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Award Categories

Lifetime Achievement Award

Presented to a female artist or musician who has made an outstanding artistic contribution to the field of recording and/or live performance during her lifetime.

Award Criteria

The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

  • Demonstrate consistency of high quality professional recording and/or live performance throughout her lifetime
  • Represent a nationally and internationally highly regarded and inspirational role model for younger generations of recording and live performing artists
  • Evidence a comprehensive breadth and reach of recording and/or live performance output contributing to the profession and industry
  • Be a formally recognised and awarded female artist or musician

Inaugural Tina Arena Special Impact Award

This award honours an unsung champion of the Australian music industry.

Award Criteria
The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following:

  • Her personal journey, contribution and service to industry has had an extensive impact on the Australian music community as a whole.
  • The nominee has worked diligently and tirelessly behind the scenes to lay the foundation for the success of others.
  • She may be a current female music practitioner working in the music community, youth, commercial and/or education sectors. This includes but is not limited to: musician, singer, producer, engineer, radio producer, music administrator, artist manager, music director, music educator, or music community arts worker.

Change Maker Award

Established by AWMA Founding Executive Producer Vicki Gordon to acknowledge a new generation of women who have had the courage to selflessly place themselves on the front line to call out bad behaviour, bullying and sexual harassment in the Australian Music Industry.

Humanitarian Award

Recognises an individual (female, male and GNC) who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education, and/or assisting female artists working in remote and/or regional communities.

Award Criteria

The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

  • Demonstrate professional knowledge and/or activity in the field of music education, and/or performing arts
  • Have enabled outcomes of humanitarian processes and activity in the field of music education, and/or performing arts that have been sustained either by the nominee or continued by others
  • Evidence impact and furthered development to the field of music education, and/or assisting female artists working in remote and/or regional communities
  • Possess a strong reputation as one who is passionate about their work, compassionate regarding the lives of those with less privilege, and altruistic with their time and resources.

Diversity in Music Award

Recognises individual artists or female-driven musical collaborations for their contribution to advancing a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry.

Award Criteria

The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

  • Be a highly acknowledged individual or collaboration that demonstrates a diverse range of cultural and inclusive musical activity 
  • Evidence active promotion and advocacy for a culturally diverse and inclusive music industry 
  • Demonstrate a substantial and sustainable transformative impact on the music industry and profession via their culturally diverse and inclusive industry activity

Excellence in Classical Music Award

Recognises a mid-to-late career female classical music artist who has demonstrated musical excellence throughout her career.
*Includes conductors and artists working in the field of opera.

Award Criteria

The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

  • Have continually practised as a female professional classical music artist for more than 15 years
  • Be able to demonstrate high quality creative accomplishments and mastery of classical music within a national and/or international context
  • Possess national/international awards or grants for their classical music activity
  • Demonstrate an ongoing curation of and commitment to classical music

    Artistic Excellence Award

    Recognises exceptional creative achievement from a female artist/musician across any genre.

    Award Criteria

    The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

    • Be an established (as opposed to emerging or new) female artist/musician across any genre
    • Be able to demonstrate high quality creative accomplishments and mastery of her artistic/musical craft within a national and/or international context
    • Possess national/international awards for their artistic/music professional activity
    • Be considered a distinctive leader within her area of industry with an ongoing commitment to the profession

      Studio Production Award

      Recognises a female sound engineer or producer who has made contributions of outstanding significance in the studio recording environment.

      Award Criteria

      The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

      • Demonstrate professional activity of consistent high quality and reputation throughout her career
      • Possess sound engineer and/or produced professional outputs that have furthered, innovated, or transformed the studio recording environment
      • Have contributed to high profile and/or award-winning music outcomes.

        Live Creative Production Award

        Recognises a female working in a live production environment making significant impact in her field: includes but is not limited to roles such as Live Sound, Lighting & Visual Design, Set Design, Show Producer etc.

        Award Criteria

        The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

        • Demonstrate a breadth and depth of professional activity representing consistent high quality and reputation throughout her career
        • Have contributed to high profile and/or award-winning music outcomes
        • Have either led or contributed to developments, innovations, or transformation of her area of professional practice
        • Have been widely recognised by professional peers, employees, and/or employers to positively contribute to a their workplace environment

          Live Production Touring Award

          Recognises a female working in a live production or touring environment making significant impact in her field: Includes Tour/Operations/Promotions Management, Tour Assistant, Backstage, Roadcrew, and other related support roles.

          Award Criteria

          The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

          • Demonstrate a breadth and depth of professional activity representing consistent high quality and reputation throughout her career
          • Have contributed to high profile and/or award-winning music outcomes
          • Have either led or contributed to developments, innovations, or transformation of her area of professional practice
          • Have been widely recognised by professional peers, employees, and/or employers to positively contribute to their workplace environment

          Music Leadership Award

          Recognises a female CEO, Managing Director, Label Manager, A&R Director, Artist Manager or Publisher making significant impact in music industry leadership.

          Award Criteria

          The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

          • Be a widely recognised female professional leader and communicator within her sector of the music industry
          • Evidence ethical professional conduct in all areas of her field integrating women, social and cultural diversity, and inclusion agendas
          • Possess a reputation for significantly empowering women working within the workplace and industry
          • Have a noteworthy management history and visionary impact within the music industry

            Songwriter Award

            Recognises an outstanding female songwriter or composer.

            Award Criteria

            The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

            • Be professionally and publicly regarded and recognised as an established female songwriter or composer
            • Evidence a strong following of her professional work: nationally and internationally
            • Demonstrate an extensive volume of quality creative output
            • Have current and past performances of her songs/compositions within a national and international setting
            • Have fostered successful collaborations with fellow songwriters and/or composers OR performing musicians
            • Have demonstrated positive impact on the lives of others through her music activities

              Emerging Artist Award

              Acknowledges an outstanding emerging female artist.

              Award Criteria

              The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

              • Have practised as a female professional artist continually for less than 5 years
              • Have evidence of outstanding early-career success and/or recognition during this time: nationally and/or internationally
              • Be regarded as possessing exceptional skill and precocious talent
              • Possesses a strong commitment to her craft and the future of the music profession and industry

                Music Photographer Award

                Recognises a female music photographer currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work.

                Award Criteria

                The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

                • Be regarded and recognised as an established professional music photographer
                • Evidence a strong following of her professional work: nationally and/or internationally
                • Demonstrate an extensive volume of quality creative output
                • Possess a broad national and/or international reach with her creative work
                • Have demonstrated positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of other female musicians through her music photographic activity

                  Film-maker Award

                  Recognises a female music videographer, clip-maker, film-maker, or music animator currently working in the field and to acknowledge her body of work.

                  Award Criteria

                  The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

                  • Be regarded and recognised as an established professional music videographer, clip-maker, film-maker or music animator
                  • Evidence a strong following of her professional work: nationally and/or internationally
                  • Demonstrate an extensive volume of quality creative output
                  • Possess broad national and/or international reach with her creative work
                  • Have demonstrated positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of other female musicians through her music videographer, clip-maker, film-maker or music animator activity

                    Music Journalist Award

                    Recognises a female music journalist, blogger or editor who has made a creative contribution and courageous impact in truth telling and innovative reporting in the Australian Music Industry.

                    Award Criteria

                    The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

                    • Be an emerging or established (as opposed to new or novice) female journalist, blogger or editor
                    • Possess a national and/or international reputation, reach and following for their ethical, fearless, and honest storytelling 
                    • Produced professional and independent outputs that have innovated, or transformed the news media domain
                    • Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to reporting on those in the music profession and industry, in particular women.

                      Excellence in Image Making Award

                      Recognises a female hair and/or makeup artist and/or stylist* working to change the face of music visually to break down gender, race and social cultural stereo types.
                      
*Stylist to include those working within costume and/or wardrobe activity

                      Award Criteria

                      The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

                      • Be a female hair and/or makeup artist and/or stylist* who demonstrates professional activity representing consistent high quality and reputation throughout her career
                      • Have contributed to high profile and/or award-winning music-related outcomes
                      • Have either led or contributed to developments, innovations, or transformation of professional practice within their area of expertise
                      • Have been widely recognised to positively and ethically represent gender, race, and socio-cultural themes.

                          Creative Leadership Award

                          A curatorial award recognising excellence in creative programming from women working in broadcast media (radio, tv, online, streaming services), a music festival or live performance/venue to champion female artists.

                          Award Criteria

                          The criteria for this category may include but is not limited to the following. The nominee will:

                          • Have experience in programming in broadcast media, for a music festival or live performance/venue at a state, national and/or international level
                          • Have included the championing of female artists within their programming
                          • Have incorporated resourceful, unconventional, inspiring and visionary curation within their programming
                          •  Have evidence of producing distinctive outcomes with high positive impact within the broader community