The 2021 APRA Music Awards winners have been unveiled, with some of the country’s best songwriters receiving praise.

Tonight’s event at Sydney International Convention Centre marks the first major Australian music awards ceremony to take place in a live format since the pandemic began.

Australian music legends Midnight Oil claimed the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year Award for Gadigal Land, the band’s first new music since 2002, while Kevin Parker was named Songwriter of the Year following on from Tame Impala’s fourth album, The Slow Rush.

Parker was presented the award virtually by superstar producer and collaborator Mark Ronson, who said: “When you think of the music of Kevin Parker and Tame Impala it’s very easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and the sonics and the waviness of it all. And it has all those things and I love those things. 

“But really what I love the most at the root of it is the songs. The hooks, the melodies and that can mean a great chorus or vocal line or the hookiest bass line you’ve ever heard. 

“You think of The Less I Know The Better – it’s one of the most iconic basslines of the past 20 years. He really is such a fantastic songwriter. It’s great to see him getting the recognition he deserves tonight, so thank you APRA for having me.”

Also tuning in virtually was The Kid LAROI, who delivered an acceptance speech from LA where he’s currently living after taking out the Breakthrough Songwriter Award, following on from the release of his debut mixtape F*ck Love, which is dominating charts across the globe.

Earlier this year, the First Nations rapper became the youngest Australian solo artist to score a local #1 album at just 17 years old.

“This is crazy. Thank you so much APRA for the Breakthrough Songwriter Award,” he said.

“There’s a couple of people I’d like to thank. First and foremost Denis Handlin, thank you for everything. Thank you to Petrina, thank you Sony ATV, thank you Grade A and the whole management team Pete, Bibby and George, thank you Ron Perry and the whole Columbia team. 

“And last but not least, my fans from Australia. I love you very, very much and can’t wait to come back. I’ll see you soon.”

Another Aussie with a massive global presence, Tones & I picked up two awards for Never Seen The Rain, Most Performed Pop Work and Most Performed Australian Work.

The 2021 APRA Music Awards also featured two new categories, Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work, awarded to Youngn Lipz for Misunderstood, while Most Performed R&B/Soul Work was claimed by The Teskey Brothers for Rain.

The ceremony celebrated country music trailblazer Joy McKean and the late Helen Reddy, both of whom were recipients of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

“My mother was very proud of being Australian and she was proud of using her voice, her success and her visibility to elevate others,” Traci Donat, daughter of Helen Reddy, said in a taped acceptance speech.

“In the final years of her life, she was incredibly optimistic and moved to see so many young women passionately carrying the torch. Thank you for honouring her legacy.”

Hosted by Julia Zemiro, Ziggy Ramo and Georgia Mooney, tonight’s event featured curated live performances from musical director PJ Harding, with Odette performing Helen Reddy’s 1973 hit song Delta Dawn, while Lime Cordiale offered up their take on Tim Minchin’s Carry You, and Jimmy Barnes and Josh Teskey teamed up for I Remember When I Was Young in tribute to the late Michael Gudinski, among other performances.

2021 APRA Music Awards Winners

Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year

Midnight Oil feat. Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs & Bunna Lawrie - Gadigal Land

Writers: Joel Davison / Rob Hirst / Bunna Lawrie

Songwriter of the Year

Kevin Parker

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Charlton Howard aka The Kid LAROI

2021 Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Joy McKean

2020 Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Helen Reddy

Most Performed Australian Work

Tones & I - Never Seen The Rain

Writer: Toni Watson

Most Performed Alternative Work

The Rubens - Live In Life

Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Sam Margin / Zaac Margin / William Zeglis

Most Performed Blues & Roots Work

Busby Marou - Over Drinking Over You

Writers: Thomas Busby / Jeremy Marou / Ivy Adara / Jon Hume / Lindsey Jackson

Most Performed Country Work

Morgan Evans - Diamonds

Writers: Morgan Evans / Evan Bogart / Chris de Stefano

Most Performed Dance Work

Flume feat. Vera Blue - Rushing Back

Writers: Harley Streten / Celia Pavey / Eric Dubowsky / Sophie Cates

Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work

Youngn Lipz - Misunderstood

Writer: Filipo Faaoloii

Most Performed R&B / Soul Work

The Teskey Brothers - Rain

Writers: Josh Teskey / Sam Teskey / Liam Gough / Brendan Love

Most Performed Pop Work

Tones & I - Never Seen The Rain

Writer: Toni Watson

Most Performed Rock Work

Cold Chisel - Getting The Band Back Together

Writer: Don Walker

Most Performed Australian Work Overseas

Dean Lewis - Be Alright

Writers: Dean Lewis / Jon Hume

Most Performed International Work

Dua Lipa - Don’t Start Now

Writers: Dua Lipa / Caroline Ailin / Ian Kirkpatrick / Emily Schwartz

For more details, head to the APRA AMCOS website.