Reality Show Contestants To Be Honoured At First-Ever APATHY Awards

The Australian Performers' Association for Talent-show Hopefuls and Yodelers (APATHY) has unveiled the spread of categories for its inaugural end-of-year award ceremony, designed to pay tribute to those artists whose fifteen minutes ended the second they were booted from reality television.

According to the association's chairwoman, Simone Carver, the impetus for the awards arose after the company was contacted by "several" former reality-show contestants who felt they had been unfairly judged by the wider music industry.

"After several exchanges, we found that there is a prevailing sense among reality-show alumni that, although willingly participating in a process specifically designed to undercut years of hard work and provide them with a fast-track to public recognition, they are not given an ample chance to prove themselves once the cameras have stopped rolling," Ms Carver told SPA Confidential.

"This is despite the fact that, throughout their tenure on such programs, they more than capably prove that they can sing someone else's song quite nicely."

One such contestant, who spoke to SPA Confidential on the condition of anonymity, said there was a growing atmosphere of exclusion surrounding the community of musicians who had tried their hand at a quick shot to the top.

"We're just tired of being ignored," he said. "Three years slogging it out to perfect my rendition of November Rain with occasional performances at the Bunya RSL, and yet it's like the ARIAs don't even know we exist." 

"But the APATHY Awards are set to change all that," continued the singer, who is up for two gongs (Most Maroon 5 Covered In A Single Season and the Shannon Noll Award For Trying) at this year's event. "At last, we're able to be recognised for the contribution we make to the Australian music industry, which is drawing attention to how little the general public actually knows or cares about music. Finally, a well-deserved moment in the spotlight."

full categories list, 2014 apathy awards

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