Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know, written by Wally de Backer and Luiz Bonfa, took Most Played Australian Work Overseas for the third year in a row.
Co-writers Illy and M-Phazes won Urban Work of the Year for Tightrope from Illy’s album Cinematic.
Winning their first ever APRA were country Victorian band Stonefield, with Love You Deserve scooping Rock Work of the Year.
The collaboration between Joel Fletcher, Demetrius Savelio, Nathan Holmes and Aaron Ngawhika saw them receive Dance Work of the Year for Swing (Joel Fletcher Remix). The chart-topping song is played on every major radio network around the country. It has also spawned remixes with Pitbull and Soulja Boy.
The night belonged to Sia who made history by being voted Songwriter of the Year for the third time by the APRA board of publisher and writer directors. APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle said, “This is an unprecedented, and very likely, a never-to-be-repeated achievement by one of our most talented songwriters.”
Sia (with co-writer Jesse Shatkin) also took out the peer-voted APRA Song of the Year for Chandelier. This brings her tally of six APRA awards over the years, the first being a co-winner of the inaugural Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year award in 2002.
The notoriously shy SIA, who last year got her mum to pick up her award, this year sent a video thank-you spoken by a platinum wigged Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. “Thank you,” he said on her behalf. “I never knew I would write such an epic song about chandeliers. And I actually think the song is not about chandeliers. It’s deeper than that “
Also sending a video acceptance were Sheppard, who are currently touring the UK. The Brisbane band (writers Jason Bovino, Amy Sheppard and George Sheppard) had two wins. Geronimo took out Pop Work and Most Played Australian Work. The single is at #58 in the USA while the Bombs Away album this week entered the Top 40 there.
5 Seconds of Summer, whose self-titled album reached #1 on the pop charts in eleven countries, won Breakthrough Songwriter(s). Angus and Julia Stone took out Blues & Roots Work for Heart Beats Slow, from their third self-titled Rick Rubin-produced album.
NSW-based Adam Eckersley won the Country Work of the Year for the first time, along with co-writers Danelle Leverett and Jason Reeves. He received the award for Give Her The World, the lead-off single from Adam Eckersley Band’s debut L.P The First Album.
Previously announced, the International Work of the Year is Happy, written and performed by Pharrell Williams.
Music industry trailbreaker Fifa Riccobono, the first female CEO in an Australian music company (Alberts) received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music from her long-time friend Kerri-Anne Kennerley. The highly respected no-nonsense Riccobono received a standing ovation from guests, including Peter Garrett, Don Walker, Michael Chugg, Tim Freedman, INXS and Harry Vanda.
A highlight of the night was Daniel Johns performing his new single Preach live for the first time, with a harp.
As per the APRAs tradition, each of the nominations for Song of the Year were given a different interpretation. Lisa Mitchell and the E Street Band’s Jake Clemons took on Geronimo. Andy Bull and Thelma Plum performed Dan Sultan’s Kimberley Calling. Thief, Penelope Austin and M-Phazes teamed up for Bittersweet by Kasey Chambers & Bernard Fanning. Jon Hume, Mark Vincent and Julie Lea Goodwin played You Ruin Me by The Veronicas and DNA. Brothers-in-law Jimmy Barnes and Diesel received a special cheer for their reworking of Chandelier. Kingswood ended the night with their take on AC/DC’s If You Want Blood.
The night was hosted by Brian Nankervis. Presenters included Barnes, Vance Joy and Melinda Schneider.
This year, a team-up of Moshcam and digital roadies Hostworks Media Foundry, will premiere exclusive footage of this year’s performances and interviews through the Moshcam site from 4pm AEST today (Wednesday March 25) for fans who pre-registered.
