Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Legendary Radio DJ Among Queen's Birthday Honours

Over 1,100 people received the honour, covering all disciplines including politics, science, medicine and entertainment.

The Australian music and entertainment landscape was well represented this year, with a number of the annual Queen's Birthday Honours being awarded to members of the industry.

Over 1,100 people received the honour, covering all disciplines including politics, science, medicine and entertainment.

Key figures to receive the recognition in 2021 include Brisbane Festival organiser and Opera Australia board member Philip Bacon (AO), public radio legend and PBS/Triple R presenter Brian Wise (OAM), barrister and Ten Tenors member Matthew Hickey (OAM), Chief Executive for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre John Kotzas (AM), and West Australian singer-songwriter Gina Williams (AM).

The recipients have acquired the awards with cited accolades such as "distinguished service to the arts, to social and cultural organisations, and through support for young artists" for Bacon, "significant service to the performing arts, to Indigenous music, and to media" for Williams, and "significant service to the performing arts as an administrator and artistic director" for Kotzas.

Other honourees for the year include actors Chris Hemsworth and Leah Purcell (AM), Sydney Film Festival Chairman Peter Ivany (AO), and industry members Harvey Douglas (AM) and Warwick Hemsley (AO).

To see the full list, head to the website here.

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans