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SKULL MURPHY TROPHIES // Photo – Dan Maynard

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Gold Coast Music Awards
announce 2021 winners

Re-watch Livestream | Facebook | Instagram

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“I feel so honoured to be recognised by the Gold Coast Music Awards, by my home town and by the community that stood by me from the very beginning, thank you to the Gold Coast Music Awards for supporting local talent and for helping me pave a career in this incredible country.” – Amy Shark

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The 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards announced talented winners across ten categories this afternoon, celebrating the region’s creative gold with thousands of national livestream viewers and the 500 Queensland musicians, music industry and fans who attended the glamorous red carpet event at Gold Coast’s Home Of The Arts (HOTA) theatre.

Following a performance with Tones and I and two Queensland Music Awards this year, a standout today was singer-songwriter and first time Awards nominee, Beckah Amani, whose smooth vocals and honest conversation about racism in single, STANDARDS, earned her the Song Of The Year award, while the track’s Triple j and NIDA supported clip also earned her Video Of The Year.

“STANDARDS is my most vulnerable work. Turning this reflective poem into a song and releasing it was both liberating and important for me and my people, and the recognition today is super encouraging as an emerging artist,” said Amani.

Australian/Fijian hip hop artist, Jesswar, won the impressive Breakout Artist Of The Year nod after a busy year of releases and tours; while ARIA chart topping country music star, Casey Barnes, took out the top gong, defending his Artist Of The Year title despite impressive competition from the city’s many international exports.

“The last two years have been pretty tough but we’ve also worked harder than ever as a team, so it’s nice to have that recognised and to get together as an industry and celebrate. Amy, I’m coming for you!” Barnes joked, referring to Amy Shark’s Hall Of Fame status after her three consecutive Artist Of The Year wins.

Also presented with iconic Skull Murphy trophies today were psychedelic surf-rockers, Peach Fur, for Live Act Of The Year; and multi-instrumentalist and producer, Scott French, for Musician Of The Year.

Meanwhile the soulful blues record, Lifeblood, by Karl S. Williams took out Release Of The Year; and cool community hub, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, went home with Venue Of The Year.

Decided by popular vote, the People’s Choice Award saw Euca win a stunning hand sculpted trophy by artist, Clayton Blake; while the career-defining Gold Coast Music Prize went to alt-rock band, Selve, providing 12-months of performance, media and mentorship opportunities.

“We’re still overwhelmed that the Awards actually happened. It was devastating when our presenting partner, SPRINGTIME Festival, had to postpone, but to have 500 musicians and music lovers in the room today was magic,” said GCMA director, Chloe Popa.

“With incredible performances by Beckah Amani, Karl S. Williams, DENNIS., Massy Sky Raid and daste, we feel like today summed up what we know and love about this city: unwavering support, a rich arts scene, musical hits and a touch of glitz.”

The Gold Coast Music Awards ceremony took place midday-4pm, Saturday 4 September at Home of the Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast, in partnership with SPRINGTIME Music Festival. Please find the awards ceremony livestream to re-watch, here.

The Gold Coast Music Awards is produced by Blank Street Press and proudly supported by City of Gold Coast and Major Events Gold Coast.

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CASEY BARNES – Artist Of The Year

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BECKAH AMANI – Song & Video Of The Year

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PEACH FUR – Live Act Of The Year

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Gold Coast Music Awards
2021 Finalists

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Southern Cross University

Casey Barnes

BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Griffith University and the Queensland Conservatorium

Jesswar

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Gold Coast Music

Peach Fur

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

sponsored by TAFE Queensland

Scott French

RELEASE OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Blank Street Press

Karl S Williams – Lifeblood

SONG OF THE YEAR

sponsored by CBD Live

Beckah Amani – Standards

VENUE OF THE YEAR

sponsored by Oztix

Mo’s Desert Clubhouse

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

sponsored by QT Gold Coast

Beckah Amani – Standards

GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE

sponsored by Friends of the Arts

Selve

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

sponsored by Burleigh Brewing Co.

EUCA

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SCOTT FRENCH – Musician Of The Year

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KARL S WILLIAMS – Release Of The Year

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JESSWAR – Breakout Artist Of The Year // Photo – Georgia Wallace

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2021 FAST FACTS

2021 Gold Coast Music Awards

2021 Gold Coast Music Awards ceremony
Saturday 4 September – from midday to 3.00pm
@HOTA, Home of the Arts

*Tickets for awards ceremony available soon*

2021 Gold Coast Music Awards – Live Stream presentation
The 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards will also be live streamed for at home audiences.
Live streaming will run from 1.00pm – 3.00pm 
RSVP here to watch

Categories

Artist of the Year
Breakout artist of the Year
Live Act of the Year
Musician (instrumentalist / vocalist) of the Year
Release (album / EP) of the Year
Song of the Year
Venue of the Year
Video of the Year

People’s Choice Award

Sponsored by Burleigh Brewing Co.

All finalists will be eligible for the People’s Choice Award, which is determined by a public vote and an in-person vote at the Awards ceremony event.

Gold Coast Music Prize

Sponsored by Friends of the Arts

All nominees under the age of 25 are eligible for this career-defining prize, which includes 12 months of industry support to propel one artist/band’s career to the next level, from paid festival performances and marketing packages to tailored one-on-one mentoring sessions with leading industry figures.

2021 Judges

Dan Carroll (City of Gold Coast)
Brad Hinds (Oztix)
Donna Weston (Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium)
Elizabeth Sharpe (Good Call Live)
Emily Holler (Mojobullet)
Jo Driessens (Placemakers Gold Coast & Bleach* Festival)
Kimberley Ferguson (Mo’s Desert Clubhouse & Beats Cartel)
Kirsty Abrahams (Konnection Artist Assistance)
Mel De Regt (Cult Club)
Olivia Dennis (DENNIS.)
Mark Duckworth (Major Events Gold Coast)
Samantha Morris (Gold Coast Music Awards)
Zac Fahey (Blank Street Press & Major Events Gold Coast)

Premier Partners

City of Gold Coast – Premier Partner 
SPRINGTIME Festival – Presenting Partner
HOTA, Home of the Arts – Venue Partner

2021 Category Sponsors

Southern Cross University – Artist of the Year
Griffith University and the Queensland Conservatorium – Breakout Artist of the Year 
Gold Coast Music – Live Act of the Year 
TAFE Queensland – Musician of the Year 
Blank Street Press – Release of the Year 
CBD Live – Song of the Year
Oztix – Venue of the Year 
QT Gold Coast – Video of the Year
Friends of the Arts – Gold Coast Music Prize 
Burleigh Brewing Co. – People’s Choice Award

Event Partners
Molten Agency
Pinnacle Engineering Group
Southport Sharks
The Edit Suite

Cultural Partners
BLEACH*
SWELL Sculpture Festival

Hospitality Partners
Grandad Jack’s
Mr Consistent

Media Partners
94.1FM
AAA Backstage
Blank Street Press
Music is my Muse

Creative Partners
Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern
Racy and Lucky
RW Promotion
The Big Note Co.

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MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE – Venue Of The Year

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Website – Facebook – Twitter

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AMNPLIFY – DB