Judges Announced For 2017 Qld Music Awards As Entries Near Closing Date

With applications closing for the 2017 Queensland Music Awards at the end of this week, the list of industry identities who will help determine next year's finalists and winners has been announced.

The list of judges is both deep — it numbers more than 60 individuals — and broad, including not only managers, A&R and label folks, but booking agents, publishers, publicists, journalists, musicians and even the odd international influencer, including representatives from renowned companies such as Planetary, Beatport, Suicide Squeeze Records and more.

All up, event organisers APRA AMCOS and QMusic have pulled together quite the roster of music boffins, who will get to sorting through the entries following the end of the application period at midnight this Sunday, 4 December.

Songwriters can submit their original work in categories including Music Video, Pop, Rock, Blues/Roots, Country, Urban, Folk/Singer-songwriter, World, Jazz, Electronic/Dance, Heavy and Schools (Grades 6-12).

Having taken out the Pop award this year for her song Golden Fleece, Gold Coast-based muso Amy Shark has seen a significant uptick in her recognition this year.

She recently picked up triple j airplay for her sublime new track Adore as well as a worldwide deal with Wonderlick Entertainment before going on to rub shoulders with all sorts of bigwigs at last week's ARIA Awards event and, even now, is acutely aware of the part her win at the state awards played in placing her on that path, and encourages any aspiring original songwriter from around Qld to take the chance.

"Even if you only have one song, send it in," Shark said 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."

To apply, or to find out more about previous winners and events, see the Qld Music Awards website.

QLD Music Awards — 2017 Judges

• Adam Lewis — Owner, Planetary (US)
• Andrew Stafford — Author, Freelance Journalist
• Andrew Stone — Head of Chugg Music, Chugg Music
• Andrew Tuttle — Writer Services Representative, APRA AMCOS
• Ben Godding — Marketing Director, Kobalt Music Recordings
• Ben Preece — Director, Mucho Bravado
• Chris Cobcroft — Music Co-Coordinator, 4ZZZ
• Clare Armstrong — Journalist, The Courier-Mail
• Dan Condon — Music Editor, Double J
• David Dickenson — Founder/Owner, Suicide Squeeze Records (US)
• David Cashman — Associate Professor of Creative Arts, CQUniversity
• DJ Katch — Director /A&R/Producer and DJ, Hydrofunk Records
• Dom Alessio — Host of Home & Hosed, triple j
• Dominic Miller — Manager/Booking Agent, Bluebeard Music/New World Artists
• Emily Murphy — Director, EM Media & Events
• Emma Jones — Editor, Purple Sneakers
• Evan Alexander — Director, Heapsaflash
• Frank Li — Director, The Flying Cock + The TBC Club
• Gareth Bryant — National Music & Comedy Editor, scenestr — Eyeball Media
• Graham Ashton — Director, Footstomp Music
• Helen Russell — Lecturer, Music, USQ
• Innez Tulloch — Arts Administration/Facilitation, 4ZZZ
• Jack Bridges — Head of International Account Management, Beatport (Germany)
• Jim Budd — Jazz musician
• Johann Ponniah — Founder/Director, I OH YOU
• John Mullen — Head of A&R and Executive Producer, Dew Process
• Josh Taylor — Director, Cassette Entertainment/Call & Response
• Julia Bridger — Producer, Bleach* Festival
• Karen Dagg — Senior Marketing Manager, Polydor Records, Universal Music (UK)
• Katrine Sviland — Music Critic, Aftenposten (Norway)
• Knox Lovell — Host, The Jazz Show, 4ZZZ
• Lars Brandle — Australia Correspondent, Billboard
• Lochlan Watt — Host of The Racket, triple j
• Lou Ridsdale — Owner, Lance Rock Publicity
• Luke Logemann — Head of Recorded Music & Touring, UNIFIED
• Mace Francis — Lecturer in Jazz Composition & Arranging, WA Academy of Performing Arts
• Maggie Collins — Executive Programmer, BIGSOUND
• Mark Smith — Executive Director, MusicNT
• Matt Lymbury — Content Director, Nightlife Music
• Michelle O'Rance — Radio Announcer, 4ZZZ
• Mitch Knox — Digital Editor/Qld Editor, The Music
• Nicola Pitt — Artist Manager, CAAMA Music
• Noel Mengel — Freelance Writer
• Ozi Batla — Artist, Elefant Traks
• Ragz Nordset — Head of Department for Entertainment Management, JMC Academy
• Rick Heritage — Radio Announcer, World Music Shows, 4EB/4ZZZ
• Sam Cook — Director, KISSmyBLAKarts
• Samuel J Fell — Freelance Journalist
• Samantha Morris — Editor, Blank Gold Coast
• Shayne Armstrong — Writer/Producer, Armstrong + Krause Screenwriting Partnership
• Sky Kirkham — Radio Announcer, 4ZZZ
• Stacey Piggott — Director, Secret Service Public Relations
• Steve Bell — Co-owner, Sonic Sherpa/Senior contributor, The Music
• Tanya-Hiroko Martin — Producer, BEMAC
• Tim Pellegrino — Owner, The Feels Agency
• Tim Price — Publicist, Collision Course
• Tom Inglis — Owner, HSF Artist Services/Dog Whistle Music
• Tom Osborn — VP Marketing, New West Records (US)
• Trevor Jackson — Editor, Sound Distractions
• Tyler McLoughlan — Music Licensing Agent, The Sound Pound
• Vanessa Fernandez — Program Director, LUSH 99.5FM (Singapore)
  
  + more to be announced