APRA Music Awards of 2020


The APRA Music Awards of 2020 are the 38th annual series, known as APRA Awards, in 2020. They are provided by the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, known jointly as APRA AMCOS. In mid-February the associations announced that the Overseas Recognition Award would be replaced by [|Global APRA Music Awards] with separate ceremonies at three locations: Los Angeles, Nashville and London.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 APRA Music Awards were not held in the usual live format. The event had been due to take place on 28 April at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, instead they were streamed online for the first time as a virtual event on 25 May with Indigenous rapper, Briggs as host. The format featured presenters, winners and performances of the Song of the Year finalists.
The nominees for the 2020 APRA Music Awards were announced on 7 April. On 14 May winners for Most Performed International Work and Licensee of the Year were announced. The full list of winners was provided to media outlets on 25 May.

Presenters and performers

Indigenous rapper, Briggs, hosted the virtual APRA Music Awards of 2020 on 25 May. The musical director, Kate Miller-Heidke, curated the performers:
ArtistSong
John Butler and Mama KinGuy Sebastian's "Choir"
Kira Puru and Mo'JuThelma Plum's "Better in Blak"
William Crighton5 Seconds of Summer's "Teeth"
Nikka Costa and Justin StanleyThe Teskey Brothers' "I Get Up"
The Dawn of MayTones and I's "Dance Monkey"

APRA Music Awards

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

WriterPublisherResult
Ruel van Dijk RuelUniversal Music Publishing
Sampa Tembo Sampa the Great
Thelma PlumSony/ATV Music Publishing
Liam Gough, Brendon Love, Josh Teskey and Sam Teskey Mushroom Music Ivy League Music
Toni Watson Tones and IKobalt Music Publishing Tones and I

Licensee of the Year

VenueLocationResult
Meredith Music FestivalMeredith, Victoria

Most Performed Alternate Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"God Forgot" by The RubensScott Baldwin, Elliott Margin, Sam Margin, Zaac Margin, William ZeglisMushroom Music Ivy League Music
"Good Lord" by Birds of TokyoIan Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam WestonMushroom Music Ivy League Music
"Miracle Love" by Matt CorbyMatt Corby, Dann HumeBMG Rights Management / Sony/ATV Music Publishing
"Radio Silence" by Gretta RayGretta RaySony/ATV Music Publishing
"Waiting" by KianKian Brownfield, Jerome FarahKobalt Music Publishing KB Recording / Mushroom Music

Most Performed Australian Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"7 Minutes" by Dean LewisDean Lewis, Nicholas Atkinson, Edward HollowayKobalt Music Publishing Specific Music
"Choir" by Guy SebastianGuy Sebastian, Trevor Brown, William SimmonsUniversal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Reservoir
"Dance Monkey" by Tones and IToni WatsonKobalt Music Publishing Tones and I
"Good Lord" by Birds of TokyoIan Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, Adam WestonMushroom Music
"Waiting" by KianKian Brownfield, Jerome FarahKobalt Music Publishing KB Recording / Mushroom Music

Most Performed Australian Work Overseas

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Cheap Thills" by SiaSia Furler, Greg KurstinSony/ATV Music Publishing

Most Performed Blues & Roots Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Blackbird" by Tash SultanaTash SultanaKobalt Music Publishing Tash Sultana
"I Get Up" by The Teskey BrothersLiam Gough / Brendon Love / Josh Teskey / Sam TeskeyMushroom Music Ivy League Music
"Just Call" by John Butler TrioJohn ButlerDowntown Music Publishing Family Music
"Laps Around the Sun" by Ziggy AlbertsZiggy AlbertsKobalt Music Publishing Albert & Co Music
"Sound of Summer" by Busby MarouThomas Busby / Jeremy Marou / Phil Barton / Lindsay RimesSony/ATV Music Publishing / Mushroom Music

Most Performed Country Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Backroad Nation" by Lee KernaghanLee Kernaghan, Phil Barton, Colin Buchanan, Garth Porter, Lindsay RimesUniversal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Anthem Entertainment
"Girl" by Maren MorrisSarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin, Maren MorrisSony/ATV Music Publishing / Downtown Music Publishing
"Happy" by Travis CollinsTravis Collins, Allison VeltzABC Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Big Deal Music
"Love That" by SeaforthThomas Jordan, Mitchell Thompson, Daniel Ross, Michael WhitworthABC Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Universal/MCA Music Publishing
"Wouldn't Change a Thing" by Troy Cassar-DaleyTroy Cassar-Daley, Greg StorerMushroom Music / ABC Music Publishing
"Young Again" by Morgan EvansMorgan Evans, Chris DeStefano, Joshua KearWarner Chappell Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Downtown Music Publishing

Most Performed Dance Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Better Together" by Hayden James featuring Running TouchHayden James, Matthew Kopp, Jack Glass, Cassian Stewart-KasimbaKobalt Music Publishing Future Classic / BMG Rights Management / Universal Music Publishing
"Solid Gold" by Pnau featuring Kira Divine & Marques ToliverNick Littlemore, Sam Littlemore, Peter Mayes, Shakira Marshall, Marques ToliverUniversal Music Publishing
"Sugar" by Peking Duk featuring Jack RiverAdam Hyde, Reuben Styles, Holly Rankin, Kaelyn Behr, Xavier Dunn, Karsten Dahlgaard, Rene Dif, Claus Norreen, Anders Oeland, Johnny Pedersen, Soren RastedUniversal Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management / Mushroom Music / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Universal/MCA Music Publishing
"Take It" by Dom DollaDominic MathesonSweat It Out Publishing administered by Kobalt Music Publishing
"Treat You Better" by Rüfüs Du SolJonathon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist, Jason Evigan, Mark FosterKobalt Music Publishing Rüfüs Du Sol / BMG Rights Management / Sony/ATV Music

Most Performed International Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Happier" by Marshmello & BastilleMarshmello, Dan Smith, Steve MacKobalt Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
"Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by Mark Ronson featuring Miley CyrusMark Ronson, Miley Cyrus, Thomas Brenneck, Ilsey Juber, Clement Picard, Maxime Picard, Conor SzymanskiNative Tongue Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management /
Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Big Deal
"Promises" by Calvin Harris & Sam SmithCalvin Harris, Sam Smith, Jessie ReyezSony/ATV Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management
"Shallow" by Lady Gaga & Bradley CooperStefani Germanotta, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew WyattUniversal/MCA Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Downtown Music Publishing
"Sunflower" by Post Malone & Swae LeePost Malone, Swae Lee, Louis Bell, Carter Lang, Carl Rosen, William WalshSony/ATV Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music

Most Performed Pop Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"7 Minutes" by Dean LewisDean Lewis, Nicholas Atkinson, Edward HollowayKobalt Music Publishing Specific Music / BMG Rights Management
"All Loved Up" by Amy SharkAmy Billings, Jack AntonoffMushroom Music UNIFIED Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing
"Choir" by Guy SebastianGuy Sebastian, Trevor Brown, William SimmonsUniversal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Reservoir
"Dance Monkey" by Tones and IToni WatsonKobalt Music Publishing Tones And I
"Never Really Over" by Katy PerryDaniel James, Leah Haywood, Hayley Warner, Katy Perry, Gino Barletta, Michelle Buzz, Jason Gill, Dagny Sandvik, Anton ZaslavskiSony/ATV Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing / Universal/MCA Music Publishing

Most Performed Rock Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Clarity" by Polish ClubDavid Novak, John-Henry PajakSony/ATV Music Publishing
"Dinosaurs" by Ruby FieldsRuby Fields, Chris CollinsSony/ATV Music Publishing
"Jellyfish" by Slowly SlowlyBen StewartNative Tongue Music Publishing
"Shutting Down Our Town" by Jimmy Barnes featuring Troy Cassar-DaleyTroy Cassar-DaleyMushroom Music
"Otherside" by The Living EndChris Cheney, Scott Owen, Andy Strachan, Tobias KuhnBMG Rights Management / Kobalt Music Publishing

Most Performed Urban Work

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Butter" by Triple OneConor Grealish, Martin Guilfoyle, William Gunns, Dominic Kim
"Cool as Hell" by Baker BoyDanzal Baker, Carl Dimataga, Jesse Ferris, Morgan Jones, Brendan Tuckerman, Dallas WoodsSony/ATV Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
"Exit Sign" by Hilltop Hoods featuring Illy & Ecca VandalBarry Francis DJ Debris, Matthew Lambert Suffa, Daniel Smith MC Pressure, Alasdair Murray, Sarah Aarons, Andrew BurfordSony/ATV Music Publishing / BMG Rights Management / Universal Music Publishing
"Leave Me Lonely" by Hilltop HoodsBarry Francis DJ Debris, Matthew Lambert Suffa, Daniel Smith MC Pressure, Leigh Ryan, Richard BerrySony/ATV Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing / Campbell Connelly
"Then What" by IllyAlasdair Murray/ Tobias Frelin / Elias NaslinBMG Rights Management / Kobalt Music Publishing

Song of the Year

Title and/or artistWriterPublisherResult
"Better in Blak" by Thelma PlumThelma Plum, Alexander Burnett, Oliver HortonSony/ATV Music Publishing
"Choir" by Guy SebastianGuy Sebastian, Trevor Brown, William SimmonsUniversal Music Publishing / Mushroom Music
"Dance Monkey" by Tones and IToni WatsonKobalt Music Publishing Tones and I
"I Get Up" by The Teskey BrothersLiam Gough, Brendon Love, Josh Teskey, Sam TeskeyMushroom Music Ivy League Music
"Teeth" by 5 Seconds of SummerLuke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Louis Bell, Ali Tamposi, Ryan Tedder, Andrew Watt, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Bernard SumnerSony/ATV Music Publishing

Songwriter of the Year

WriterPublisherResult
Barry Francis DJ Debris, Matthew Lambert Suffa, Daniel Smith MC PressureHilltop Hoods

Global APRA Music Awards

In mid-February 2020 APRA AMCOS announced that the Overseas Recognition Award from the APRA Music Awards would be replaced by Global APRA Music Awards with separate ceremonies in London, Los Angeles and Nashville. At each location awards were presented for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Distinguished Services, Overseas Recognition Award, and Songwriter of the Year. The London-based awards, "recognise APRA AMCOS members living in the UK and Europe." The Lonodn ceremony was held on 6 March at Ham Yard Hotel, Soho and hosted by Georgia Mooney. The Los Angeles ceremony was held at the GRAMMY Museum, Clive Davis Theatre on 26 February and hosted by Maya Jupiter to "recognise APRA AMCOS members living on the West Coast of the U.S." On 1 March, the Nashville ceremony, to "recognise APRA AMCOS members living on the East Coast of the U.S.", was hosted by O'Shea and held at Clementine Hall.

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Distinguished Services

Overseas Recognition

Songwriter of the Year