APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is proud to reveal the winners of the 2009 APRA Music Awards, announced tonight in a dazzling ceremony at the Peninsula in Melbourne. These winners, across 12 categories including the prestigious peer voted APRA SONG OF THE YEAR, represent the songwriters behind the most successful works of 2008. And in a symbolic affirmation of the positive health of Australian songwriting, first time winners are represented across 9 categories.

In their first ever APRA nomination, the coveted APRA SONG OF THE YEAR Award has been won by THE LIVING END for their scorching rock anthem White Noise. Taking literally months to complete, chief songwriter CHRIS CHENEY has described White Noise as “the bastard child born out of the ruins of two other songs - writing it proved to be a great learning experience for me.” It might have taken the Melbourne boys more than 15 years to get there but the band and their song with the undeniably catchy hook has captured the imagination of the 30,000 eligible voters who make the APRA SONG OF THE YEAR the single, biggest peer voted music award in Australia.

The prestigious APRA SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR, - decided by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors - has been awarded to KIM MOYES and JULIAN HAMILTON of THE PRESETS. Capping off what has been an astonishing year for the duo, their phenomenally successful album Apocalypso showcased their lyrical daring and proved that they are an Australian songwriting force to be reckoned with. While Julian Hamilton is a previous APRA Award winner (as co-writer of “Straight Lines” with Daniel Johns), this is the first win for THE PRESETS.

Also decided by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors is the BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR which has been awarded to breathtaking songwriter GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU. Perhaps the most important Aboriginal voice of his generation, GURRUMUL has literally left people speechless and moved to tears with his music; his voice and words that are like nothing we have witnessed before in this country. With the release of his first solo album, Gurrumul highlights the tremendous talent he has to offer Indigenous music in Australia, and indeed, the world. This is GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU’s first APRA Award.

The category of MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK has been won by first time nominees FAKER for their impossibly catchy song This Heart Attack. Currently on tour with the Pink juggernaut, the song, written by NATHAN HUDSON, was voted at #5 on triple j’s Hottest 100 (2008) and the band slipped into the national consciousness with their 2nd album Be The Twilight.

Another first time APRA Award winner is R&B singer / songwriter JESSICA MAUBOY (with co-writers AUDIUS MTAWARIRA and SEAN MULLINS) who scored their maiden win taking out URBAN WORK OF THE YEAR with the hit song Running Back, featuring US rapper extraordinaire FLO-RIDA.

They led the 2009 APRA nominations tally with a total of 3 nods and now THE POTBELLEEZ have won their first ever APRA Award in the DANCE WORK OF THE YEAR category for the dance floor sensation Don’t Hold Back.

In the BLUES AND ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR category OLD MAN RIVER (aka OHAD REIN) has won his very first APRA Award (along with co-writers EDO KAHN and NADAV KAHN) for the joyous Sunshine.

KASEY CHAMBERS and SHANE NICHOLSON have taken out COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR with Rattlin’ Bones. While Kasey Chambers has now chalked up a record 8 APRA Awards (making Kasey the most awarded female songwriter in APRA history), this is the first ever APRA win for her husband and songwriting partner SHANE NICHOLSON.

The category of JAZZ WORK OF THE YEAR has been won by first time and dual nominee JOE CHINDAMO for his composition Something Will Come To Light. The song, by acclaimed Melbourne jazz piano virtuoso, has been described as somehow celebratory yet tinged with pain at the same time.

While songwriter Rob Thomas has twice won the category of MOST PLAYED FOREIGN WORK, this time he wins the award with his band MATCHBOX 20 for All Your Reasons.

Proving that the almighty AC / DC just keep on keeping on, the band have won the category of MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK OVERSEAS for the classic Bon Scott, Angus Young and Malcolm Young penned Highway to Hell. Rock n’ roll will never die!

And in what was a genuinely moving moment, legendary songwriter JOHN FARNHAM presented the TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC to Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand DENIS HANDLIN AM.

The 2009 APRA Music Awards was hosted by JONATHAN BIGGINS and featured live performances by LITTLE BIRDY with very special guest PAUL KELLY, FAKER, BLISS N’ ESO, LIOR, THE POTBELLEEZ, ABBE MAY AND THE ROCKIN’ PNEUMONIA and DAN SULTAN. JOHN FARNHAM, ARCHIE ROACH, CLARE BOWDITCH, ABBY DOBSON, JULIAN HAMILTON (THE PRESETS) GLENN RICHARDS (AUGIE MARCH), PHRASE, JOSH ABRAHAMS, MICHAEL GUDINSKI, JUDITH DURHAM and KUTCHA EDWARDS were very special guest presenters.

The event was captured by subscription television partner MAX for a special that will be broadcast exclusively on MAX, on Sunday 5th July at 8.30pm. MAX is available on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.

Winners are:

Song of the Year: White Noise - The Living End
APRA Songwriters of the Year: Kim Moyes & Julian Hamilton – The Presets
APRA Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music: Denis Handlin AM
Most Played Australian Work: This Heart Attack - Faker
Urban Work of the Year: Running Back - Jessica Mauboy
Dance Work of the Year: Don’t Hold Back - The Potbelleez
Blues & Roots Work of the Year: Sunshine - Old Man River
Country Work of the Year: Rattlin’ Bones - Kasey Chambers / Shane Nicholson
Jazz Work of the Year: Something Will Come To Light - Joe Chindamo
Most Played Australian Work Overseas: Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Most Played Foreign Work: All Your Reasons - Matchbox 20