The first winner of the recently announced 2013 APRA Awards nominees has been revealed, with influential Australian pop band The Seekers being awarded APRA’s top honour, the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music, the news arriving as singer Judith Durham recovers in hospital from her recent health scare.
The APRA accolade is the latest in a ream of historical achievements, including being named 1967 Australians of the Year, inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and had their music added to the National Film And Sound Archive, and even appeared on a postage stamp. The Ted Albert Award recognises the band, recently celebrating their 50-year career with a tour of the original 1960s lineup, for their immeasurable impact on Australian popular music.
Chosen by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, the award is the first to be announced for the upcoming 2013 APRA Awards, with the full list of winners to be announced at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on Monday June 17.
“Surely no other Australian act has had such enormous international appeal while retaining its unadorned sense of ‘Australianness’. The Seekers really put Australian music on the map,” says APRA|AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle of the 1960s stars.
“A succession of Top 5 hits around the world, including three UK number ones, all achieved at the height of the popularity of The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys and Motown. The Seekers often outsold them all. And 50 years later the music sounds every bit as great as it did then.” “Surely no other Australian act has had such enormous international appeal… The Seekers really put Australian music on the map.” Brett Cottle, APRA CEO
The folk-pop quartet, featuring Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley, first came to international fame in the 1960s, scoring several Top 10 hits, including “I’ll Never Find Another You”, “A World of Our Own”, “Georgy Girl” (the title song of the film of the same name), and their rendition of a Russian folk song, “The Carnival Is Over”.
“Over the past 50 years, we’ve been the proud recipients of many awards from all over the world, but recognition in our own country has always meant a great deal to us,” said the band in a joint statement today. ‘We are truly honoured to receive the Ted Albert Award, named after such a legendary and iconic figure in the Australian music industry.”
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The Seekers join the ranks of previous recipients, including esteemed musicians Slim Dusty, Jimmy Little, Paul Kelly, and AC/DC’s Angus And Malcolm Young, as well as influential industry figures such as promoter Michael Chugg, youth radio network Triple J and CEO Dennis Hadlin.
The good news however arrives with a tinge of sadness, as The Seekers singer Judith Durham remains in hospital following a recent health scare in which doctors diagnosed her as having a “small cerebral haemorrhage.” “Over the past 50 years, we’ve been the proud recipients of many awards from all over the world, but recognition in our own country has always meant a great deal to us.” – The Seekers
The 69-year-old singer had felt ill after stepping offstage at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall as part of the band’s Golden Jubilee Australian Tour, with band representative Graham Simpson recounting: “We got back to the hotel and at midnight she called me from her room. When I got there I realised something was terribly wrong. We took her straight to an emergency department.”
After being rushed to hospital at around 1am, Durham was seen by a neurologist and underwent tests that diagnosed her with having a “small cerebral haemorrhage,” and Graham Simpson this morning an update on Durham’s health condition, as TheMusic reports.
“Judith is now in the Rehabilitation Unit at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne and has begun an active rehabilitation program,” he wrote. “When I visited her at the weekend she was in excellent spirits, and keen to progress with her treatment.”
“Yesterday, we had an hour-long conversation about the forthcoming compilation album to be released by Universal Music to celebrate Judith’s 70th birthday in July – 23 tracks from her five decades of recording, including several that have never been available on CD before, as well as two newly-recorded tracks.”
“Judith talked of the loving care and support she continues to receive from the wonderful team at Epworth, and the flowers, cards and letters she has received from so many thoughtful people all over the world. She has asked me to pass on her love and gratitude to every one of you.”
You can view the full list of 2013 APRA Music Awards Nominations below.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Title: Elephant
Artist: Tame Impala
Writers: Kevin Parker / Jay Watson
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Title: Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Artist: Tame Impala
Writer: Kevin Parker
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Title: Get Along
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writers: Guy Sebastian* / Ian Barter
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd*
Title: History Eraser
Artist: Courtney Barnett
Writer: Courtney Barnett
Title: When the Moment Comes
Artist: Mia Dyson
Writers: Mia Dyson / Patrick Cupples (ASCAP) / Erin Sidney (ASCAP)
BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Writers: Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci (DNA)
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Writers: Matthew Colwell (360)* and Kaelyn Behr (Styalz Fuego)
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd* and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L
Writers: Phoebe Baker* / Louisa James* / Ryan Lamb / Christian O’Brien* / Timothy Royall* / Phillip Tucker* (Alpine)
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd*
Writers: Seth Marton* (Seth Sentry) and Stephen Mowat
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L*
Writers: Tjimba Possum-Burns and Danny Ramzan (Yung Warriors)
MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK
Title: Boys Like You
Artist: 360 feat. Gossling
Writers: Kaelyn Behr* / Matthew Colwell / Francis Jones / Bradford Pinto / Jack Revens
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L*/ Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: Don’t Worry Be Happy
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writer: Guy Sebastian
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: I Love It
Artist: Hilltop Hoods feat. Sia
Writers: Barry Francis (DEBRIS) / Matthew Lambert (SUFFA) / Daniel Smith (PRESSURE) / Sia^
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L / EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo EMI Music Publishing Ltd^
Title: Set it Off
Artist: Timomatic
Writers: Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci / Timomatic
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Title: Sitting on Top of the World
Artist: Delta Goodrem
Writers: Delta Goodrem* / John Shanks (ASCAP)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/Lobo Tone Ranger Music and Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Imagem Music NL
COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Charlestown Road
Artist: Catherine Britt
Writer: Catherine Britt
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Country Is
Artist: Troy Cassar-Daley
Writers: Colin Buchanan* / Troy Cassar-Daley
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd* / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Country Proud
Artist: McAlister Kemp
Writers: Troy Kemp^ / Drew McAlister / Steven Tassone* (SOCAN)
Publishers: ABC Music Publishing^ / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Ole Media Management LP I*
Title: Piece of Me
Artist: The McClymonts
Writers: Samantha McClymont / Frank Myers*(BMI) / Lindsay Rimes
Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd / Mushroom Music Pty Ltd obo Meleva Music*
Title: Waitress
Artist: Beccy Cole
Writer: Beccy Cole
Publisher: ABC Music Publishing
BLUES & ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Black Dog Blues
Artist: Russell Morris
Writers: James Keays / Russell Morris
Title: The Devil’s Sake
Artist: Lanie Lane
Writer: Lanie Lane
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Like Me Meaner
Artist: Lanie Lane
Writer: Lanie Lane
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Longtime
Artist: Ash Grunwald
Writers: Ash Grunwald / Colin O’Reilly
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Title: Love Letter
Artist: Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes
Writers: Clairy Browne* / Darcy McNulty* / Steven Schram
Publisher: Native Tongue Music Publishing*
DANCE WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Coming Alive
Artist: Vandalism & Ikid
Writers: Ilan Kidron* / Andrew Van Dorsselaer / Cassandra Van Dorsselaer
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music*
Title: Feed Off Me
Artist: The Potbelleez
Writers: David Greene^ / Ilan Kidron^ / Marisa Lock / Paul Mac / Jonathan Murphy^ / Justin Shave
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music^ / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: In My Mind
Artist: Feenixpawl & Ivan Gough feat. Georgi Kay
Writers: Aden Forte / Ivan Gough* / Georgi Kay* / Joshua Soon
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L* / Sony/ATV Music Publ Allegro (AUST) P/L obo Peppermint Blue Publishing
Title: Like A Girl In Love
Artist: Elen Levon
Writers: Jamie Appleby / Melinda Appleby
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia
Title: Really Want To See You Again
Artist: Sneaky Sound System
Writers: Angus McDonald / Connie Mitchell
ROCK WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Follow The Sun
Artist: Evermore
Writers: Daniel Hume / Jon Hume / Peter Hume
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Second Pressing Pty Ltd
Title: For Another Day
Artist: The Living End
Writer: Chris Cheney
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: My Gun
Artist: The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Izaac Margin / Samuel Margin/ David Kahne (BMI)
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L obo E Equals Music*
Title: Passerby
Artist: Grinspoon
Writers: Pat Davern / Phil Jamieson
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Title: This Fire
Artist: Birds of Tokyo
Writers: Ian Berney / Ian Kenny / Glen Sarangapany / Adam Spark / Adam Weston
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
POP WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Diamonds
Artist: Rihanna
Writers: Mikkel Eriksen / Sia / Tor Hermansen / Benjamin Levin^
Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo EMI Music Publishing Ltd / Kobalt Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Where Da Kasz At and Matza Ballzack Music^
Title: Don’t Worry Be Happy
Artist: Guy Sebastian
Writer: Guy Sebastian
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: If Looks Could Kill
Artist: Timomatic
Writers: Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci / Timomatic
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Title: Set it Off
Artist: Timomatic
Writers: Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci / Timomatic
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Title: Sitting on Top of the World
Artist: Delta Goodrem
Writers: Delta Goodrem* / John Shanks (ASCAP)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Tone Ranger Music and Native Tongue Music Publishing obo Imagem Music NL
URBAN WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Boys Like You
Artist: 360 feat. Gossling
Writers: Kaelyn Behr* / Matthew Colwell / Francis Jones / Bradford Pinto / Jack Revens
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L*/ Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: Child
Artist: 360
Writers: Kaelyn Behr* / Matthew Colwell
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L*/ Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Title: I Love It
Artist: Hilltop Hoods feat. Sia
Writers: Barry Francis (DEBRIS) / Matthew Lambert (SUFFA) / Daniel Smith (PRESSURE) / Sia^
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L / EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd obo EMI Music Publishing Ltd^
Title: In My Mind (Part 2)
Artist: Flo Rida
Writers: Tramar Dillard*(ASCAP) / Aden Forte / Ivan Gough^ / Georgi Kay^ / Joshua Soon
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Sony/ATV Tunes LLC* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L^ / Sony/ATV Music Publ Allegro (AUST) P/L obo Peppermint Blue Publishing
Title: Speaking in Tongues
Artist: Hilltop Hoods feat. Chali 2NA
Writers: Barry Francis (DEBRIS)* / Matthew Lambert (SUFFA)* / Daniel Smith (PRESSURE)* /Charles Stewart (ASCAP)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L*
INTERNATIONAL WORK OF THE YEAR
Title: Call Me Maybe
Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
Writers: Tavish Crowe*(SOCAN) / Carly Rae Jepsen^(SOCAN) / Joshua Ramsay (SOCAN)
Publishers: Crowe Music Publishing* / Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Jepsen Music Publishing
Title: Lego House
Artist: Ed Sheeran
Writers: Jake Gosling*(PRS) / Christopher Leonard^(PRS) / Edward Sheeran (PRS)
Publishers: David Platz Music (Australia) Pty Ltd obo BDI Music Limited* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd obo Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Limited^ / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Limited
Title: Lonely Boy
Artist: The Black Keys
Writers: Daniel Auerbach (BMI) / Patrick Carney (BMI) / Brian Burton*(ASCAP)
Publishers: Gaga Music Pty Ltd obo McMoore McLesst Publishing / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo Sweet Science*
Title: Paradise
Artist: Coldplay
Writers: Guy Berryman (PRS) / Jonathan Buckland (PRS) / William Champion (PRS) / Brian Eno*(PRS) / Chris Martin (PRS)
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia obo Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited/ Frankdon Music Pty Ltd obo Opal Music (GB 1)*
Title: We Are Young
Artist: Fun feat. Janelle Monáe
Writers: Jack Antonoff*(BMI) / Jeffrey Bhasker^(BMI) / Andrew Dost~(ASCAP) / Nathaniel Ruess# (ASCAP)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music* / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Way Above Music^ / Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia P/L obo Rough Art~ / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd obo WB Music Corp, Bearvon Music and FBR Music#
