The 2021 Queensland Music Awards (QMAs) will feature two new awards including the Innovation Award, which will be awarded to an individual or business who have created new ways of doing business 'with notable resilience, purpose and innovation'.
The 2021 QMAs have also seen a record amount of artist submissions from across the state with close to a thousand entries received; the awards ceremony will take place at The Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on 5 May.Presented by QMusic, the new Innovation Award will highlight the impressive and diverse work of individuals and businesses who have risen to the challenge of 2020 – public and self-nominations are open. Also added in 2021 is the Contemporary Classical Award.
"The quantity and high-calibre of song and music video submissions that have been submitted for this year's QMAs is testament to the talent, resilience and relentless passion of Queensland musicians and their teams," QMusic CEO, Angela Samut says.
"We are so proud to see the level of artistry, storytelling and music that our industry has continued to create over the past 12 months where most have experienced, and continue to experience, unprecedented hardship.
"QMusic has introduced the Innovation Award as acknowledgement to artists and businesses that have managed to create new ways of doing business to not only survive, but thrive in 2020 and beyond."
The Emerging Artist Of The Year award returns after its inaugural year in 2020, which was won by Hope D who has since gone on to place in triple j's Hottest 100, released her debut EP 'Cash Only', and is about to embark on her debut national tour.
More than 100 industry judges are involved in the 2021 QMAs including Andrew Stone (Chugg Entertainment), Casey O'Shaughnessy (Select Music), Christina Thiers (Warner Music Australia), Declan Byrne (triple j), Mark Holland (EMI), and Sahara Herald (Frontier Touring).
Finalists will be announced and tickets for the QMAs will be available to purchase in late March 2021.
2021 Queensland Music Awards take place at The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane) 5 May.
2021 Queensland Music Awards Categories
Self-Nominating AwardsInnovation Award new
Indigenous Award
Blues / Roots Award
Childrens Music Award returning
Contemporary Classical Award new
Country Award
Electronic / Dance Award
Folk / Singer Songwriter Award
Heavy Award
Hip Hop / Rap Award
Jazz Award
Pop Award
Regional Award
Remote Award
Rock Award
Schools Award
Soul / Funk / R&B Award
World Award
Video Award
People's Choice Awards
Metro Venue Of The Year
Regional Venue Of The Year
Festival Of The Year
Acknowledgements
Highest Selling Single
Highest Selling Album
Major Awards
Emerging Artist Of The Year returning
Song Of The Year
Album Of The Year
Billy Thorpe Scholarship Export Achievement Award
Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award
