Singers Vanessa Amorosi, Toni Watson, and Kate Ceberano had been within the winner’s circle Wednesday evening (Sept. 27) on the 2023 Australian Ladies In Music Awards (AWMA), held in Brisbane.
Amorosi, who has reside in Los Angeles for the previous 13 years, returned to residence soil for this 12 months’s occasion, at which she carried out a brand new work from her forthcoming eighth album, Memphis Love, slated for launch Nov. 17, and picked up the inspiration award.
In the meantime, Watson, the one-time busker who led the charts in 30 nations with “Dance Monkey,” acknowledged as one of many 5 most-streamed songs on Spotify (with 2.9 billion performs), scored the songwriter award. Watson solely wrote “Dance Monkey,” and is at present overseas engaged on her sophomore album, anticipated to drop in 2024.
“I genuinely assume Australia has among the greatest songwriters on the planet,” she stated through a pre-taped acceptance speech. “We write among the greatest music with integrity and numerous coronary heart. I say that wherever I’m going.” There are “extra ladies popping out and expressing themselves, we’ve bought so many superb artists arising, so many thrilling feminine popping out of the Australia music trade. It’s really an honor to be somebody serving to pave the best way.”
Established in 2018, AWMA shines a light-weight on accomplishments of ladies throughout all areas of Australia’s music trade.
Different winners at The Tivoli included Vika & Linda (creative excellence), Ashli (rising artist), and soul singer Renee Geyer was posthumously inducted into the AWMA Honour Roll, alongside Judy Stone.
In a primary, all three nominees for the lifetime achievement award went residence with the prize, introduced to a feminine artist or musician who has made an impressive creative contribution to the sector of recording and/or reside efficiency throughout her lifetime. Ceberano, Clare Moore and Jeannie Lewis all collectively accepted the consideration.
“I’ve been up for a lot of awards in my life, and I’ve by no means actually gotten any of them. I may very well be extra proud,” remarked Ceberano, a legend in these components who has been on the high of the sport because the Nineteen Eighties, initially as a singer with The Fashions and I’m Speaking, earlier than embarking on a profitable solo profession.
The triumvirate on stage, she quipped, had been the “final of the Mohicans,” and “of a technology, it appears, that got here by earlier than social media and we weren’t being watched whereas we had been doing what we had been doing. And we nonetheless did it.”
Throughout proceedings, Tony Burke MP, minister for the humanities, made a pledge to help the AWMA’s trigger. “I’ve by no means understood why a lot within the system has made it so onerous,” he defined in a pre-recorded bit. “I wish to make it possible for your careers are simply as straightforward to prosper as it’s for males within the trade. I don’t know why its more durable to get radio play, why its onerous to get competition lineups, I don’t know why its been more durable for fundamentals, like simply having a protected office. However I would like you to know you’ve a authorities decided to repair this,” he stated, pointing to the creation of Artistic Australia, created by the Nationwide Cultural Coverage.
Organizers handed out 23 AWMAS to among the trade’s “most completed and rising feminine artists, musicians and music practitioners,” with winners determined by a 37-member music trade panel.
The AWMA caps a two-day convention and reside music program, and is supported by the Queensland authorities.
“AWMA is looking on the trade to undertake gender equality as a core music trade worth as a matter of precedence, important coverage change must happen at each state and federal degree to make sure ladies type an equitable a part of the trade,” feedback AWMA government producer and program director Vicki Gordon. “Gender bias can solely be addressed by prioritizing inclusivity and illustration as core music values.”
Performers included Dami Im, Vika & Linda, Scorching Brown Honey, and an all-star rendition of AC/DC’s “It’s a Lengthy Strategy to the High (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll),” that includes Amorosi and the Bull sisters on lead vocals, and Sarah McLeod on lead guitar.
Take a look at all of the AWMAs winners.
2023 Australian Ladies in Music Awards winners:
Studio Manufacturing
Robyn Lee Payne
Inventive Excellence
Vika & Linda
Range in Music
Cerisa Benjamin
Music Journalist
Jane Gazzo
Excellence in Classical Music
Celia Craig
Rising Artist
Ashli
Artistic Management
Claire Edwardes
Inaugural ARIA Government Chief Recreation Changer
Emily Collins
Inaugural Ladies in Heavy Music
Emmy Mack
Lifetime Achievement
Kate Ceberano
Clare Moore
Jeannie Lewis
Tina Enviornment Particular Affect
Oana Gilbert (posthumous)
Honour Roll
Judy Stone
Renée Geyer (posthumous)
Music Management
Marianna Annas
Filmmaker
Triana Hernandez
Stay Manufacturing Touring
Jenny Moon
Stay Artistic Manufacturing
Naomi Worth
Music Photographer
Mia Mala McDonald
Humanitarian
Alison Hams
Songwriter
Toni Watson (Tones & I)
Inspiration Award
Vanessa Amorosi
