The APRA Music Awards of 2021 are the 39th annual series, known as APRA Awards. The awards are given in a series of categories in three divisions and in separate ceremonies throughout the year: the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards are provided by APRA AMCOS; nominations were revealed on 30 March 2021, and the ceremony followed on 28 April 2021. The Art Music Awards are jointly presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC). The finalists were announced in July with the winners revealed on 9 September. The Screen Music Awards are jointly provided by APRA and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) with the ceremony usually held in November, however, it was postponed to 22 February 2022.
CEO of APRA AMCOS Dean Ormston announced the 2021 awards, "As Australia slowly begins recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, our industry is still largely on pause. After such a difficult year, our sincere hope is that we can stage a traditional live ceremony for the 2021 APRA Music Awards. A physical event would announce that we're in a new era, one where we can celebrate the Australian songwriters that have excelled despite one of the most challenging years in memory. We hope to see you there in the flesh."
APRA Music Awards Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music Helen Reddy Joy McKean
APRA Song of the Year Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Carry You" by Missy Higgins Tim Minchin Kobalt Music Publishing "Everybody Rise" by Amy Shark Amy Shark, Joel Little Mushroom Music, Sony Music Publishing "Gadigal Land" by Midnight Oil featuring Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs, Bunna Lawrie Joel Davison, Rob Hirst, Bunna Lawrie Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "Lost in Yesterday" by Tame Impala Kevin Parker Sony Music Publishing "Standing with You" by Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian, Jamie Hartman, Greg Holden Universal Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Reservoir, Warner Chappell Music
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result Charlton Howard the Kid Laroi Sony Music Publishing Grace Shaw Mallrat Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process Miiesha Young Miiesha Sony Music Publishing Louis Leimback, Oli Leimback (of Lime Cordiale) Universal Music Publishing Chugg Music Thelma Plum Sony Music Publishing Note: Determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors
Songwriter of the Year Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result Kevin Parker Sony Music Publishing Note: Determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors
Most Performed Alternative Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Live in Life" by the Rubens Scott Baldwin, Elliott Margin, Sam Margin, Zaac Margin, William Zeglis Mushroom Music Ivy League Music "Lost in Yesterday" by Tame Impala Kevin Parker Sony Music Publishing "Robbery" by Lime Cordiale Louis Leimbach, Oli Leimbach, Shane Abrahams, Daniel Choder, Jonathan Pakfar Universal Music Publishing Chugg Music, Downtown Music, Kobalt Music Publishing "Silver" by DMA's Matt Mason, Tommy O'Dell, Johnny Took, Thomas Crandles, Joel Flyger, Liam Hoskins Mushroom Music, Sony Music Publishing "Two of Us" by Birds of Tokyo Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam Weston Mushroom Music
Most Performed Australian Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Dua Lipa, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt Warner Chappell Music, Universal Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Mushroom Music Reservoir, Kobalt Music Publishing "Live in Life" by the Rubens Scott Baldwin, Elliott Margin, Sam Margin, Zaac Margin, William Zeglis Mushroom Music Ivy League Music "Never Seen the Rain" by Tones and I Toni Watson Kobalt Music Publishing "Rushing Back" by Flume featuring Vera Blue Harley Streten, Celia Pavey, Eric Dubowsky, Sophie Cates Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing "Used to Love" by Martin Garrix and Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Martijn Garritsen, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Albin Nedler Kobalt Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Be Alright" by Dean Lewis (Dean Lewis / Jon Hume) Kobalt Music Publishing o.b.o. Specific Music / Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Ain't My Problem" by Ash Grunwald featuring the Teskey Brothers Ash Grunwald Mushroom Music "Give Me Money" by Dope Lemon Angus Stone Sony Music Publishing "Over Drinking Over You" by Busby Marou Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou, Ivy Adara, Jon Hume, Lindsey Jackson Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing "Pretty Lady" by Tash Sultana Tash Sultana, Matt Corby, Dann Hume Kobalt Music Publishing Tash Sultana, Sony Music Publishing "Together" by Ziggy Alberts Ziggy Alberts Kobalt Music Publishing Alberts & Co Music
Most Performed Country Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "A Little More" by Casey Barnes Casey Barnes, Michael Delorenzis, Michael Paynter Mushroom Music "Diamonds" by Morgan Evans Morgan Evans, Evan Bogart, Chris de Stefano Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing "Give Me Tonight" by Brad Cox Brad Cox, Joseph Mungovan Sony Music Publishing "I Got This" by the McClymonts Brooke McClymont, Mollie McClymont, Samantha McClymont, Andy Mak Sony Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing "Memphis T-shirt" by Melanie Dyer Melanie Dyer, Emily Doty, Karen Kosowski Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Dance Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "All of Us" by Pnau featuring Ollie Gabriel Nick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes, Oli Gabriel Universal Music Publishing "Head & Heart" by Joel Corry & MNEK Jonathan Courtidis, Neav Applebaum, Joel Corry, Daniel Dare, Robert Harvey, MNEK, Kasif Siddiqui, Lewis Thompson Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Mushroom Music Minds on Fire, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music Publishing "Rushing Back" by Flume featuring Vera Blue Harley Streten, Celia Pavey, Eric Dubowsky, Sophie Cates Kobalt Music Publishing Future Classic, Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing "San Frandisco" by Dom Dolla Dominic Matheson Sweat It Out Publishing administered by Kobalt Music Publishing "Used to Love" by Martin Garrix and Dean Lewis Dean Lewis, Martijn Garritsen, Kristoffer Fogelmark, Albin Nedler Kobalt Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing
Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Boss" by Day1 Bailey Rawiri, Tuhi Montell "German" by No Money Enterprise Junior Leaupepe "I'm Good" by Hilltop Hoods Barry Francis (DJ Debris), Matthew Lambert (Suffa), Daniel Smith (Pressure), Paul Bartlett, John Bartlett Sony Music Publishing "In the Beginning" by Onefour Spencer Magalogo, Jerome Misa, Pio Misa, Salec Su'a Sony Music Publishing "Misunderstood" by Youngn Lipz Filipo Faaoloii
Most Performed International Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Adore You" by Harry Styles Harry Styles, Amy Allen, Thomas Hull, Tyler Johnson Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing "Before You Go" by Lewis Capaldi Lewis Capaldi, Thomas Barnes, Peter Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn, Philip Plested BMG Rights Management, Sony Music Publishing "Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Oscar Holter, Max Martin, Jason Quenneville Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Universal/MCA Music Publishing "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Emily Schwartz Universal Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt Music Publishing "Memories" by Maroon 5 Adam Levine, Jonathan Bellion, Vincent Ford, Jacob Hindlin, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Michael Pollack Universal/MCA Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
Most Performed Pop Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa Andrew Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Dua Lipa, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Ali Tamposi, Andrew Watt Warner Chappell Music, Universal Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Mushroom Music Reservoir, Kobalt Music Publishing "Everybody Rise" by Amy Shark Amy Shark, Joel Little Mushroom Music, Sony Music Publishing "Let Me Drink" by Guy Sebastian Guy Sebastian, M-Phazes, Olubowale Akintimehin Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music "Never Seen the Rain" by Tones and I Toni Watson Kobalt Music Publishing "Selfish" by Jessica Mauboy Jessica Mauboy, Antonio Egizii, Isabella Kearney-Nurse, David Musumeci Universal Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "2560" by Becca Hatch Becca Hatch, Maribelle, Jamie Muscat, Willie Tafa, Solo Tohi Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing "NobodyLikeYou" by Winston Surfshirt Jack Hambling, Lachlan McAllister, Brett Ramson BMG Rights Management "Rain" by the Teskey Brothers Mushroom Music Ivy League Music "Say to Me" by Milan Ring Milan Ring, Blessed Joe-Andah Universal Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management "Twisting Words" by Miiesha Miiesha Young, Stephen Collins, Mohamed Komba Sony Music Publishing, Mushroom Music
Most Performed Rock Work Title and/or artist Writer(s) Publisher(s) Result "Chase the Feeling" by Wolfmother featuring Chris Cester Andrew Stockdale, Chris Cester, Jason Hill BMG Rights Management, Universal/MCA Music Publishing "Getting the Band Back Together" by Cold Chisel Don Walker Sony Music Publishing "Good for You" by Spacey Jane Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, Peppa Lane Kobalt Music Publishing Dew Process "I Missed Out" by Hockey Dad Will Fleming, Zach Stephenson BMG Rights Management "Soak Me in Bleach" by the Amity Affliction Joel Birch, Daniel Brown, Joseph Longobardi, Ahren Stringer Kobalt Music Publishing, Native Tongue Music Publishing
Art Music Awards Work of the Year: Chamber Music TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult A Room of Her Own Anne Cawrse Australian String Quartet Canyon 1205 Kate Neal, Grischa Lichtenberger Blair Harris (cello) Clarinet Quartet Gordon Kerry Omega Ensemble Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender Katy Abbott / compiled by Katy Abbott and Maureen Johnson, based on letters sent by Australians to asylum seekers in detention Flinders Quartet, Dimity Shepherd (mezzo-soprano), Richard Piper (narrator)
Work of the Year: Choral TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult Beannacht an Long (Blest Be the Boat) Clare Maclean / traditional Voyces Sacred Stones Lisa Young / Lisa Young (text) Massed choir, Gondwana National Choral School 2020, Lisa Young (conductor) Singing in Tune with Nature Amanda Cole N.E.O. Voice Festival artists Until We Gather Again Alice Chance / Alice Chance Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, Michelle Leonard (artistic director)
Work of the Year: Dramatic TitleComposer / librettistPerformerResult Commute Peggy Polias / Pierce Wilcox Sydney Chamber Opera, Jessica O'Donoghue, Jack Symonds (conductor), and Clemence Williams (director) Dragon Ladies Don't Weep Erik Griswold Margaret Leng Tan (performer), Tamara Saulwick (director), Nick Roux (video artist), Kok Heng Leun (dramaturg) Her Dark Marauder Georgia Scott / Pierce Wilcox Sydney Chamber Opera, Jane Sheldon, Jessica O'Donoghue, Simon Lobelson, Jack Symonds (conductor), Danielle Maas (director) The Tent Josephine Macken / Josephine Macken Sydney Chamber Opera, Simon Lobelson, Mitchell Riley, Jane Sheldon, Jack Symonds (conductor), Danielle Maas (director)
Work of the Year: Electroacustic/Sound Art