Entries are open for the 2024 APRA Best Country Music Song. Celebrating its 21st birthday, the award celebrates the best in local country music around Aotearoa. Past winners include Tami Neilson, Delaney Davidson, Jenny Mitchell, Kaylee Bell, Reb Fountain, and Mel Parsons.
If your song or video was broadcast to the public for the first time between 1 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2023, you could be eligible to enter. Eligibility info can be found in the entry form.
Entries close 5pm Monday 18 March 2024.
Any questions, please contact our Member Services team on 0800 69 2772, or email [email protected]
Also open are entries for the MLT Songwriting Award, hosted by the NZ Songwriters Trust. Songwriters from all over New Zealand, Australia, put their hat in the ring for the award. Past winners and finalists include Kerryn Fields, Tami Neilson, Barry Saunders, Jenny Mitchell and 2023 Winner; Matt Joe Gow.
Entries must be unreleased and recorded with one vocal and one instrument (with the exception of songs written as duets). Entries also close Monday 18 March. Visit: https://countrymusichonours.co.nz to enter.
Finalists for all awards will be invited to perform their song live at the Country Music Honours Awards evening on Friday 24th May 2024. The awards evening will also feature a special guest appearance from household name and life-long country music icon: Suzanne Prentice.
10 days of celebrating Southland and Country music
The Country Music Honours Awards evening is the opening event for the 10-day Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival highlighting the best of Southland, and of course Country Music. There will be performances by local and international artists including Mel Parsons, Matt Joe Gow, Kerryn Fields and Fanny Lumsden, Yodeling Workshops, Mai Mai tours and of course, the legendary Gold Guitars.
321 SESSIONS WITH MEL PARSONS
As part of the festival, APRA AMCOS are proud to present Gore’s first 321 Session; a day-long co-writing workshop. Curated by iconic songwriter and Silver Scroll nominee Mel Parsons, 12 selected songwriters will be split into groups of three to work together for two hours to co-write one song in a fun and low-pressure environment. APRA AMCOS will also be running a free panel discussion where writers will have the opportunity to learn about how song royalties work and more about APRA AMCOS. More info coming in April.