Queensland Music Awards Open 2016 Submissions

The annual Queensland Music Awards are once again on the hunt for the state's best and brightest songwriters, opening submissions for 2016's prizegiving ceremony, as well as the $10,000 Arts Queensland-backed Billy Thorpe Scholarship, this week.

The awards provide Queensland-based musicians an opportunity to have their music heard by a panel of industry veterans and the public, with previous acts getting the nod of approval including The Grates, Airling, Violent Soho, Sahara Beck, Dubmarine, The Amity Affliction and Bobby Alu — and that was just this year.

Next year's awards return bigger than ever, with three new people's choice awards (sponsored by major event partner BOQ) being added to the mix — Most Promising Male Songwriter ($1000 prize), Most Promising Female Songwriter ($1000) and Most Promising Songwriting Team ($2000) — taking the grand total of categories in 2016 up to 24. In addition, three new panel-voted prizes will also make their debut in 2016: Highest-selling album, Highest-selling single and the Export Achievement award, which recognises acts and artists excelling in the fields of touring, publishing and sync deals.

"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."

Other prizes come under the umbrellas of genre categories — Pop, Rock, Blues/Roots, Country, Urban, Folk/Singer-songwriter, World, Jazz, Electronic/Dance, Heavy — as well as Regional, Music Video and School (grades 6-12).

Published and unpublished songwriters from across the state are encouraged and invited to submit their entries any time between now and midnight on Sunday 6 December.

The prizemoney wrought by the Billy Thorpe Scholarship will aid an emerging artist in recording with an established producer, as well as provide the winner with a chance to receive professional development advice from a Chugg Entertainment representative; applications should be submitted via QMusic's website, with the winner to be announced at the 2016 QMAs.

The 2016 Queensland Music Awards will be held at Brisbane Powerhouse on Monday 21 March. Tickets will go on sale early next year; see the event's website to stay on top of details as they emerge.

Well before that, though, those in the Brisbane vicinity in a week or so's time will be able to enjoy a Queensland Music Awards Showcase in Brunswick Street Mall from 2pm on Sunday 25 October as part of the city's Valley Fiesta celebrations, following on from a ceremony to reveal this year's QMA Song Of The Year plaque and featuring performances from this year's SOTY winners Halfway, as well as WAAX, Michelle Xen & The Neon Wild, Electrik Lemonade and 2015 QMA Blues & Roots winner Leanne Tennant.

For more information, see theGuide or check The Music App.