Entries Open For 2017 Queensland Music Awards & Billy Thorpe Scholarship

The Sunshine State is making preparations to spotlight some of its finest musical practitioners at next year's iteration of the annual Queensland Music Awards, with submissions for the ceremony's 23 categories opening today.

Published and unpublished original songwriters from all over the state are encouraged to submit their tunes across a range of genres including Pop, Rock, Blues/Roots, Country, Urban, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, World, Jazz, Electronic/Dance and Heavy, as well as for broader categories including Regional, Video and Schools-based entries.

The final field of songs will be judged by more than 50 professional music-lovers from the global music industry, including keen ears from the media, management, A&R ranks, label bosses, publishers and more.

This year's big winners included beloved rockers Violent Soho, who claimed the Song Of The Year and the Rock Award for Like Soda, and acclaimed singer-songwriter Luke Daniel Peacock, who took out this year's Billy Thorpe Scholarship — also opening for entries today — alongside his win in the Indigenous category.

The scholarship, funded by Arts Queensland, provides an up-and-coming artist with $10,000 to record with an established producer and receive career advice from a Chugg Entertainment representative. The initiative is orchestrated under the curation of QMusic, and interested performers can head to the organisation's website for further application conditions and instructions.

There's plenty of opportunity for all manner of musical talents to be rewarded for their hard work, though — additional category winners in 2016 included the likes of established favourites such as Blank Realm, Sahara Beck, Amy Shark, Sheppard, Jarryd James and more. 

"The Queensland Music Awards recognise the rich diversity of songwriting talent from across our state," QMusic executive officer Joel Edmondson said in a statement. "It’s the annual celebration of our industry, from our brightest emerging talent, right through to our best-known international successes."

For Shark, who spent a short stint in Los Angeles following her win in this year's Pop stakes, being a part of the QMAs cabal was a vital step in solidifying her status as a performer to watch, and she makes no bones about encouraging existent and emergent songwriters to apply.

"If you only have one song, send it in," she implored in a statement. "The opportunities are endless and, no matter what anyone tells me, I know, deep down, the QLD Music Awards were the kick-start to the success I have achieved in 2016."

Submissions for the 2017 event close on 4 December.

The 2017 Queensland Music Awards will be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Monday 27 March. The awards ceremony is once again presented with the support of major partner Hutchinson Builders, as well as APRA AMCOS.

For the ultra-keen, there will be something of a pre-QMAs taster at this year's Valley Fiesta event next weekend in the form of a showcase performance featuring 2016 winners and finalists including Emily Wurramara, Deena, Bearfoot, Mzaza and FOREVR, as well as the unveiling of Violent Soho's own plaque on the city's renowned Walk Of Fame.

It all goes down from 2pm on Sunday 30 October in the Brunswick Street Mall, and only further serves to reinforce the indelible impact the QMAs have upon the state's vibrant creative tapestry.

Tickets will go on sale early next year; in the interim, see the event's website for more information.