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WAM's Song Of The Year is an annual competition, promoting the talented, original songwriting of West Australian artists that embraces contemporary music of all genres, levels and ages.

First established in 1989, the annual Song of the Year Competition coordinated by WAM and presented by Act-Belong-Commit invites songwriters, musicians and bands across Western Australia to submit their songs for a chance to win across multiple categories. The songs are anonymously and independently judged by an expansive range of music industry experts, with the winner of each category also in the running for the Grand Prize. Each year an Awards night is held to announce the winners and showcase some of West Australia’s best home-grown talent.

The competition presents a rare exposure opportunity for WA songwriters to showcase their talents to industry practitioners, with the option to receive direct feedback on their submitted songs. Previous winners of the competition have included iconic WA acts Little Birdy, Stella Donnelly, Luke Steele, Abbe May and Carla Geneve.

Song of the Year 2020 presented by Act-Belong-Commit has now finished for 2020. The Virtual Awards Party wrap-up and full list of winners can be viewed HERE.

Song of the Year 2020 presented by Act-Belong-Commit was open to all West Australian songwriters, bands, and producers and featured 17 categories, including; Blues/Roots, Country, Electronic, Experimental, Folk, Jazz, Metal/Heavy, Punk/Hardcore, Pop, Rock, Urban/Hip Hop, Global and Act-Belong-Commit, plus extra categories for Schools 14 Years & Under, Schools 15-17, Outstanding Indigenous and Outstanding Regional. All winners were celebrated at the Song of the Year Awards Night, with one song selected to win the coveted grand prize.

Entrants also had the opportunity to receive personalised feedback on their songs from leading music minds Anna Laverty, Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe), Sam Ford (Tone City Recording Studio) and Tenille Elkins (APRA AMCOS/NM TAFE) via the song evaluation option.

Nominees for Song of the Year 2020 presented by Act-Belong-Commit were announced on 29 June 2020, featuring an exciting mix of emerging and established artists across all genres, ages, levels and backgrounds (full list here).

The winners of Song of the Year 2020 presented by Act-Belong-Commit were revealed at the annual Song of the Year Awards Party which took a new and exciting turn in 2020 – live and online! The special edition Virtual Awards Party proved to be a huge success, amassing over 5,000 viewers across Australia, the US and UK. Hosted by the incredible Odette Mercy, the free-to-watch event was streamed on the WAM, APRA AMCOS, Nannup Music Festival and WA artists’ Facebook pages with messages of support, excitement, and congratulations buzzing amongst viewers and nominees throughout the evening.

WA music icons and special guests came together to feature in the Awards Party, including an opening address from Premier of Western Australia, Hon. Mark McGowan MLA, and appearances from Dave Faulkner (The Hoodoo Gurus), Katy Steele, Joe Ryan (POND), Stella Donnelly, Anna Laverty, Slumberjack, Ziggy Ramo, Lucy Peach, Kučka, Hyclass and Stu MacLeod (Eskimo Joe). Viewers were treated to performances from Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, this year’s winners Adrian Dzvuke and The Hunting Birds, plus nominees Siobhan Cotchin, Fourth State Turiya and Latehorse.

Song of the Year is set to return in 2021, continuing to celebrate the talent of WA songwriters.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2020 SOTY Winners

2018/19 SOTY Winners

2017/18 SOTY Winners

2016/17 SOTY Winners

2015/16 SOTY Winners

2014/15 SOTY Winners

2013/14 SOTY Winners

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