Some of the country’s most revered, creatively diverse and artistic women are among the 2019 Australian Women in Music Awards finalists ahead of the ceremony next month.

Among the fifteen categories of awards presented this year, nominees include Ngaiire, Christine Anu, Claire Edwardes and Dami Im

This year, the highly anticipated award ceremony will be held on Wednesday, the 9^th of October in Brisbane, with an accompanying concert and party to showcase outstanding women in the industry.

With a diverse mix of music genres, inspiring female artists across Australia will join together to support one another’s growth with performances featuring Renée Geyer, Katie Noonan, Clare Bowditch, Melinda Schneider, Ngaiire, Kaylah Truth, Cheryl Barker, Tamara-Anna Cislowska and more.

“As well as the opportunity to celebrate tremendous talent, AWMA provides a platform for artists and music practitioners including those in regional and remote areas, to come together, to learn and empower one another. We received almost double the nominations this year, from every state and across all areas of diversity, reflecting the urgent need for change in the Australian music industry,” says AWMA Founding Director and Executive Producer, Vicki Gordon.

Additionally, the AWMAs are hosting a two-day program at the Brisbane Powerhouse prior to the awards where forums and panel discussions on relevant music industry topics will be held including Visibility in Hip Hop: Women On The Front Line, The Art of Rebellion: The Intersection of Music & Politics, and Image Making: The Changing Face of Music; with a special guest appearance from musician and broadcaster, Eddie Ayres.

Excitingly, this year’s AWMAs includes new award categories to validate and establish hardworking, behind-the-scenes female individuals that also work in the music industry.

This has been introduced as a way of appreciating producers engineers, film makers, photographers, song writers, industry leaders, artist managers and more, acknowledging the efforts that have led them to success.

This has been an area of the industry which has felt to be unrecognised and unappreciated for many years, especially for women.

For a career built on creativity and tenacity, it’s been decided that all women of the music industry are to be recognised for their hard work, depth and talent.

Australian Women in Music Awards Finalists

Artistic Excellence Award: Christine Anu, Nai Palm, Ngaiire
Creative Leadership Award: Claire Edwardes, Elaine Chia, Katie Noonan
Diversity in Music Award: Christine Anu, Lisa Cheney & Penny Polias (Making Waves), Ngaiire
Emerging Artist Award: Alice Skye, Ella Fence, Lisa Caruso
Excellence in Classical Music Award: Caroline Almonte, Claire Edwardes, Sarah-Grace Williams
Excellence in Image Making Award: Chloe Jean, Melaine Knight, Ntombi Moyo
Filmmaker Award: Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien Curran, Tashi Hall
Humanitarian Award: Alison Hams, Dami Im, Lindy Morrison, OAM
Lifetime Achievement Award: Joy McKean, OAM, Marcia Hines, AM, Vika and Linda Bull
Live Production Award: Jenny Moon, Kait Hall, Laurie May
Music Journalist Award: Ange McCormack, Jane Gzzo, Jules LeFevre
Music Leadership Award: Elise Reitze-Swensen, Lynette Irwin, Sue Telfer
Music Photographer Award: Jessica Vaini, Kerrie Geier, Tashi Hall
Songwriter Award: Mojo Juju, Ngaiire, Thelma Plum
Studio Production Award: Elise Reitze-Swensen (Feels), Kathy Naunton, Virginia Read

The Australian Women in Music Awards are made possible with the proud support of the Queensland Government and Canon.

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