London Winners Of Global APRA Music Awards Series Announced

APRA AMCOS has announced the London winners of its new global awards series with some incredible Aussie talent winning big. 

The awards were presented by APRA AMCOS and looked to honour UK and European-based Australasian songwriters, composers and music publishers achieving artistic excellence and commercial success.

Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year London was awarded to CLOVES for her debut album One Big Nothing and Jordan Rakei took out Songwriter Of The Year London. He was presented with the honour by UK hip hop artist and collaborator Loyle Carner. 

The Distinguished Services Award London was presented to Australian legends Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and presented by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds guitarist George Vjestica, who shared a video from the pair and accepted on their behalf. 

"I want to thank you, Warren, for opening up the idea of songwriting for me. When you step into a song with Warren Ellis, you really don't know where it's going to lead, and for me that's been enormously helpful," Cave said in the clip. 

"You've always pushed me to go as far as I wanted to," Ellis added. "No one has ever said 'no' – and you in particular never said 'no' – and I think it's just allowed us to keep exploring everything, whether it's songs, whether it's scores, whether it's whatever."

Elsewhere, the Overseas Recognition Award London was given to acclaimed screen composer and former frontman of Sydney blues-rock band The Mess Hall, Jed Kurzel. 

“For decades, our members have been heading to London and all over the UK as their first overseas destination when taking the big leap into an international career, and that’s expanded to Berlin, Amsterdam and all of Europe as Australian and New Zealand songwriters achieve unprecedented global success,” said APRA AMCOS Chief Executive Dean Ormston.

“This event is about celebrating our members living and working in the UK and Europe, and also about going back home and sharing the stories of all your achievements.”