australia) (WINNER)

FINE ARTS AWARD

Best Classical Album
Australian Chamber Orchestra/Richard Tognetti – Indies & Idols (ABC Classic/The Orchard) (WINNER)
Ensemble Offspring – To Listen, To Sing – Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers (ABC Classic/The Orchard)
Neil Gaiman and FourPlay String Quartet – Signs Of Life (Instrumental Recordings/Inertia Music)
Roger Benedict and Simon Tedeschi – Dubussy – Ravel (ABC Classic/The Orchard)
Various Artists – Genevieve Lacey: Breathing Space (ABC Classic/The Orchard)

Best Jazz Album
Lance Gurisik – Cull Portal (33 Sides/Inertia Music)
Mike Nock – Hearing (ABC Jazz/The Orchard)
Sinj Clarke – The Height Of Love (Inertia Music)
Surprise Chef – Education & Recreation (Big Crown Records/Inertia Music)
The Vampires featuring Chris Abrahams – Nightjar (Earshift/Planet) (WINNER)

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album presented by Stan
Brett Aplin and Burkhard Dallwitz – Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Independent)
Helena Czajka – Unseen Skies (Original Score Soundtrack) (BMG)
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Northey – Blueback – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack By Nigel Westlake (ABC Classic/The Orchard)
Sophie Payton (GORDI), Jason Fernandez – RIDE – Music From the Film (ABC Music/The Orchard)
Various Artists – John Farnham: Finding The Voice (Music From The Feature Documentary) (Wheatley Records/Sony Music) (WINNER)

Byron Mark – Odyssey (Bug Sonic Records)
East of West – Moving Home (East of West Music)
Joseph Tawadros – Those Who Came Before Us (Independent/The Planet Company) (WINNER)
Mick Dick – Id of RA (Crusty Dub)
Songs of Disappearance – Australian Frog Calls (Bowerbird Collective/MGM)

OUR SOUNDTRACK OUR ADS

Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement (duration of 2 minutes or less)
Google: Helping You Help Others – 72andSunny with Campfire X, Baker Boy (WINNER)
Tourism Australia: Come and Say G’Day – M&C Saatchi Sydney, King Stingray
Tourism WA: Walking On A Dream – The Brand Agency, Empire Of The Sun
Wilk Turkey: Music 101 – BRING Agency, Matt Corby

Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement (over 2 minutes duration)
Australian Marine Conservation Society: Voice of the Sea – INNOCEAN Australia, John Williamson (WINNER)
Sim Sessions: Blessed – Bolster Group, Becca Hatch and Tentendo
Tourism Australia: G’day Short Film – M&C Saatchi Sydney, King Stingray
Vodka Cruiser: The Solo Project – BRING Agency, The Veronicas