Beni Bjah Becomes First Indigenous Artist To Win WAM SOTY Grand Prize

West Australian musician Beni Bjah has made history at tonight's WAM Song Of The Year Awards Party, claiming the competition's Grand Prize and becoming the first-ever Indigenous artist to do so in the process.

The win — which Bjah took out on the merit of his hard-hitting call for recognition, Survivor, for which he also claimed the Outstanding Indigenous category — sees the rapper claim $3000 in cash alongside some hefty prizes from Albert Studios, Audiofly, RØDE Microphones, Perfect Pitch Publishing, Sonic Lolly, Berklee, Diskbank, Firestarter, State Of The Art Festival and more.

The decision was made by a panel of judges made up of artists, media and industry alike including figures from triple j/Unearthed, Inertia, Spinning Top Music, The West Australian, Mudhoney, Lubricated Goat, You Am I, Pendulum, BIGSOUND, 4ZZZ, RRR, Branded/Music Matters Live, Music Row Voice, Maric Media, Earache Records, Xpress Magazine, RTRFM, Live Music Office, Firestarter, Perfect Pitch Publishing, Pilerats, Association of Artist Managers, Birds Of Tokyo, Eskimo Joe, Dave Hole and more, including we at theMusic.com.au.

As you can see from the clip below, it's a well-deserved victory.

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Bjah's win doesn't diminish the achievements of the other artists recognised at the WAM SOTY party, of course, with fellow victors across the event's categories including Rag n' Bone (Rock, Death Rattle Waltz), Joni In The Moon (Pop, War & Porn), Tobacco Rat (Electronic, Trenchtown 2020), Galloping Foxleys (Folk, My Love Affair With Archer), Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving (Experimental, Shaking Off Futility) and more.

"Congratulations to all winners, short-listed finalists and entrants in this year's WAM Song Of The Year," WAM chief executive Mike Harris said in a statement. "Entry numbers were up again this year, and I know that judging was very difficult due to the consistently impressive quality of the songs submitted. WA has a long and proud history of contributing strongly to the national music scene and, when we see so many high quality songs as yet unpublished, it is hard not to see that continuing.

"Special mention to Beni Bjah for his standout song Survivor, and for being the first Indigenous artist to take out the main prize. Thanks as ever to those who support this important event, plus the category and studio sponsors for so generously helping WAM champion WA music."

The 2016 WAM Song Of The Year Awards Party was hosted at the B-Shed warehouse by MC Magnus Danger Magnus, with performances from winners including Rag n' Bone, Katie J White (Blues/Roots, River) and Beni Bjah, with DJ Lady Carla soundtracking the late-night revelry.

See a full list of winners below.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Beni Bjah — Survivor

ROCK
Rag n’ Bone — Death Rattle Waltz

POP
Joni In The Moon — War & Porn

ELECTRONIC
Tobacco Rat — Trenchtown 2020

FOLK
Galloping Foxleys — My Love Affair With Archer

EXPERIMENTAL
Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving — Shaking Off Futility

BLUES/ROOTS
Katie J White — River

COUNTRY
Lynn Hazelton & Bill Chambers — Melita Station

URBAN/HIP HOP
Marksman Lloyd — Pause (ft. Coin Banks & Nic Di Lena, Prod. Sable)

HEAVY/METAL
Chaos Divine — Badge Of Honour

PUNK/HARDCORE
Nerve Quakes — Monarch