The awards’ 17 categories recognise the achievements of women throughout the music industry.
Kate Ceberano, Dami Im, Katie Noonan and Deborah Cheetham AO are among the sensational list of finalists in the Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMAs), which received a record number of entries celebrating fierce talent from every state and territory.
While the annual Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA), which was set to go ahead in Brisbane on October 5 and 6, has been postponed to May next year due to COVID-19 concerns, the finalists revealed for the awards is a stark reminder of the females in the Australian music industry that are absolutely killing it! Women supporting women – what’s not to love.
The key takeaways
- The Australian Women in Music Awards 2021 finalists have been revealed
- This year’s event has been postponed until 2022 amidst COVID-19 concerns
- The awards’ 17 categories recognise the achievements of women throughout the music industry
Keep up with the latest music interviews, news and reviews here.
Founded in October 2018, the AWMA turn the spotlight on women who well and truly deserve it. They recognise First Nations and multicultural performers and music practitioners and focus on excellence in artistry, technical and production skills, leadership, cross-cultural development, songwriting, music journalism, music photography, film making, classical music and humanitarian work.
This year saw a record number of entries across 17 categories, with submissions from every mainland state and territory.
Among the name’s this year is a handful of Victoria’s fierce females, including Geelong born Alice Ivy who is nominated for the diversity in music award and studio production award, Melbourne-based Sosefina Fuamoli and the esteemed Jane Gazzo who are nominated for the Music Journalist Award, Melbourne-based, freelance music photographer Brittany Long who is in the race for the Music Photographer Award and the brains behind Isol-Aid festival Emily Ulman who is up for the Creative Leadership Award.
There’s also Melbourne-based West Australian Vanessa Perica going for the Emerging Artist Award, the one and only Kate Ceberano for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Melbourne drummer Sonja Horbelt for the Tina Arena Special Impact Award, Castlemaine artist Eliza Hull also up for the Diversity in Music award, Geelong’s Jenny Moon for the Live Creative Production Award, One half of Bachelor Girl duo Tania Doko and creative vocal stylist and improviser Lisa Young who are both up for the songwriter award.
Of course, these females in the music industry are only a few among so many others who deserve recognition for their amazing work.
Check out the full list of AWMA 2021 finalists below.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Kate Ceberano, Deborah Cheetham AO, Keri McInerney
Tina Arena Special Impact Award
Sahara Herald, Sonja Horbelt, Dina Bassile
Humanitarian Award
Nancy Bates, Leigh Carriage, Gemma Farrell
Diversity in Music Award
Mindy Meng Wang, Eliza Hull, Alice Ivy
Excellence in Classical Music Award
Elena Kats-Chernin, Genevieve Lacey, Celia Craig
Artistic Excellence Award
Katie Noonan, Dr Eve Klein, Elena Kats-Chernin
Studio Production Award
Antonia Gauci, Becki Whitton, Alice Ivy
Live Creative Production Award
Annie Peterson, Jenny Moon, Kait Hall
Live Production Touring Award
Casey O’Shaughnessy, Sophie Kirov, Fanny Lumsden
Music Leadership Award
Marianna Annas, Jodie Feld, Sahara Herald
Songwriter Award
Dami Im, Tania Doko, Lisa Young
Emerging Artist Award
GLVES, Vanessa Perica, Martha Marlow
Music Photographer Award
Cybele Malinowski, Brittany Long, Michelle Pitiris
Film-maker Award
Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien Curran, Natalie van den Dungen, Lucy Knox
Music Journalist Award
Jane Gazzo, Sosefina Fuamoli, Poppy Reid
Excellence in Image Making Award
Cindy Vogels
Creative Leadership Award
Annie Peterson, Vanessa Hughes, Emily Ulman
The Australian Women in Music Awards are happening in Brisbane on May 17 and 18 2022. Head to the AWMA website for more information.
