The SAM Awards Open Entries For 2016

Entries for the second annual South Australian Music Awards (SAM Awards) are now open.

Last year's inaugural SAM Awards attracted hundreds of entries from local musicians highlighting the world class talent emerging from South Australia. This year features new category additions along with ten public-voted genre awards including Best Experimental/ Avant-Garde, Best Heavy and Best Jazz artists.

New additions to the eight industry awards include Best Studio and Best Engineer; and among the major awards, a new category for Best Aboriginal Torres Straight Islander Release.


Last year Tkay Maidza won the Best Release, Best Song ('Switch Lanes') and Best Female awards with Timberwolf scoring the Best Male gong and Grenadiers walking away Best Group.

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A very special moment from the 2015 ceremony was the unannounced Ryan Freeman Live Music Award, which went to the soulful alt-country songwriter Kelly Menhennett (who received $4,000 to assist her career). The career-boosting award was created by his family in honour of Ryan Freeman, a live music fan who passed away in 2009, and will be repeated for the 2016 ceremony.

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Entries will be open until 31 July. Winners will be announced at the official award ceremony on 11 November.

Public-Voted Awards

Most Popular BLUES / ROOTS Artist
Most Popular COUNTRY Artist
Most Popular ELECTRONIC Artist
Most Popular EXPERIMENTAL / AVANT-GARDE Artist
Most Popular FOLK / ACOUSTIC Artist
Most Popular HEAVY Artist
Most Popular HIP HOP Artist
Most Popular JAZZ Artist
Most Popular POP Artist
Most Popular ROCK Artist

Industry Awards

Best Studio
Best Engineer
Best Festival/Music Event
Best Music Venue
Best Manager
Best Cover Art
Best Music Video
Ryan Freeman Live Music Award

Major Awards

Best Song
Best New Artist
Best Aboriginal Torres Straight Islander Release
Best Group Release
Best Female Release
Best Male Release
Best Release