The 2012 APRA Music Awards were held last night in red carpet style at the Parkside Ballroom in the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins.
The 30th anniversary of the annual awards night celebrated songwriters and composers across 12 categories, recognising their exceptional achievements in song writing. The most notable winner of the night was Wally De Backer (aka Gotye), who took out three APRA Music Awards including the peer-voted APRA Song of the Year for his hit single Somebody That I Used To Know. Backer also won the award for Most Played Australian Work of the Year and was dubbed the Songwriter of the Year (not suprising considering Gotye has been chart topping in 11 countries around the world, was Number 1 for 8 weeks on the Australian singles chart and most recently, surpassed Savage Garden as the first Australian artist since 200 to get a number one spot in the American Billboard Chart…phew!).
Killian Gavin, Jonathon Hart, Timothy Hart, David Josking and Jacob Tarasenko were awarded the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year for their songwriting achievements for Boy & Bear‘s debut album Moonfire.
Country Work of the Year went to one of the countries most prolific songwriters Shane Nicholson for Famous Last Words and The Blues and Roots Work of the Year went to Busby Marou for the band’s self titled debut album Biding My Time.
Congratulations to all the winners! Keep reading to see the full list of winners.
Song of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publishers:
Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye feat Kimbra Wally de Backer* / Luiz Bonfa (ASCAP)^ J Albert and Son Pty Ltd* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd^
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Writers: Killian Gavin / Jonathon Hart / Timothy Hart / David Hosking / Jacob Tarasenko (Boy and Bear) Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Songwriter of the Year
Wally De Backer
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
Mary Lopez
Most Played Australian Work
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publishers:
Somebody That I Used To Know
Gotye feat Kimbra Wally de Backer* / Luiz Bonfa (ASCAP)^ J Albert and Son Pty Ltd* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd^
Country Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writer: Publisher:
Famous Last Words
Shane Nicholson Shane Nicholson Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publisher:
Biding My Time
Busby Marou Thomas Busby / Jeremy Marou Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Dance Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publishers:
From The Music
The Potbelleez David Greene* / Ilan Kidron* / Marisa Lock^ / Jonathan Murphy* / Justin Shave^ Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd^
Rock Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publisher:
Wild At Heart
Birds of Tokyo Anthony Jackson / Ian Kenny / Adam Spark / Adam Weston Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Urban Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publishers:
Own This Club
Marvin Priest Antonio Egizii* / David Musumeci* / Marvin Priest^ EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd^
Most Played Australian Work Overseas
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publisher :
Highway To Hell
AC/DC
Angus Young / Malcolm Young / Bon Scott
J Albert and Son Pty Ltd
International Work of the Year
Title:
Artist: Writers: Publisher:
Party Rock Anthem
LMFAO Skyler Gordy (ASCAP)* / Stefan Gordy (ASCAP)* / David Listenbee (ASCAP) / Peter Schroeder (ASCAP) Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*