MEDIA RELEASE
FINALISTS AND NEW DATE ANNOUNCED FOR AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN MUSIC AWARDS
Keri McInerney has been named as a finalist in the Australian Women In Music Awards 2021, in the ' Life Achievement' category, alongside Kate Ceberano and Deborah Cheetham AO.
Founding Executive Director Vicki Gordon has also confirmed a change of date for the two-day event which will now be held in Brisbane on 17 and 18 May 2022. “As a national event which draws on the creative expertise of artists and music practitioners from every state, combined with our priority to provide safe travel for First Nations women from regional and remote communities, the risk of producing a safe event at this stage is unacceptably high,” Ms Gordon said. With a record number of entries, and submissions from every mainland state and territory, AWMA has been overwhelmed with support this year.
AWMA Juror Council Chair Diana Tolmie said: "I am thrilled with the support from the music industry – to read about the life stories of these fabulous women is truly inspiring!"
The coveted Emerging Artist category has again attracted an impressive list of nominees including finalists Tasmanian born, Adelaide raised, and now Brisbane-based First Nations singer-songwriter Glves, Melbourne-based West Australian Vanessa Perica, and Sydney artist Martha Marlow. Previous winners of this category have included Alice Skye, Camp Cope and Amy Shark. Music festival legend Sahara Herald, National Event Coordinator for Big Day Out for 18 years and currently Tour Director for Frontier Touring, is in the running for the Music Leadership Award, along with Universal Music Publishing’s Vice President, Commercial & Creative, Marianna Annas, and Director of Recorded A&R and Artist Experience at BMG Jodie Feld.
This year’s AWMA categories also include the inaugural Tina Arena Award Special Impact Award to honour an ‘unsung champion’ of the music industry. This special award will be presented by Tina Arena, who will also deliver the keynote address at the AWMA conference.
The diversity of the Australian Music Industry will be on show at AWMA with award categories honouring Excellence in Classical Music, Music Journalism and Image Making. Producers, Engineers, Film Makers, Photographers, Songwriters, Industry Leaders, Artist Managers and more are set to be acknowledged and celebrated in their own right at the AWMA ceremony.
A total of 17 AWMAs will be presented, including the Lifetime Achievement Award drawn from finalists Kate Ceberano, Deborah Cheetham AO and Keri McInerney.
A full list of finalists is provided on the following page, with images available here. Media contact: Cheryl Gray 0409 599 890 Email: cheryl@mulberryseed.com.au