The Music Victoria Awards is excited to be returning to the Melbourne Recital Centre in November 2019 for its 14th year. The Awards is one of the most anticipated music industry events on the Melbourne Music Week calendar, and has been a long-running feature of Melbourne Music Week, which is this year enjoying its 10th anniversary.
The 2018 edition and the final year of The Age Music Victoria Awards was certainly one to remember. With a red-carpet entrance and seated event, the Victorian music industry celebrated the state’s outstanding achievements and best new releases, performers, venues, festivals and Hall Of Fame Inductees Molly Meldrum and Chrissy Amphlett.
After starting the awards 13 years ago, and being a partner with Music Victoria since 2013, The Age has stepped away as a partner of the event. Music Victoria thanks The Age for its vision and support for the event and the music industry.
Co-presented by Triple R 102.7FM and PBS 106.7FM, the big event will continue in 2019 as the Music Victoria Awards.
Now down to business with some exciting new changes for the 2019 Awards. After each awards, Music Victoria surveys the industry and judges to make sure the categories best reflect what its representative within the ever-evolving Victorian industry. After consultation with the industry, it has decided to rename the Global category Best Intercultural Act. Those interested can learn more about awards criteria and definitions here.
“Last year, we introduced a few changes to the awards categories, judging processes and the format of the event itself, which resulted in a more diverse and representative list of nominees. I’m very proud to be producing the event again, and look forward to celebrating the wealth of great music made in Victoria, “ says Awards event producer Laura Imbruglia.
The Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent will continue to provide one lucky artist with a cash grant and mentorship as part of the Award.
“Once again on behalf of the Foundation I am proud to have this award presented to the next up and coming First Nations artist to support them and their music.”
– Archie Roach.
This year, a small number of tickets will be available to the public and industry to attend the ceremony and the live performances, allowing the music fans to mingle with their favourite local artists. Tickets will be available to purchase in October.
And, one last change to the nominations submissions process, self-submissions are FREE but only open to Music Victoria members. So if you’re Music Victoria Member, you may nominate yourself (or those you love) in the artists, venues and festivals categories until 5pm Saturday 31 August.
The categories open for self-submission are:
Best Regional and Outer Suburban Venue (under 50 gigs per year), Best Regional and Outer Suburban Venue (over 50 gigs per year), Best Venue (under 500 capacity), Best Venue (over 500 capacity) and Best Festival.
Plus:
Best Blues Album, Best Country Album, Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B or Gospel Album, Best Jazz Album, Best Heavy Album, Best Rock/Punk Album, Best Folk or Roots Album, Best Emerging First Peoples Act, Best Intercultural Act, Best Hip Hop Act, Best Electronic Act, Best Reggae and Dancehall Act, Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act and Best Regional and Outer Suburban Act.
The remaining categories will be voted for by an expert industry panel and revealed at the Awards in November.
Eligibility Criteria
– At least 50% of the act has been living in Victoria for the last two years
– Released an EP or album (category dependent) between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019
– All Victorian venues or festivals
Submissions are now open until 5pm Saturday 31 August.
All nominees will be announced Thursday 10 October.
