Two new categories for NT Song of the Year awards

To mark its fifth anniversary in 2016, the NT Song of the Year awards yesterday announced the addition of two more categories this year. They are held July 9 at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT in Darwin.

The first is the Territory Song of the Year, a new partnership with TourismNT to find tracks that that “express the unique identity and character of the NT.” The winner will link with TourismNT for tourism promotion opportunities and receive a music video production prize valued at $10,000.

The second addition is the Youth award, an expansion of the old School-Aged category, which will include all Territory songwriters aged 25 years and under.

MusicNT’s Darwin-based Executive Director Mark Smith said the new categories were a reflection of the growth of NT music.

“The Territory music community is producing more music than ever before and they’re hungry to share that music on a national level,” Smith commented. “The Northern Territory is producing some of the most exciting music in the country and through this new partnership with TourismNT we look forward to more people discovering their new favourite bands.”

Smith is also excited that as part of NT music’s strategy to widen its national profile is the tapping of 54 music biz execs from across Australia to be in the judging panel. Triple j’s Dom Alessio will host the awards.

The two additions join the genre-based categories of Rock, Pop, Folk, Urban/ Hip Hop, Blues & Roots, Country, Heavy, Dance & Electronic as well as People’s Choice and the overall NT Song of the Year.

Entries open today (Tuesday April 12) and close midnight Friday May 27. People’s Choice voting will open in mid June when finalists are announced.

The NT Song of the Year Awards started in 2012 to acknowledge and promote NT’s song scribe talents. Last year it received over 300 entries and winners came from all over NT including Katherine, Alice Springs, Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Arnhem Land and Milingimbi.

At The Dakota win the 2015 NT Song of the Year People’s Choice Award.Photo by Paz Tassone

Past winners Skank MC, Ben Allen, B2M, Shellie Morris, DT3, Enth Degree, David Crowe, Dave Garnham, Roy Mackonkey and Catch The Fly went on to get national radio airplay and festival slots, and international songwriting accolades.