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2024 Professional Development Award winners
Back L-R: Vanessa Perica, Michael Allen, Mel O’Brien (Mel & Sam), Sara Berki, Warren Mason
Front L-R: Elsy Wameyo, Hannah Cameron, Sam Andrew (Mel & Sam), Amelia Thompson (THOM), Kaninna Langford (Miss Kaninna)

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APRA AMCOS has announced that applications for the 2025 Professional Development Awards (PDAs) are now open.

The awards aim to create serious career-boosting opportunities for songwriters and composers, with 13 individual winners each taking home a game-changing $10,000 cash. 

The funds are designed to help recipients with their professional development through attending workshops, music education courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other relevant activities, either locally or internationally.

Previous notable winners have included Angie McMahon, Baker Boy, Elsy Wameyo, Gotye, Jem Cassar-Daley, Melanie Dyer, Morgan Evans, Ngaiire, Rebecca Bracewell and Yirrmal.

Rebecca Bracewell, 2024 Classical/Experimental Award winner, explains: “Receiving the Professional Development Award has enabled me to broaden the scope of my practice considerably. It was incredibly special to be given the means to determine my own path forward, and so far, I have been able to attend arts residencies, meet and collaborate with amazing artists, and continue to develop my approach to art making.”

Three of the 13 awards will be presented to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO), supporting music creators at different life stages, but each at a dynamic stage of career development of their careers.

Amelia Thompson (aka Thom), 2024 NATSIMO Youth Award winner, adds: “The award allowed me to open doors for my music that I wouldn’t have had otherwise and provide me with a multitude of other opportunities. Being recognised as a musician was so important and I am still so happy and humbled.”

The award categories are: 

Country/Americana  

Classical & Experimental  

Dance/Electronic  

Hip Hop/Rap 

Jazz and Improvised Music 

Music Theatre/Stage – workshop funding only  

Popular Contemporary – (two awards) includes Pop, Rock, Alternative, Blues, Roots, Folk, Metal, Christian and Children’s 

R&B/Soul 

Screen Composition (Film, TV, Games) 

NATSIMO General – all genres  

NATSIMO Youth (under 25) – all genres. Entrants must be under the age of 25 

 NATSIMO Senior (+50) – all genres. Entrants must be over the age of 50

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Karen Don

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Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, says: “We’re thrilled to announce that applications for next year’s awards are now open, and encourage music creators from all genres to apply. The awards, which are now in their 14th year, are part of our ongoing commitment to support Australian songwriters and composers through every stage of their career, to help them build a strong foundation and bolster the next generation of Australian music creators.” 

Applications for the 2025 awards are open now and close at 5pm (AEST) on Tuesday 24 September. Winners will be announced in early 2025.

Find out more and apply at apraamcos.com.au

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APRA AMCOS is a key business partner to Australasian music creators. We represent 119,000 members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. We license organisations to play, perform, copy or record our members’ music, and we distribute the royalties to our members.

As a world-leading organisation invested in the future of music, APRA AMCOS enables music creators and customers to maximise the value music brings to business and life. We achieve this through a simple and effective licensing framework, and providing holistic industry support – from education, to live music, export, creators’ rights advocacy and recognition through our high profile awards and events program. apraamcos.com.au

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AMNPLIFY – DB