Kate Ceberano, Dami Im, Katie Noonan and Deborah Cheetham AO are among the stellar 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.
Advancing equality in the Australian music industry, AWMAs Founding Executive Director and Executive Producer, Vicki Gordon has also confirmed a change of date for the two-day event (that encompasses an award ceremony, showcase, conference programme and a party), which will be held in Brisbane on 17-18 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 says.
The finalists of the coveted Emerging Artist category (previous winners include Alice Skye, Camp Cope and Amy Shark) are Tasmanian-born, Adelaide-raised, and now Brisbane-based First Nations singer-songwriter Glves, Melbourne-based West Australian Vanessa Perica, and Sydney artist Martha Marlow.
"I am thrilled with the support from the music industry – to read about the life stories of these fabulous women is truly inspiring!" AWMA Juror Council Chair Diana Tolmie says.
Kate Ceberano, Deborah Cheetham AO, and Keri McInerney are the finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The inaugural Tina Arena Award Special Impact Award – honouring an 'unsung champion' of the music industry with finalists being Sahara Herald (National Event Coordinator for Big Day Out for 18 years and currently Tour Director for Frontier Touring), Sonja Horbelt (drummer, composer, educator, Chair of Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival), Dina Bassile (disability advocate and Founder of Tibi Access) – will be presented by Tina Arena, who will also deliver the keynote address at the AWMA conference.
Sahara Herald is also 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.
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 with producers, engineers, film makers, photographers, songwriters, industry leaders, artist managers and more to be acknowledged and celebrated in their own right.
