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Amid one of the toughest years on record for the live music industry, the 2024 Australian Women in Music Awards, hosted by Yumi Stynes with Sarah McLeod, paid tribute to leaders, legends and luminaries at an inspiring awards ceremony and concert held in Meanjin/Brisbane tonight (Wednesday 2 October).

Over 450 music industry leaders, artists and guests gathered at Brisbane’s premiere live music venue, The Fortitude Music Hall, with performances by artists including Sarah Blasko, Kasey Chambers, Mo’Ju, Nina Korbe, Sarah McLeod, Katie Noonan & Karin Schaupp, Karen Lee Andrews and Emily Wurramara.

A total of 21 awards were bestowed, with the Universal Music Australia Lifetime Achievement Award going to Kasey Chambers. Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE (‘La Stupenda’) and Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Amphlett OAM were inducted to the AWMA Honour Roll.

Founding Executive Producer and Program Director Vicki Gordon said: “AWMA continues to build a lifelong legacy for future generations. Our work is changing the industry forever and is reflected in the vast contribution of First Nations and culturally diverse Australian female, non-binary and GNC artists, musicians and music practitioners acknowledged across all areas of industry, from all genres of music and from all countries and cultures.

“This year we have been saddened by the collapse of our most important music festivals, and in recent years we have grappled with some of the most critical and significant changes the industry has ever seen.

“Australian Women in Music continues to place gender equality front and centre as we move into the future with the knowledge that the playing field for the majority of women, First Nations artists and gender diverse minorities remains vastly inequitable. Artist development and career pathways, the facilitation and promotion of events and festivals, grant and support programs and audience development in particular must be viewed through the lens of gender equality to address the complex barriers to industry growth.”

Now in its fifth year, Australian Women in Music delivered a two-day event including a Conference Program with a focus on ‘Diversity, Equality & Inclusion’; a keynote ‘In Conversation” with Chair of the Creative Workplace Council, Kate Jenkins AO; a First Nations Women’s Music Program and the prestigious AWMA Black Carpet hosted by Kween G & Sheba.

First Nations artists and elder Ukambari Trigger, from the remote Northern Territory community of Mutitjulu, joined Katie Noonan, Sarah McLeod and Karen Lee Andrews on stage to deliver this year’s finale, a blistering desert metal rendition of Midnight Oil’s ‘Beds are Burning’ to top off an unforgettable evening of celebration, cultural diversity and solidarity.

Granddaughter of the late Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, Natasha Bonynge, received the posthumous Honour Roll acknowledgement, marked with a special tribute performed by First Nations soprano Nina Korbe. Dame Joan, also known as ‘La Stupenda, Italian for ‘The Stupendous One’, is widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of all time!

And in a surprise honour, Patricia “Little Pattie” Amphlett OAM was also inducted to the AWMA 2024 Honour Roll for her contribution to musical entertainment and her long and continued advocacy on behalf of artists having served as the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ President of Australia’s Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and the vice-president of Actors’ Equity.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Government congratulated the winners and nominees across the 19 award categories.

“There is immense breadth of talented women musicians, creatives, technicians and industry leaders and the Queensland Government celebrates their contributions on a national stage. The Queensland Government is proud to have supported AWMA since its inception, recognising how this important initiative progresses gender equality in Queensland and nationally.”

Among this year’s recipients, AWMA 2019 Songwriter Award recipient Mo’Ju received their second AWMA, taking out the Sony Music Australia Artistic Excellence Award.

Frontier Touring presented the Live Production Touring Award to Tana Douglas recognised as the world’s first female roadie having worked alongside some of rock ‘n’ roll’s biggest local and international acts. Travelling to Brisbane from Los Angeles to accept her AWMA, Tana’s extraordinary career, spanning three continents and more than 30 years, was highlighted in a special video tribute which featured her work with ACDC, Suzie Quatro, Joan Jett, Meatloaf, The Who and more.

Alice Ivy took out the APRA AMCOS Songwriter Award, adding to her 2022 AWMA for Studio Production.

In a new partnership with Opera Australia, the inaugural Opera Australia Impact Award went to Linda Thompson, Founder, Artistic Director and CEO of the Australian Contemporary Opera Company, who has been hailed as “a cultural entrepreneur for the 21st Century”.

Pioneering First Nations singer/songwriter Toni Janke, who has family connections to the Wuthathi, Yadhaigana and Meriam peoples of Cape York and Murray Island in the Torres Strait, was awarded the SSI Diversity in Music Award, acknowledging her three decades of performing and advocating for greater inclusion of First Nations performers and music practitioners in the industry.

New South Wales Central Coast singer/songwriter Ruby Archer took out the City of Gold Coast Emerging Artist Award for her “unique and raw honesty” which creates a direct and emotional connection with audiences.

The Tina Arena Special Impact Award, sponsored by Face to Face Touring, went to Emma Watkins. From a yellow skivvy to ARIA-winning artist, Emma Memma continues to shine bright.

Content Manager of ABC Classic and ABC Jazz, Kat McGuffie, was awarded the Collarts Creative Leadership Award, recognising her passion and commitment to broadening audiences and representation in music.

The 2024 AWMA Ceremony & Concert highlights will be available to watch on SBS On Demand and NITV.

Vicki Gordon paid tribute to the 49-seat AWMA Juror Council, led by Juror Chair Dr Diana Tolmie, and congratulated all of this year’s nominees and finalists for their contribution. She acknowledged the Queensland Government whose foresight to support AWMA since the inaugural event in 2018 has ensured AWMA continues to exist today.

Special mention went to Dizzy Doolan, the Queensland Regional & Remote Women’s Music Delegation and Australian Regional & Remote Community Services (ARRCS) who stepped in to save the First Nations Women’s Music Program at the last minute. This year AWMA also welcomed Yolŋu Elders from Nhulunbuy on Gumatj land in North-East Arnhem Land, the Warumungu Elders from Tennant Creek, and the Anangu Elders from Mutitjulu on Pitjantjatjara land as part of the largest First Nations delegation ever to attend or perform at AWMA.

Hosted by Dizzy Doolan and Emily Wurramara, the 2024 First Nations Women’s Music Program, held at The Outpost on Tuesday evening (1 October) included performances from Layla Havana, Sunny Luwe, Sue Ray, SOLCHLD, Aunty Maggie Walsh, Yirgjhilya and others.

Australian Women in Music Awards is proudly supported by the Queensland Government

ARIA Executive Leader Game Changer Award Chris Erskine

Opera Australia Impact Award Linda Thompson

Universal Music Australia Lifetime Achievement Award Kasey Chambers

Tina Arena Special Impact Award Sponsored by Face to Face Touring Emma Watkins

Warner Music Australia Humanitarian Award Gemma Farrell

SSI Diversity in Music Award Toni Janke

QPAC Excellence in Classical Music Award Sonya Lifschitz

Oztix Women in Heavy Music Award Tiana Speter

Collarts Creative Leadership Award Kat McGuffie

Sony Music Australia Artistic Excellence Award Mo’Ju

Brisbane City Council Studio Production Award Charlotte Adelle

Scenestr Live Creative Production Award Anusha Matthews

Frontier Touring Live Production Touring Award Tana Douglas

ALH Hotels Music Leadership Award Kerry Kennell

APRA AMCOS Songwriter Award Alice Ivy

City of Gold Coast Emerging Artist Award Ruby Archer

Hotel X Music Photographer Award Lucinda Goodwin

Australian Women in Music Film Maker Award Tori Styles

Women’s Agenda Music Journalist Award Ellie Robinson