APRA AMCOS have announced the return of the Professional Development Awards (PDA's) for 2015, with applications open now.
Held every two years, the PDA's aim to create opportunities for emerging songwriters and composers — this year the prize pool has grown by offering the eight individual winners over $15,000 worth of career support.
Applications are now open to songwriters and composers who would like to enter in the following categories: Popular Contemporary (three awards are given in this category including pop, rock, blues, folk, hip-hop, dance and R&B) Country, Jazz, Classical and Film & Television.
The Development Awards have boosted the careers of a number of popular Aussie artists, including Gotye, Abbe May and country songwriter and performer, Megan Evans, to name a few.
Meanwhile, the judging panel for 2015 also feature a slew of Aussie talent such as Josh Pyke, Lior, Andrea Keller, Jon Hume and more, as well as international personalities Gary Go and Swedish-based producer, songwriter and engineer, Erik Lewander.
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The newly created The Smugglers Of Light initiative has also been introduced to the PDA's this year, an award given for work in Indigenous Music & Media. The initiative will provide an indigenous artist a grant of $12,000. The new new program was set up in memory of Eli Westlake who was tragically killed in 2008 at just 21 years old — for more details on the program, click here.
Applications for the 2015 PDA's close at 5pm on Tuesday, 25 August — for more information on how to apply, head to the APRA AMCOS website.
