Today at the ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards at the Sydney Opera House, ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) announced some of the most significant changes in the ARIA Awards 24 year history. Prior to the presentation of fourteen ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards, ARIA Chairman, Ed St John and the Minister for Major Events, Kevin Greene, unveiled this year's events and plans.

What began as one night has evolved into a season of six events, one of which was the ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards held today. In his speech, Minister Greene announced the support of the ARIA Awards through its events arm, Events NSW, and then revealed the 2010 calendar.

The 2010 ARIA Awards countdown started today at the Sydney Opera House with the ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards, the first of six events on the 2010 ARIA calendar and culminating in the grand finale on Sunday, 7 November and broadcast on Network Ten.

Next stop is set down for Tuesday, 28 September at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for the Nominations Event to find out just who is in the running when ARIA announces the nominees in a record 31 categories, and the 4 winners in the Artisan Award categories for the ARIA Awards.

Just two weeks later on Monday, 11 October, and for the 3rd event, ARIA presents the Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtrack categories in a very intimate and resonant ceremony for the ARIA Fine Arts Awards.

For the first time since its inception as a standalone event, the ARIA Hall of Fame is welcomed to Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, 27 October. This year, a total of four inductees will join the ranks of those illustrious artists already inducted.

As the countdown moves from weeks to days, from Monday, 1 November stand by for the details of a unique roll out of the winners in the twelve Genre categories, in a bold move that will only heighten and intensify the speculation as to who will take out the coveted ARIA Album of the Year.

And in just sixteen weeks from today we go full circle, as an iconic venue plays host for the first time to an iconic event on Sunday, 7 November. The Sydney Opera House promises to be turned inside out as Network Ten takes us live to the Opera House Forecourt and Concert Hall for the 2010 ARIA Awards where viewers will witness as unique a broadcast as ever with eleven Awards, six performances, incredible production values and a stellar backdrop that promises to deliver a potent mix of excitement and "must see TV".

ARIA Chairman and President and CEO of Warner Music Australasia, Ed St John said: "The great thing about the ARIAs is our ability to evolve. We've come a long way from our modest beginnings - the last eight years at Acer Arena have been brilliant, but it's now time to take this event to a whole new level. The ARIAs at the Sydney Opera House will be utterly spectacular, and it could only be possible with the commitment of Network 10 and the generous assistance of Events NSW."

Mr. St John also announced two new peer voted categories to the ARIA Awards with Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album and Best Adult Alternative Album.

Today at the Sydney Opera House, 14 of Australia's most loved artists were recognised for their chart topping success at the eighth annual ARIA #1 Chart Awards.

The Australian music community, industry partners, media and retail gathered to toast the success of those artists who notched up a No. 1 single, album or music DVD, during the period 1 May, 2009, to 19 July, 2010.

ARIA also took the opportunity to present two very special Awards today to Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian who had the highest selling Album and Single respectively for the decade from 2000 to 2009 with Guy Sebastian's 2003 smash, Angels Brought Me Here, being the top ranking single for the 2000's and Delta Goodrem's 14 times platinum debut album, Innocent Eyes, also released in 2003, took out top spot on the ARIA's End Of Decade Top 100 Singles and Album Charts.

Hosted by Dylan Lewis from Video Hits and Nova 100, the event featured keynote speeches from the Chairman of the ARIA Chart & Marketing Committee, John Parker, and Chairman of ARIA, Ed St John.

ARIA Chairman, Ed St John, said "There are many measures of success in our industry - great reviews, sold-out shows, multiple hits on YouTube or MySpace. But there is still one measure that outshines all others, and that's the act of climbing to the very top of the sales charts. Nothing else signals popularity like a Number One and it's so exciting to see so many local artists ascending to these heady heights over the past year."

The 14 Australian artists receiving ARIA #1 Chart Awards today (in chronological order) were:

David Campbell: Good Lovin' Live - DVD (SME)
Released: 24 April, 2009 | No. 1: 4 May, 2009 - 1 week
David Campbell is one of Australia's most popular entertainers and a multi-platinum selling recording artist who has featured on TV, starred in theatre and cabaret, recorded four Top 10 ARIA albums, sold out five concert tours from coast to coast and is the Artistic Director for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

On receiving his first ARIA #1 Chart Award today, David said "What a great thrill - I can't believe I've actually got one of these, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's a mistake and you're gonna take it off me!"

Eskimo Joe: Inshalla - Album (Warner)
Released: 29 May, 2009 | No. 1: 8 June, 2009 - 1 week
Today's ARIA #1 Chart Award makes it 2nd in a row for West Australia's Eskimo Joe (2008's Black Fingernails, Red Wine having received an ARIA #1 Chart Award in 2006). Inshalla is Eskimo Joe's 4th Studio Album and featured the hit single, Foreign Land, which was the most played Australian song on Radio in 2009. The platinum accredited album went on to stay in the Top 100 for 23 weeks.

On receiving their 2nd ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Stuart MacLeod from "The Eskies" said "Having a number one album is a pretty amazing feeling. Growing up listening to Australian music, that world always seemed so far away from where I was. Little did I know that 15 years later I'd be right in the middle. And for a couple of weeks out of the last few years, on the top, even. Writing, recording and performing music with great friends is an incredible way to live my life, and when you get rewarded with a number one album, it's just makes everything taste even sweeter".

Hilltop Hoods: State of the Art - Album (UMA)
Released: 12 June, 2009 | No. 1: 22 and 29 June, 2009 - 2 weeks
Australia's premier hip hop outfit stepped up to the plate for 2009's instant classic, State Of The Art, their first to be released on their own label Golden Era in partnership with Universal Music. Led by the singles Chase That Feeling and Still Standing, the album went on to sell platinum and is still going strong! Hilltop Hoods are not only Australia’s most successful hip hop act, they are one of our biggest domestic artists, period.

On receiving their 2nd career ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Hilltop Hoods said "We were amazed when State of the Art debuted at number one. Not only was it great for us we really felt like it was a positive thing for Hip Hop in this country. We're grateful for all the good luck we've had and appreciate the hard work of all the talented and passionate people around us."

Short Stack: Stack Is The New Black - Album (UMA)
Released: 14 August, 2009 | No. 1: 24 August, 2009 - 1 week
In 2009, the three-piece from New South Wales' Central Coast accomplished what no other Australian music act had successfully achieved - using the combined powers of SMS, YouTube and MySpace to amass a following that's growing by the second. The boys from Budgewoi also held the enviable title of Australia's biggest band on YouTube with over 2.5 million views of the Short Stack TV series and video clips and they've racked up over four million plays on MySpace alone.

On receiving their first ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Short Stack said "The fact that our album went No. 1 is essentially an overwhelming testament to how loyal and dedicated our fans are, especially on our debut. We've been a band for almost 6 years now, touring the country playing to as many people as we could, and when we found out the news our album went No. 1, as well as going gold, it was by far the biggest achievement in our short careers. To know that people believe in what we're doing and establish a connection with our music and our message is the reason we exist."

Jimmy Barnes: The Rhythm & The Blues - Album (UMA)
Released: 28 August, 2009 | No. 1: 7 and 14 September, 2009 - 2 weeks
Legendary rocker Jimmy Barnes hasn't wasted much time since the release of his 2009 Platinum selling The Rhythm & The Blues, ripping off the suit to deliver his most powerful rock single in years: Before The Devil Knows You're Dead. Jimmy's new album, Rage and Ruin, is slated for a 27 August release, and contains 12 new songs, co-written by Jimmy, which sees a return to career best form.

On receiving his ninth ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Jimmy said "After making records for over 30 years, it's great that the public are still interested in my music. I'm thrilled that the album did well in the charts and am speechless that it went to Number 1. Good on you, ARIA. Can we stick around for another 30 years?"

Guy Sebastian: Like It Like That - Single (SME)
Released: 8 August, 2009 | No. 1: 7 and 14 September, 2009 - 2 weeks
Guy Sebastian has released 4 multi-platinum selling albums and toured the country to sold-out venues multiple times. Guy's fifth studio album, Like It Like That, has reached Platinum sales and has produced the singles Like It Like That, Art Of Love feat Jordin Sparks, All To Myself and current single Never Hold You Down. As well as going No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart, Like It Like That, also reached No. 1 on the Airplay charts and spent 11 weeks in the Top 10. Guy is currently dividing time between Australia and the US where he is promoting the release of the album.

On receiving his fourth ARIA #1 Chart Award and his End of Decade Chart Award today, Guy said "I'm so honoured to be receiving these ARIA #1 Chart Awards. Writing and performing music is my passion and I’m so grateful to all my fans out there, who have supported me on my journey."

Delta Goodrem: Believe Again Australian Tour 2009 - DVD (SME)
Released: 18 September, 2009 | No. 1: 28 September, 2009 - 1 week
Delta Goodrem's sell-out Australian Believe Again tour was recorded from the majestic State Theatre in Sydney and packaged into a special DVD/CD release. All three of Delta's studio albums have debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Charts and achieved multi-platinum status. Delta is currently spending time in the US song writing for her upcoming new studio album.

On receiving her third ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Delta said "I am so honoured to have my Believe Again tour DVD awarded an ARIA #1 Chart Award. Thanks to ARIA and all my fans that came to my shows and made the tour and DVD so special. Performing live is my greatest passion and I loved being able to capture all the music and fun we shared on the Believe Again Tour journey."

Vanessa Amorosi: This Is Who I Am - Single (UMA)
Released: 9 October, 2009 | No. 1: 19 and 26 October, 2009 - 2 weeks
Vanessa is currently in the UK preparing for her European release of the single and Hazardous album and unfortunately couldn't be with us today. Despite huge success in the past with hits like Shine and Absolutely Everybody, This Is Who I Am is Vanessa's first No. 1 single. Vanessa's No. 1 debut was also the first Australian female artist to debut at No. 1 since Kylie Minogue in 2007 and This is Who I Am went on to achieve Platinum sales status.

On receiving her first ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Vanessa said "It is an amazing feeling finding out you have a No. 1 single. I was so thrilled when I found out This Is Who I Am debuted at No. 1. This was my first No. 1 single and I am certainly going to treasure it. My team at Universal Music and I worked so hard on this album and I was completely floored that my old fans and new fans had really made a connection to this song, this really meant a lot to me and I owe it to my fans for their continued support. Unfortunately I couldn't be there today as I am in London working on my European releases, but looking forward to getting back to Australia later in the year."

Powderfinger: Golden Rule - Album (UMA)
Released: 13 November, 2009 | No. 1: 23 November, 2009 - 1 week
Powderfinger's extensive career spans nearly two decades with sales in excess of 2.5 million albums in Australia alone. Winner of 16 ARIA Awards, the band holds an unprecedented three successive ARIA Awards for Album of the Year. Powderfinger has achieved five No. 1 ARIA Album Chart debuts and their 7th studio album, Golden Rule, was released to critical acclaim in November, 2009, debuting at No. 1 and spawning the radio and chart hits, All of the Dreamers and Burn Your Name. Powderfinger will embark on their Sunsets Farewell tour in September, performing to over 250,000 people.

On receiving their fifth ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Powderfinger said "What better send off could a band want than to be top of the charts in their final year, on their final album ... hang on, what are we doing, calling it a day? Are we crazy?"

Angus & Julia Stone: Down The Way - Album (EMI)
Released: 12 March, 2010 | No. 1: 22 and 29 March, 2010 - 2 weeks
Angus & Julia Stone's self-produced, 2nd album, Down the Way, was a 'welcome back to their seductive world' according to The Daily Telegraph. The album debuted at No. 1 in March and after 2 months reached platinum sales and is so far the highest selling Australian Artist Album for 2010. Travelling has been an integral part of the Stone's musical story and the first part of the year saw the two selling out shows all around the world. They will head out for another tour around the world starting with their biggest Australian tour to date in August/September.

On receiving their first ARIA #1 Chart Award today, the siblings shouted out “big love to all the people who have been with us along the way�.

John Butler Trio: April Uprising - Album (MGM)
Released: 19 March, 2010 | No. 1: 5 April, 2010 - 1 week
April Uprising is the third consecutive No. 1 album debut for the John Butler Trio. With the album distributed by MGM and released on Jarrah Records, the independent label owned and operated by John, he continues to pave the way for independent artists in Australia and this achievement reinforces John Butler as Australia's leading independent artist.

On receiving their third ARIA #1 Chart Award today, John Butler said "I'm truly rapt about the number 1 debut for April Uprising!!! It's VERY bloody cool to say the least and is something I never take for granted. It gives me a lot of faith in what good songs and great fans can do and I'm really humbled that I can continue to have such a fruitful career. I have a lot to thank my amazing fans for and a big thank you goes out to all my team who were also a huge part in making this dream a reality."

Brian McFadden: Just Say So - Single (UMA)
Released: 9 April, 2010 | No. 1: 19, 26 April and 3 May, 2010 - 3 weeks
It's certainly been a big year for Brian McFadden! His single, Just Say So, went to No. 1, he was a judge on Australia's Got Talent, and he turned 30. In between his other gig as part time Austereo announcer, frequent trips to Europe and the US, Brian also found time to step up and make the Wall Of Soundz album, working with people such as Kevin Rudolf, Christian Lo Russo and, of course, Delta Goodrem.

On receiving his first ARIA #1 Chart Award today, Brian McFadden said "I'm very honoured to accept my first ARIA No. 1 for Just Say So. I'm thankful to everyone in Australia who has embraced me and my music."

Cog: The Sound Of Three / Twelve Years With You - DVD (UMA)
Released: 21 May, 2010 | No. 1: 31 May, 2010 - 1 week
COG are a truly progressive band, one driven by sheer will, a tenacious belief in themselves, and an uncompromising musicality. From their beginnings in Bondi over 12 years ago, Flynn, Luke & Lucius have taken their music around the country playing to thousands of satisfied fans. There is no other band in Australia that can deliver a performance like COG.

On receiving their first ARIA #1 Chart Award, Cog said “To be recognised with our first No. 1 is a huge honour and extremely satisfying after nearly 12 years of great times on the road and in the studio�.

Crowded House: Intriguer– Album (UMA)
Released: 11 June, 2010 | No. 1: 21 June, 2010 - 1 week
The highly anticipated and critically acclaimed 6th studio album from Crowded House, Intriguer, is the 5th time the band has topped the ARIA Albums Chart, giving them a cumulative total of 14 weeks on top of the Australian chart. Intriguer follows 2007's Time On Earth, which hit No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand, and No. 3 in the UK. It was a continuation of the legacy created by such music milestones as Crowded House, Woodface, Together Alone and Recurring Dream. These albums have together accounted for career sales of more than 10 million, produced such global hits as Don’t Dream It's Over, Something So Strong and Weather With You, and created Crowded House's reputation as one of the most compelling bands in the world.

On receiving their ARIA #1 Chart Award for Intriguer, Neil Finn said "It's a thrill and an honour to be receiving an Award from ARIA for a number one record in Australia. We could never take for granted or fail to appreciate our special relationship with the Australian audience, the good people who continue to support us and keep our songs alive ... thank you one and all."

The winners of the 2009 ARIA Awards were announced last night at a dazzling event held at Sydney's Acer Arena with EMPIRE OF THE SUN storming the winner's scoreboard and LADYHAWKE and AC/DC close behind. Other prestigious winners at the Australian music night of nights were a mix of well established artists and debut winners including JOSH PYKE, SARAH BLASKO, CW STONEKING, THE PRESETS, HILLTOP HOODS, TROY CASSAR-DALEY, THE WIGGLES and more.

Luke Steele (pictured) and Nick Littlemore's EMPIRE OF THE SUN has capped off an incredible year of worldwide chart success and critically acclaimed live appearances by taking home an impressive four ARIA Awards from the 2009 ceremony. They swept the main categories with their instant classic debut album Walking on a Dream which took out the Awards for BEST POP RELEASE, BEST GROUP and the coveted title of ALBUM OF THE YEAR. The effervescent single of the same name garnered the prestigious SINGLE OF THE YEAR. Already awarded BEST VIDEO (Josh Logue for Mathematics), BEST COVER ART (Aaron Hayward & David Homer - Debaser) and PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (with Donnie Sloan and Peter Mayes) at the ARIA Artisan Awards, EMPIRE OF THE SUN's phenomenal success has shown the true creative prowess of these princes of pop!

Multi-instrumentalist LADYHAWKE (aka Pip Brown) has been catapulted into the spotlight in the past year and tonight won the ARIA for BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST ALBUM for the moody electro-pop of her self-titled debut album, and followed up with the ARIA Award for BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST SINGLE for the driving dance anthem My Delirium. Praised for separating "the synths from the sequins" (NME) Ladyhawke has created an 80s pop sound that goes beyond stylings of fashion and fame, and carries its success on the back of striking song writing.

The second dual winner at the 2009 ARIA Awards, AC/DC received the honour for BEST ROCK ALBUM for their sixteenth studio album Black Ice, which was also awarded the triangular trophy for HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM. Black Ice was the band's first album after an eight year absence, and saw them again crack the number one spot on charts around the world, proving this iconic Australian rock'n'roll band is still very much larger than life.

Australian Idol runner up JESSICA MAUBOY snapped up her very first ARIA for HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE for the track Running Back, featuring Flo Rida and taken from her platinum selling debut album Been Waiting.

The ARIA for BEST MALE ARTIST went to R&B singer-songwriter DANIEL MERRIWEATHER for his debut album Love & War, on which he collaborated with Mark Ronson and achieved the astonishing feat of entering the UK Album charts at number two. A previous ARIA Award winner in 2005 (Best Urban Release for She's Got Me), Merriweather's second career ARIA Award recognises his immense creative talent and distinctive take on beats and bluesy soul.

Sydney-based songstress SARAH BLASKO's album, As Day Follows Night, earned her the 2009 ARIA for BEST FEMALE ARTIST. Produced by Bjorn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) and described as "equal parts whimsy and heartbreak" (Triple J), Blasko's third long player sees her progress to a new pinnacle of maturity, innovation and synthesis in her song writing career.

The ARIA Award for BEST URBAN RELEASE went to acclaimed South Australian trio, the HILLTOP HOODS for their 5th studio album State of the Art, which also garnered member DJ Debris the ARIA Artisan Award for ENGINEER OF THE YEAR. The Hoods have a solid history of success in this category with previous wins in 2006 (The Hard Road) and 2007 (The Hard Road Restrung). The incredibly successful 2008 ARIA Award winning album Apocalypso by THE PRESETS is still turning over the hits, with their killer, bouncing electro track Talk Like That winning the 2009 ARIA for BEST DANCE RELEASE.

A former ARIA nominee in 2007 for his debut album King Hokum, the extraordinary C.W. STONEKING has received his first ARIA Award in the category BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM for his haunting LP Jungle Blues. With musical influences spanning pre-war blues, jazz, 1920s calypso and folklore, Stoneking's personal experience looms large in the works, with Jungle Blues inspired in part by his experience as a survivor of a shipwreck off Africa's West Coast.

An Award veteran and remarkable country music talent TROY CASSAR-DALEY received his 4th career ARIA Award honour of BEST COUNTRY ALBUM for his LP I Love This Place. Co-produced by Rod McCormack, his album of heartfelt songs delves into a rich history of the Australian bush and celebrates the lives of those living, learning and loving in the outback. With 16 number one singles, 14 Golden Guitars, 7 Deadlys (Indigenous artist awards) and 4 CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Entertainer of the Year awards Cassar-Daley is truly one of the most successful artists this country has produced.

An ARIA Award winner in this category in 2007 for his debut album Memories and Dust JOSH PYKE has once again emerged victorious, winning BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM for his acclaimed Chimney's Afire, while BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE was awarded to BERTIE BLACKMAN for the darkly-tinged electro melodies of her third studio album Secrets and Lies, an album which also won Best Breakthrough Artist at the 2009 AIR Awards.

Her music has been featured on hit US television shows Six Feet Under and Grey's Anatomy, now Adelaide-born artist SIA has been awarded the ARIA for BEST DVD for her very own debut audio visual effort TV Is My Parent, which includes a live concert recorded in New York 2007, plus music videos along with behind the scenes videos from her 2008 North American tour.

Meanwhile, kid's favourite across Australia and the world, THE WIGGLES have won the title of BEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM with their release The Wiggles Go Bananas! bringing the group's tally to a massive eight ARIA Awards in this category over their career history.

And finally in a year where Australia's kings of comedy HAMISH AND ANDY traveled not only across airwaves but across countries, they've finished up 2009 by taking out the category of BEST COMEDY RELEASE with their double album of radio show highlights featuring pranks, sketches, songs and adventures around the world, Unessential Listening.

Again highlighting the depth and diversity of immense talent across all genres of the Australian music community, ARIA congratulates all winners in the 2009 ARIA Awards.

Please see full list of winners below.

The 2009 ARIA AWARDS featured live performances by The Temper Trap, Sarah Blasko, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Mitchell, Empire of The Sun, Ladyhawke, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, Keith Urban and the one and only Robbie Williams. Kate Ritchie and Gyton Grantley hosted the Awards and were joined by special guest presenters: Missy Higgins, Orianthi, Ruby Rose, Powderfinger, Guy Sebastian, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Vanessa Amorosi.

2009 ARIA Awards Winners

Album of the Year
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Single of the Year
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist Album
Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke (Modular Recordings)

Breakthrough Artist Single
Ladyhawke - My Delirium (Modular Recordings)

Best Group
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Female Artist
Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night (Dew Process)

Best Male Artist
Daniel Merriweather - Love & War (Universal Music Australia)

Best Rock Album
AC/DC - Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Pop Release
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Urban Release
Hilltop Hoods - State of the Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)

Best Dance Release
The Presets - Talk Like That (Modular Recordings)

Best Blues & Roots Album
C.W. Stoneking - Jungle Blues (King Hokum Records/Shock)

Best Country Album
Troy Cassar-Daley - I Love This Place (Liberation Music)

Best Independent Release
Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies (Forum 5/MGM)

Best Adult Contemporary Album
Josh Pyke - Chimney's Afire (Ivy League Records)

Best DVD
Sia - TV is my Parent (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

Best Children's Album
The Wiggles - The Wiggles Go Bananas! (ABC Music)

Best Comedy Release
Hamish and Andy - Unessential Listening (Roadshow Music/Sony Music Entertainment)

Highest Selling Single
Jessica Mauboy - Running Back (Sony)

Highest Selling Album
AC/DC - Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)

2009 ARIA Awards Artisan Winners

Best Cover Art
Aaron Hayward & David Homer - Debaser - Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Video
Josh Logue for Mathematics - Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Engineer of the Year * Note two equal winners *
DJ Debris - Hilltop Hoods, State Of The Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
Greg Wales - You Am I, Dilettantes (Virgin/EMI Music Australia)

Producer of the Year
Empire Of The Sun and Donnie Sloan with Peter Mayes - Empire Of The Sun, Walking on A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

2009 ARIA Fine Arts Awards Winners

Best Classical Album
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra/Paul Dyer - Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (ABC Classics/Universal Music Australia)

Best Jazz Album
Katie Noonan - Blackbird (Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album
Soundtrack - Balibo (ABC Music/Universal Music Australia)

Best World Music Album
Seaman Dan - Sailing Home (Steady Steady Music/MGM)

All the winners listed here as they're announced, direct from Acer Arena.

Jessica Mauboy kicks off the awards, winning the Highest Selling Single for Running Back.

Sia wins the ARIA Award for Best Music DVD for TV Is My Parent.

The ARIA award for Best Urban Release goes to Hilltop Hoods for their Album State Of The Art.

The award for Highest Selling Album goes to AC/DC for Black Ice.

And AC/DC pick up their second ARIA award for the night, this time winning Best Rock Album for Black Ice.

The award for Best Dance Release goes to The Presets for Talk Like That.

Empire Of The Sun have just won the Best Pop Release ARIA award for Walking On A Dream.

The Best Country Album award goes to Troy Cassar-Daley (pictured) for I Love This Place.

The ARIA for Breakthrough Artist Single has just been won by Ladyhawke for My Delirium.

Ladyhawke wins her second ARIA Award for the night, this time picking up Breakthrough Artist Album for her self-titled album.

The ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album goes to Josh Pyke for his album Chimney's Afire.

Hamish & Andy just won the Best Comedy Album ARIA for their album Unessential Listening.

The award for Best Children's Album goes to The Wiggles for Go Bananas!.

Best Independent Release has been won by Bertie Blackman for Secrets and Lies.

Daniel Merriweather wins the ARIA for Best Male Artist for his album Love & War.

The ARIA award for Best Blue's & Roots Album goes to C.W.Stoneking for Jungle Blues.

Empire Of The Sun have just won their second ARIA, this time for Best Group.

Best Female Artist has been awarded to Sarah Blasko for her album As Day Follows Night.

The Single of the Year has been awarded to Empire Of The Sun for Walking On A Dream.

Empire Of The Sun have done it again, this time winning the award for Album of the Year for Walking On A Dream, taking their tally for the night to four ARIAs.

ARIA congratulates all the nominees and winners in the 2009 ARIA Awards.

The 2009 ARIA Awards are underway. Check out the gallery for all the Red Carpet photos.

With the star spangled evening within breathing distance, ARIA can announce the full list of presenters and performers who will take to the stage at this year's event.

He's already been announced to perform at this year's ARIAs, and now we can confirm that international superstar Robbie Williams will also be presenting an ARIA at the Awards. And it seems Robbie has a few favourites in the Australian media landscape, putting in a special request for Rove to join him as a double-act in stepping up to the plinth to present an ARIA together! Rove, of course, was delighted to accept the personal invitation and will join Robbie on stage at the event.

From the house of Triple J we welcome the Breakfast team of Robbie Buck, Marieke & The Doctor who will stay up late on Thursday night, to help out with the pointy end of proceedings at the 2009 ARIAs.

Having recently wrapped up Australian Idol for 2009, Andrew G will again undertake presentation duties at the ARIA Awards, and joining him will be legendary Australian rock'n'roller Jimmy Barnes. In 2009 Barnesy released his fifteenth solo studio album, The Rhythm and The Blues, which reached number one on the ARIA charts and is about to reform with Cold Chisel to play at the V8 Supercar event at ANZ Stadium in December.

Comedian Tim Ross (Rosso) will form a different duo at this year's ARIA Awards, appearing on stage alongside Perth-born singer-songwriter Cassie Davis who has just released her fourth single No More taken from her debut album, Differently.

The roll call of stars continues with salt of the earth singer songwriter John Butler, who is set to release the highly anticipated first single One Way Road from his forthcoming album April Uprising. And we welcome an artist who has enjoyed incredible mainstream success in Australia and in the USA, Keith Urban. Urban, who is nominated for his album Defying Gravity in the category for Best Country Album, is also performing at this year's Awards.

We also welcome two gracious Getaway hosts with the most in 2008 Cleo Batchelor of the Year Jason Dundas and the gregarious Natalie Gruzlewski, who has also been hosting Channel Nine TV show, Farmer Wants a Wife.

Finally, former ARIA winner and 2009 ARIA nominee for his album Love & War, Daniel Merriweather will step out in his inimitable style to appear at this year's event, as will the multi-talented TV and radio host and all round great guy Jabba. And Channel Nine’s entertainment guru Richard Wilkins will be presenting alongside Australian country music superstar Lee Kernaghan at tomorrow night's spectacular show.

These presenters join the already announced: Ruby Rose, Missy Higgins, Powderfinger, Orianthi, Guy Sebastian, Vanessa Amorosi, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and ARIA Awards hosts Gyton Grantley and Kate Ritchie.

For the first time in the twenty-three year history of the ARIA Awards, music lovers will be able to purchase and download recordings of the live music performances from the Australian iTunes store.

The 2009 ARIA Awards playlist is available on iTunes now for pre-order and from Tuesday, 1 December, fans will be able to download individual songs. All proceeds from the sale of the live digital tracks will be donated to local charity, Youth beyond blue, the youth arm of beyond blue: the national depression initiative.

Australia’s leading digital music provider – iTunes, digital distributor - Musicadium, and ARIA have worked together to make this initiative a reality, with all partners donating their services in support of Youth beyond blue.

With the 2009 ARIA Awards now just days away, ARIA is excited to announce the initial lineup of presenters who will be joining the stellar cast for the evening's ceremony and celebrations.

Stepping up alongside the ARIA Awards hosts Gyton Grantley (pictured) and Kate Ritchie will be some of this country's finest music artists, including the darling of Australian pop music and multi ARIA Award winner, Missy Higgins. After touring her album On a Clear Night throughout the USA in 2009, she returns to Sydney and the ARIA Awards, this time on other side of the dais as an Award presenter.

Touted as one of Australia’s sexiest people and winner of the Favourite Female Personality at the 2009 ASTRA Awards, Sydney’s 'It girl' of the moment, Ruby Rose will take time out from her MTV hosting duties to present at the ARIA Awards. Joining Ruby will be guitar wunderkind Orianthi. No stranger to the big stage, at 24 years of age she has played with the likes of Steve Vai and Carlos Santana. Most recently she was invited a member of Michael Jackson's band for the This Is It tour. Together Ruby Rose and Orianthi will present the ARIA for Best Urban Release.

Bathing in the success of two-platinum singles and her chart topping debut solo album 1000 Stars alongside an acclaimed turn as host of So You Think You Can Dance for the last two seasons, Natalie Bassingthwaighte will lend her star-power to the evening's proceedings.

And the roll call of exceptional ladies from the Australian music scene continues with Melbournian songstress Vanessa Amorosi on board to grace the stage at this year's ARIAs. Amorosi has recently achieved her very first number one ARIA chart single This is Who I Am, from her brand new album
Hazardous.

One of the country's most loved singers, Guy Sebastian, will also appear at the event. His recently released single from the album of the same name, Like It Like That, has given the pop hero his fourth number one single in Australia whilst the album has ensured Guy his fifth consecutive top 10 album result.

And last but certainly not least, we are proud to announce that one of this country's favourite rock bands, who have racked up a massive total of fifteen ARIA Awards over the years, Powderfinger, will join the 2009 line up to present the ARIA Award for Best Group. They've just released their sixth studio album Golden Rule, which has landed straight at number one on today's ARIA Album Chart, and from it the first single and rebel yell of All of the Dreamers.

These presenters will join the crème de la crème of Australian music artists confirmed to perform at the 2009 ARIA Awards: The Temper Trap, Sarah Blasko, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lisa Mitchell, Empire of The Sun, Ladyhawke, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, Keith Urban and the one and only Robbie Williams. The 2009 ARIA Awards will be the telecast on the Nine Network from 8.30 on the evening of Thursday, 26 November, followed by an encore screening on MTV on Friday, 27 November at 5.30pm.

The winners for the 2009 ARIA Artisan and Fine Arts Awards were announced this afternoon at a combined event in Sydney's iconic The Rocks. As a prelude to this year's ARIA Awards, to be held on Thursday 26th November, the Artisan Awards recognise the outstanding achievements in Australian production, engineering, videography and graphic design, while the Fine Arts Awards celebrate the finest Australian Jazz, Classical, World Music and Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show albums of the year.

This year the Artisan Awards have been dominated by creatives who contributed to the psychedelic pop experience, Empire Of The Sun (pictured). The prestigious honour of Producer of the Year was awarded to Empire Of The Sun and Donnie Sloan with Peter Mayes for their work on the classic debut album Walking On A Dream. Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore teamed up with South Australian pop wunderkind Donnie Sloan (producer and bass player for Sneaky Sound System amongst others), and Peter Mayes (member of Pnau alongside Littlemore) to produce an album that has captured imaginations, hearts and dance-floors around the world.

Artwork from Walking On A Dream was recognised in the category of Best Cover Art with multi-ARIA Award winners Aaron Hayward & David Homer of Debaser, receiving their 3rd Award in this category, for the intergalactic images that graced the album sleeve. The Debaser team has developed artwork and imagery for many Australian and New Zealand artists, including Tim Finn, The Cat Empire, Pete Murray, Something For Kate and Paul Kelly, and has previously won ARIA Artisan Awards for their work on the multi-platinum albums Dream Days At The Hotel Existence from Powderfinger, and Bernard Fanning's Tea & Sympathy.

Josh Logue of the multi award winning production house Mathematics, received an ARIA Artisan nod for Best Video for his direction of Empire of the Sun's film clip Walking On A Dream. For this video they took Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore’s quirky threads and theatrics to the hazy streets of Shanghai to capture the ethereal feel of this infectious pop song. Josh Logue, together with his partner Louise Davis, have made clips for Hilltop Hoods, Architecture in Helsinki, Empire of the Sun, The Living End, Kisschasy and many more.

This year the category of Engineer of the Year rounded out with two equal winners who worked with very different genres of music. Hilltop Hoods member, DJ Debris (Barry Francis) has been recognised for his work on State Of The Art, the follow up to their 2006 ARIA Award winning album, The Hard Road. Also lauded for his work in the studio is Sydney engineer extraordinaire Greg Wales who engineered and produced You Am I's eighth album Dilettantes. Wales has become a fixture of the Australian music scene and successfully guided many artists including Radio Birdman, The Clouds, Cog, The Living End and Magic Dirt, through the intricacies of the recording and mixing process.

The 2009 ARIA Fine Arts Award winners showcase a stunning array of brilliant releases from classical, jazz, soundtrack and world music.

Best Classical Album was awarded to Australia's finest period-instrument orchestra the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (Artistic Director Paul Dyer) for their release, Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6. Recorded over 4 years, this recording is a collection of the complete Opus 6 Concerto Grossi (concertos for a small group of soloists) and is a triumphant homage to one of the towering musical talents of the baroque – George Frederick Handel.

Meanwhile, Australia's favourite Jazz chanteuse Katie Noonan has continued to impress with her releases, receiving the Award for Best Jazz Album for Blackbird – The Music of Lennon & McCartney, a collection songs recorded in New York and backed by the cream of veteran jazz players including Grammy award winning renowned saxophonist Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Lewis Nash and Melbourne-based keyboard player Sam Keevers. This is Katie’s fourth ARIA Award.

The soundtrack to the political thriller Balibo took out the category of Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album. The music from the film Balibo combines an original score by internationally renowned Australian composer Lisa Gerrard, with powerful traditional Timorese songs including the evocative Balibo from East Timorese artist Ego Lemos. Additional music from Balibo was composed by Marcello de Franchesci, Timor Kmanek Foun, Alexandrino Da Costa & Jose Mesquita, Anin Murak Choir, Osme Gonsalves, Sam Petty and the Dili Allstars.

And at the grand age of 80 years, legendary Torres Strait Island singer-songwriter Seaman Dan has received the ARIA Fine Arts Award for Best World Music Album for his fifth album Sailing Home. The album, which he says will be his last, is a celebration of his deep and ongoing relationship with the sea. Seaman Dan was an ARIA Music Award winner in this category in 2004 for his album Perfect Pearl.

ARIA, together with Events NSW, would like to congratulate all winners.

2009 ARIA Awards Artisan Winners

Best Cover Art
Aaron Hayward & David Homer – Debaser – Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Best Video
Josh Logue for Mathematics – Empire Of The Sun, Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

Engineer of the Year – * Note two equal winners *
DJ Debris – Hilltop Hoods, State Of The Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
Greg Wales – You Am I, Dilettantes (Virgin/EMI Music Australia)

Producer of the Year
Empire Of The Sun and Donnie Sloan with Peter Mayes – Empire Of The Sun, Walking on A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)

2009 ARIA Fine Arts Awards Winners

Best Classical Album
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra/Paul Dyer – Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (ABC Classics/Universal Music Australia)

Best Jazz Album
Katie Noonan – Blackbird (Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album
Soundtrack – Balibo (ABC Music/Universal Music Australia)

Best World Music Album
Seaman Dan – Sailing Home (Steady Steady Music/MGM)

The 2009 Fine Arts & Artisan Awards event kicks off 12 noon tomorrow at Events NSW, The Rocks.

The Australian music industry is gearing up for the first component of this year's ARIA Awards, with the 2009 ARIA Artisan and Fine Arts Awards set to take place as a combined event for the first time on Tuesday 10 November at Events NSW in Sydney's iconic The Rocks.

The Artisan and Fine Arts Awards will comprise four awards under each bracket, with a total of eight awards to be presented on the day. Exceptional achievements in Australian Production, Engineering, Videography and Graphic Design are recognized by the Artisan Awards, while the Fine Arts Awards celebrate the best homegrown Jazz, Classical, World Music and Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show albums of the year.

This year the Fine Arts Awards will see favorite Australian songstresses Kate Ceberano and Katie Noonan (pictured) battle it out in the category of BEST JAZZ ALBUM, with the soundtracks of ABC series East Of Everything and acclaimed films Balibo and Samson & Delilah all nominated for BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM.

ARIA is thrilled to announce leading Australian personalities Gyton Grantley and Kate Ritchie (pictured) as the hosts for this year's 23rd annual ARIA Awards ceremony, set to take place on Thursday 26 November at Acer Arena in Sydney.

Both avid music lovers, Gyton and Kate will appear onstage together for the first time to present Australia's premier music event, which will feature highly anticipated performances from Empire Of The Sun, The Temper Trap, Keith Urban and international superstar Robbie Williams among many others.

Recent AFI and Logie winner, Gyton Grantley has established himself as one of Australia's pre-eminent acting talents via high profile roles in the original Underbelly TV series, The Comedy Channel’s 30 Seconds, and the recent cinema release Balibo.

Kate Ritchie, long-established as one of Australia's most loved TV personalities, is well ensconced in her Nova 969 radio co-hosting role, keeping the boys company on Nova 969's breakfast show, Merrick & Rosso & Kate Ritchie.

Presenters for this year's Awards ceremony will be revealed over the coming weeks, adding to what already promises to be a spectacular and unique event that will be staged 'In the Round' for the first time.

The 2009 ARIA Awards will be the telecast on the Nine Network from 8.30 on the evening of Thursday, 26 November, followed by an encore screening on MTV on Friday, 27 November at 5.30pm. General public tickets to attend the 2009 ARIA Awards are still available via Ticketek or phone 132 849.

ARIA is thrilled to announce the final Australian performer at the 23rd annual ARIA Awards, with the inclusion of The Temper Trap into the lineup of live music performances. This finalises what is set to be an extraordinary night of entertainment when the Australian music industry's favourite event rolls around on Thursday 26 November at Acer Arena.

In a massive coup for organisers, The Temper Trap, who relocated to the UK in April this year, have confirmed that they’ll take a break from their UK and European tour to return home for their first performance on Australian soil since the release of their debut album Conditions. The Melbourne indie four-piece have taken the world by storm since the release of Conditions with the album to date reaching #9 in Australia and #26 in the UK. Their single Sweet Disposition has had a massive impact in the UK, shooting up the Radio 1 playlist to become their #2 most played song, ensuring Sweet Disposition a #6 spot on the singles chart and sales in excess of 160,000 units.

The Temper Trap step up to the plate at their first ARIA Awards with an impressive four nominations in the categories of BEST ROCK ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – ALBUM, SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Sweet Disposition) and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

The Temper Trap will share the stage with a stellar lineup of homegrown artists including Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy, Hilltop Hoods, Empire Of The Sun, Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ladyhawke and international pop icon Robbie Williams, who will perform his new single Bodies.

Gold Industry tickets to the 2009 ARIA Awards have sold out! With only five weeks to go to the big night, Platinum and Silver tickets are selling fast. Make sure that you don't miss out on the Australian music industry's night of nights by ordering your tickets now. Click here to download the order form.

The second group of Australian performers to take the stage at the 2009 ARIA Awards has been confirmed, adding to what promises to be a spectacular evening when the Australian music industry celebrates its night of nights on Thursday 26 November at Acer Arena.

These artists will share the spotlight with a fantastic lineup of homegrown performers including Empire of The Sun, Hilltop Hoods, Jessica Mauboy, Keith Urban and international superstar Robbie Williams.

Now confirmed ...

SARAH BLASKO, LISA MITCHELL & KATE MILLER-HEIDKE:
In a massive coup, three of Australia's leading female artists will grace the stage in succession to give us a one off performance. Receiving three ARIA Awards nominations apiece, these charming singer/songwriters are sure to put on a show of vocal talent that is not to be missed.

SARAH BLASKO is no stranger to the ARIA Awards, having received eight nominations and one win for her first two albums. She returns this year with nominations for BEST FEMALE ARTIST, ALBUM OF THE YEAR and BEST POP RELEASE, which she took home back in 2007 for her second album What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have. Her captivating third album As Day Follows Night sees her pushing boundaries, highlighting her diversity as an artist. It's an awakening of sorts that has not only impressed the ARIA Academy but has also scored her a J Award nomination for Australian Album of the Year.

KATE MILLER-HEIDKE caps off a huge year with nods for BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BEST POP RELEASE and SINGLE OF THE YEAR for her hauntingly beautiful track The Last Day On Earth, from her platinum selling top 3 album Curiouser. She took out the esteemed International Songwriting Competition for her tune Caught In The Crowd in May, while her song Can't Shake It was nominated for an APRA song of the year award.

LISA MITCHELL scores her first ever ARIA Award nominations for her debut album, in three categories including BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – SINGLE (Coin Laundry) and BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – ALBUM, for her glorious debut album Wonder. It has received accolades from critics Australia-wide and cements this young talent as a star on the rise and one to watch in the coming years.

LADYHAWKE:
Nominated for a huge five ARIA Awards for her self-titled album, Ladyhawke will show us why she's been named one of the most exciting artists this year when she brings her danceable grooves to the Awards arena. Her nominations include BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BEST POP RELEASE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST – SINGLE (My Delirium) and SINGLE OF THE YEAR.

General Public tickets go on sale today, October 16, through Ticketek.

The first four Australian performers at the 2009 ARIA Awards have been confirmed, set to grace the stage alongside international superstar performer Robbie Williams at the music industry's premier event on Thursday, 26 November at Acer Arena.

In alphabetical order, they are:

EMPIRE OF THE SUN (pictured):

Nominated for six ARIA Awards including BEST GROUP, BEST POP RELEASE, SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Walking On A Dream), HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM, HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN SINGLE (Walking On A Dream) and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

HILLTOP HOODS:

The Adelaide hip-hop outfit and two-time ARIA Award winners have been nominated in four award categories this year - BEST GROUP, BEST URBAN ALBUM, HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM and SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Chase That Feeling).

JESSICA MAUBOY:

The diminutive pop singer has scored seven nods for her debut album Been Waiting - BEST POP RELEASE, BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (Running Back), HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM and a double-nomination in the HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN SINGLE category for Running Back and Burn.

KEITH URBAN:

A true Aussie international success story, the former ARIA Award winner is set to return home and rip up the stage with an amazing country/rock live performance. Keith's album Defying Gravity has been nominated in the category for BEST COUNTRY ALBUM.

With Robbie Williams confirmed to perform his new single Bodies, a further three performance slots will be announced in the coming weeks.

Industry tickets for the 2009 ARIA Awards are now on sale and can be ordered via the form which you can download from the Industry Tickets page.

Industry tickets always sell out, so we encourage you to place your orders quickly. Note that payment is required at the time of ordering, and tickets are not held until payment is received in full.

For all enquiries please contact Neha Potalia.

Awards Ceremony to be Presented 'IN THE ROUND' for the first time.

Nominations for the 2009 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards have been announced, and they include a stellar line-up of the country's brightest emerging and established artists. Capping off what's been an incredible year for Australian music, the 2009 nominees highlight the strength and vitality of our diverse musical talent. Contenders across the Award's 28 categories include newcomers Lisa Mitchell and The Temper Trap, pop darlings Jessica Mauboy and Sarah Blasko, indie-electro outfit Empire Of The Sun, and rock legends AC/DC, along with many more across an exciting array of musical genres.

The 2009 ARIA Awards will return to original TV broadcast partner Channel 9 this year, where music fans will be able to catch the telecast from 8.30pm on the evening of Thursday, 26 November, followed by an encore screening on MTV on Friday, 27 November at 5.30pm. With the line-up of Australian performers still a closely guarded secret, international superstar Robbie Williams is the first confirmed performance, gearing up for a spectacular rendition of his new single Bodies.

This year's Awards ceremony will be staged In the Round for the first time, promising a TV event and delivery of musical performances unlike any before.

Emerging artists and first-time ARIA Award nominees once again lead the nominations field, with three standing apart from the crowd. Pop princess and Idol alumni Jessica Mauboy blitzes the nominations with seven nods for her debut album Been Waiting, which has achieved double-platinum sales to date. The 20 year old from Darwin is nominated for BEST POP RELEASE, BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (Running Back), HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM and an impressive double nomination in the HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN SINGLE category for Running Back and Burn.

Nominated for six ARIA Awards is powerhouse duo Empire Of The Sun with their first album Walking On A Dream. The dynamic partnership between The Sleepy Jackson's Luke Steele and Pnau's Nick Littlemore has borne one of the year's most exciting releases, and one that has wowed fans and critics alike. They make their ARIA Awards debut with nominations for BEST GROUP, BEST POP RELEASE, SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Walking On A Dream), HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM, HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN SINGLE (Walking On A Dream) and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

Receiving five nominations for her self-titled album is livewire Ladyhawke (aka Pip Brown), who steps up to the plate at her first ARIA Awards with nominations for BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BEST POP RELEASE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM and BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (My Delirium) and SINGLE OF THE YEAR. Ladyhawke's danceable grooves and catchy hooks have seen her skyrocket from obscurity in the past year, becoming a festival favourite in Australia and around the world.

Up for an impressive four nominations is Melbourne indie four-piece The Temper Trap with their debut album Conditions. They make their first ARIA Awards appearance with four nominations in the categories of BEST ROCK ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM, SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Sweet Disposition) and ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

Australian rock legends AC/DC have had a massive twelve months with the release of their first new album in eight years, Black Ice. They're back with four ARIA Award nominations under the belt for HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM, BEST ROCK ALBUM, BEST GROUP, and the all-important ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

Towards the other end of the musical spectrum is Adelaide hip hop outfit the Hilltop Hoods, whose fifth studio album State Of The Art shot straight to No.1 on the ARIA Album Chart on release in June. The two-time ARIA Award winners are this year nominated for four awards in the categories of BEST GROUP, BEST URBAN ALBUM, HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM and SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Chase That Feeling).

Hokum blues singer/songwriter C.W. Stoneking chalks up three nods for his album Jungle Blues in the categories of BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM, BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE and BEST MALE ARTIST. Stoneking, who was born in Katherine and raised in the Aboriginal community of Papunya, has received widespread critical acclaim for his debut release.

Receiving three nominations for her third album As Day Follows Night is the enchanting Sarah Blasko. She is nominated for BEST FEMALE ARTIST, ALBUM OF THE YEAR and BEST POP RELEASE, which she took home back in 2007 for her sophomore album What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have.

The lovely Lisa Mitchell has moved from strength to strength since appearing on Australian Idol in 2006, culminating in the release of her glorious debut album Wonder. She receives her first ARIA Award nominations in three categories including BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (Coin Laundry) and BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM.

Joining Sarah Blasko and Lisa Mitchell is fellow singer/songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, who also receives three nominations for BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BEST POP RELEASE and SINGLE OF THE YEAR for her hauntingly beautiful track The Last Day On Earth. This tops off a huge year for Kate, having won the esteemed International Songwriting Competition for her tune Caught In The Crowd in May.

No strangers to ARIA Awards success are Perth trio Eskimo Joe, who score three nominations for their fourth studio album Inshalla. They receive a nod for ALBUM OF THE YEAR, and will battle it out with fellow rockers The Drones in two categories for BEST ROCK ALBUM and BEST GROUP. The Drones are also up for BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE for their album Havilah, cementing their status as one of the country's hottest talents.

Receiving ARIA Award nominations for BEST MALE ARTIST and BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM are pop crooners Josh Pyke, Bob Evans and Paul Dempsey. Josh Pyke's No.1 album Chimney's Afire has catapulted him into the spotlight since its release in October last year. Bob Evans (aka Kevin Mitchell of Jebediah fame) receives his second batch of ARIA Awards nominations for Goodnight, Bull Creek! while Paul Dempsey gains recognition for his first solo venture Everything Is True.

Dance outfits and former ARIA Award winners Sneaky Sound System and The Presets this year receive two nominations apiece. Both up for the BEST DANCE RELEASE award, Sneaky Sound System also receive a nod for BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE for their sophomore album 2 while The Presets grab a nomination in the category of HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM for Apocalypso.

The 2009 ARIA Awards also sees debut nominations for an array of artists including Wes Carr, Tommy Trash, Zoe Badwi, Astronomy Class, Horrorshow, Pez, Phrase, Bertie Blackman, Dappled Cities, Art Vs Science, Bluejuice and Daniel Merriweather alongside established and previously nominated artists Pete Murray, The Waifs, Evermore, Jet, Little Birdy, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daley, Ash Grunwald, Hook N Sling, and Jimmy Barnes.

For the full list of nominees in all 2009 ARIA Awards categories, click here.

The 2009 ARIA Awards will take place on Thursday, 26 November 2009 at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.

General Public tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday October 16, from Ticketek Ticketek or Phone 132 849. Click here here for more information.

Industry tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday October 9. For all enquiries please contact Neha Potalia. For more information on industry tickets, click here.

ARIA, in conjunction with EMI MUSIC AUSTRALIA, is thrilled to announce ROBBIE WILLIAMS as special guest performer at this year's 2009 ARIA Awards.

Music fans will be able to witness the only live Australian TV performance of Robbie's new single "Bodies" via the Nine Network's telecast of the 2009 ARIA Awards on the evening of 26th November, followed by an encore screening on MTV Networks Australia.

Tickets to the 2009 ARIA AWARDS go on sale to the general public on Friday October 16 at 9am and are expected to go quickly and sell to capacity. Click here for the Ticketek website or phone 132 849.

The details for the ARIA Awards, the biggest and best night in the Australian music industry calendar, have finally been announced. The 23rd ANNUAL ARIA AWARDS will be held on Thursday, 26th November 2009 at Sydney's Acer Arena.

The final five nominees in each category will be announced on Thursday, 8th October.

As always, tickets will be available to both industry and general public guests. General Public tickets will go on sale on Friday, October 16th through Ticketek. For information on Industry Tickets, click here.

On Thursday, August 27, ARIA proudly inducted John Paul Young, Kev Carmody, Little Pattie, Mental As Anything and The Dingoes into the annual ARIA Hall of Fame. The star-studded ceremony took place at Melbourne's Forum Theatre.

For more information, click here.

SOMETHING SWEET ABOUT CILMI!

Gabriella Cilmi and The Presets sweep the 2008 ARIA Awards

The winners of the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, have been announced and pop and electronic dance music have ruled the day in the form of multiple winners GABRIELLA CILMI and THE PRESETS. They join an eclectic group of ARIA Award recipients who include THE LIVING END, KASEY CHAMBERS and SHANE NICHOLSON, NICK CAVE and GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU, THE PANICS and BLISS N' ESO, among others.

In what is an extraordinary success story, vocal powerhouse GABRIELLA CILMI, a pop singer who had yet to emerge on the Australian music landscape this time last year, has taken out an incredible six ARIA Awards on the back of her debut album, Lessons To Be Learned, and her breakthrough smash hit single, Sweet About Me. The Melbourne-born, London-based Cilmi has received ARIA Awards in the categories of BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (Sweet About Me), BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM (Lessons to be Learned), BEST POP RELEASE (Lessons to be Learned), HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE (Sweet About Me) and the coveted ARIA Award for SINGLE OF THE YEAR for Sweet About Me. With the world at her feet, GABRIELLA CILMI's ARIA Awards triumph is nothing short of a phenomenal achievement for the Dandenong girl who has just celebrated her 17th birthday.

Electronic duo THE PRESETS has also had a cracking year with the release of their widely acclaimed second album Apocalypso. They fought off stiff competition in the prestigious categories of ALBUM OF THE YEAR and BEST GROUP to take out both for the hugely popular Apocalypso. The album has also seen THE PRESETS receive the pointy trophy in the category of BEST DANCE RELEASE taking their tally to three ARIA Awards (plus 2 ARIA Artisan Awards, including Producer of the Year for Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes). The self-produced Apocalypso, which spawned the gritty hit single My People, has sealed THE PRESETS as Australia's premiere electronic act.

The extraordinary rise of the gifted GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU continues with two ARIA Awards to his credit. Adding to the Award he received at the ARIA Fine Arts Awards for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM, he has received the ARIA Award in the category of BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM for his breathtaking solo debut album Gurrumul.

Viva La Rock! THE LIVING END has walked away with the ARIA Award for BEST ROCK ALBUM for the scorching White Noise - their fifth full length album and arguably their most successful to date. Also storming home with an ARIA Award, on the back of last year's rock epic Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!, an album recorded with his band THE BAD SEEDS, is NICK CAVE. The prophet of Australian rock n' roll, and 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame recipient, has been named BEST MALE ARTIST, an Award he also received in 2001.

Energetic hip-hop three piece BLISS N' ESO has scored the ARIA Award for BEST URBAN ALBUM for Flying Colours. Recorded at the famous Sing Sing studios in Melbourne, the album demonstrates Bliss N' Eso's artistic growth and evolving maturity, both through lyrics and production in what is widely regarded as their best and most dynamic work to date.

Receiving their first ever ARIA Award is THE PANICS, who have taken home the ARIA Award in the category of BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM for their infectious debut Cruel Guards. The album, which has received a heap of critical praise, also took out the coveted 2007 J Award.

Popular Melbourne outfit THE AUDREYS have won their second ARIA Award, again in the category of BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM. Their second album When The Flood Comes has been described as "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant"(Daily Telegraph, Sydney) and "Gorgeous" by music bible, Rolling Stone.

The songwriting partnership of KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON has proved to be a winning combination with the duo receiving an ARIA Award in the category of BEST COUNTRY ALBUM for their outstanding release Rattlin' Bones. And the divine DELTA GOODREM has added to her trophy cabinet by receiving the ARIA Award for HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM for her chart topping, smash hit, self-titled long player.

The DVD release from last year's massive Across The Great Divide tour, featuring rock heavyweights POWDERFINGER and SILVERCHAIR, has received the ARIA Award in the category of BEST MUSIC DVD.

The wonderful WIGGLES have received the ARIA Award in the category of BEST CHILDRENS ALBUM for their delightful toe-tapping kids CD You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.

And last but certainly not least, the inimitable SHAUN MICALLEF has taken out the ARIA Award for BEST COMEDY RELEASE for his long player with the equally long title - The Expurgated Micallef Tonight: The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight.

Again highlighting the depth and diversity of talent across all genres of the Australian music community, ARIA congratulates all winners in the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola. Please scroll down for a complete list of winners.

The 2008 ARIA AWARDS, proudly presented by Motorola, featured live performances by SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END, GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS, FAKER, THE VERONICAS, GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU and PINK! HAMISH & ANDY hosted the Awards alongside ARIA veteran JAMES MATHISON. ROVE McMANUS, MYF WARHURST, CHRIS LILLEY, JOSH PYKE, RICKI-LEE, BRIAN McFADDEN, JOHN BUTLER, NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE, HUMAN NATURE, VANESSA AMOROSI, PETE MURRAY, KATIE NOONAN, RUBY ROSE, JAMES KERLEY, AXLE WHITEHEAD and JABBA were special guest presenters.

2008 ARIA AWARDS
Proudly brought to you by Motorola
Sunday, 19 October, 2008
Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
Broadcast exclusively on Network Ten at 7.30pm

Best Cover Art
Jonathan Zawada - The Presets, Apocalypso
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Best Video
Kris Moyes - The Presets, My People
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Engineer of the Year
Matt Lovell - Shihad, Beautiful Machine
(Warner Music)

Producer of the Year
The Presets (Julian Hamilton & Kim Moyes) - The Presets, Apocalypso
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Best Classical Album
Richard Tognetti, Neal Peres Da Costa and Daniel Yeadon - Bach Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard
(ABC Classics)

Best Jazz Album
Andrea Keller - Footprints
(ABC Jazz)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album
Chris Lilley - Summer Heights High
(ABC Music)

Best World Music Album
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul
(Skinnyfish Music/MGM)

Highest Selling Single
Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me
(Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Highest Selling Album
Delta Goodrem - Delta
(Sony BMG)

Best Blues and Roots Album
The Audreys - When The Flood Comes
(ABC Music/Universal Music Australia)

Best Children's Album
The Wiggles - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
(ABC Music)

Best Dance Release
The Presets - Apocalypso
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Best Urban Album
Bliss 'n Eso - Flying Colours
(Illusive Sounds)

Best Independent Release
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul
(Skinnyfish Music/MGM)

Best Music DVD
Powderfinger/Silverchair - Across the Great Divide
(Universal Music Australia)

Best Rock Album
The Living End - White Noise
(Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Adult Contemporary Album
The Panics - Cruel Guards
(Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Pop Release
Gabriella Cilmi - Lessons To Be Learned
Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Best Comedy Release
Shaun Micallef -The Expurgated Micallef Tonight:
The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight
(Shock Entertainment DVD)

Best Country Album
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones
(Liberation Music)

Breakthrough Artist - Single
Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me
(Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist - Album
Gabriella Cilmi - Lessons To Be Learned
(Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Best Group
The Presets - Apocalypso
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Best Male Artist
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
(Virgin/EMI)

Best Female Artist
Gabriella Cilmi - Lessons To Be Learned
(Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Single of the Year
Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me
(Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)

Album of the Year
The Presets - Apocalypso
(Modular/Universal Music Australia)

Information for Industry Ticket holders

With the ARIA Awards just days away, please note the following regarding limousine, taxi and coach drop-offs for industry ticket holders at Acer Arena, departures from Acer Arena to the after-show party, and drop-offs at Ivy.

Drop-offs at Acer Arena
As in past years there are two entry points to the Red Carpet, which is expected to open at 3.30pm.

1. Entry for nominees, presenters, performers and other VIPs is at the top of the Red Carpet on Olympic Boulevard, which is open only to limousines displaying vehicle passes. Passes can be requested by contacting Event Publicist Rina Ferris (ariaawards@ferrisdaviesprm.com.au). Whilst all guests may enter through this point, we encourage non-nominees/non-presenters etc to enter via the second entrance (see next point) to avoid a bottleneck around the media and photographer pits.

2. All other industry guests can also access the Red Carpet via the entry points located half-way along the Red Carpet. The closest drop-off point for this entrance for taxis, coaches and limousines is the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Edwin Flack Avenue. Vehicle passes are not required for this drop-off point.

Remember that you guests must wear or show their Gold, Platinum or Silver pass to access the Red Carpet entry.

Pick-ups from Acer Arena
To ensure speedy and safe departures for guests heading to the after-party at Ivy, please inform your drivers that the following pick-up locations apply.

- Limousines and hire cars may wait on both sides of Olympic Boulevard.
- Premium-service taxis may wait on Kevin Coombs Avenue near the corner of Olympic Boulevard.
- Normal taxis may wait on Edwin Flack Avenue near the corner of Olympic Boulevard
- The holding area for coaches is directly outside Acer Arena on Olympic Boulevard.

Vehicle passes are not required for post-event pick-ups. Note that the ARIA Awards is expected to conclude around 9.30pm but may be later due to the nature of live television. We recommend you have the mobile number of your driver(s) with you so you can locate them on the night. Please also advise your guests to take care when departing Acer Arena as the area will be extremely busy with vehicle movements.

A map of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct can be downloaded from the Acer Arena page of this website.

After-show Party drop-offs at Ivy, 330 George St (nr Palings Lane), Sydney.
The after-party will run 10pm-4am. All vehicles - limousines, coaches and taxis - may drop guests on George Street. Again, the venue will be very busy with traffic so please exercise caution.

REMINDER: access to the after-party is strictly for industry guests wearing the wristband that will be included with industry tickets. Lost wristbands are unable to be replaced under any circumstances.

With rehearsals set to commence tomorrow, organisers have announced the final presenters who will hand out the pointy trophies at the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, this Sunday, 19 October at Acer Arena.

2008 Best Male Artist nominee, PETE MURRAY (pictured left), joins the list of presenters alongside fellow Queenslander and Best Adult Contemporary Album nominee, KATIE NOONAN.

Also taking the stage will be girl-about-town and MTV VJ, RUBY ROSE, alongside JAMES KERLEY, who will also be sharing red carpet hosting duties with ARIA Awards favourite, JAMES MATHISON.

And last but certainly not least, returning to the ARIAs stage for what hopefully won't be quite such a controversial appearance as their last appearance are the multi talented AXLE WHITEHEAD and JABBA.

General public tickets are almost sold out and anyone without tickets is urged get a move on and call Ticketek on 132 849 or visit their website.

Don't miss Network Ten's exclusive broadcast of the 2008 ARIA Awards at 7.30pm this Sunday, 19 October when ROVE McMANUS, MYF WARHURST, CHRIS LILLEY, JOSH PYKE, RICKI-LEE, BRIAN McFADDEN, JOHN BUTLER, NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE, HUMAN NATURE, VANESSA AMOROSI, PETE MURRAY, KATIE NOONAN, RUBY ROSE, JAMES KERLEY, AXLE WHITEHEAD and JABBA join performers SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END, GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS, FAKER, THE VERONICAS, GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU and P!NK alongside hosts HAMISH & ANDY and ARIA Awards veteran JAMES MATHISON.

With the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, just one week away, organisers are delighted to announce an exciting line-up of presenters who will join SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END, GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS, FAKER, THE VERONICAS, GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNIPINGU and P!NK to round out a dynamic night of entertainment on Sunday October 19th at Acer Arena.

And just a reminder - general public tickets are continuing to sell fast so punters are urged to act quickly! Newly released tickets for the 2008 ARIA Awards are now available from Ticketekor phone 132 849.

ROVE McMANUS will make a welcome return to the ARIA Awards stage, along with Spicks and Specks quiz show queen and music aficionado, MYF WARHURST.

With characters like Jonah, Ja'mie and Mr G who have entered the Australian lexicon, comedy genius CHRIS LILLEY will also join the presenter line-up. Already an ARIA Award winner in 2008, Lilley received the award for BEST SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM for the 4CD set release of cult hit television series 'Summer Heights High'.

RICKI-LEE (pictured left), pop singer extraordinaire and Australian Idol's newest cast member, will take to the ARIA Awards stage as will Irish crooner BRIAN McFADDEN. Multiple ARIA Award winner JOHN BUTLER will make a special appearance at the 2008 ARIA Awards fresh from a tour of the US and performances at the Lollapalooza festival.

They won their first ever ARIA Award in 2006 and now HUMAN NATURE return to the stage as presenters off the back of their box set 'The Motorcity Collection' (which includes their three #1 albums 'Reach Out', 'Dancing In The Street' and 'Get Ready'). The immensely talented VANESSA AMOROSI, whose hit album 'Somewhere in the Real World' and platinum selling single 'Perfect' has hit the right notes around the nation, will also appear at the 2008 ARIA Awards.

Following on from her successful role as host of the smash hit television program 'So You Think You Can Dance' NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE will be right at home as a presenter for the 2008 ARIA Awards. With her debut solo album on track, the singer, actor, author and TV presenter has proven there's nothing she can't do.

Hot on the heels of the release of his much-anticipated second album 'Chimney's Afire', 2007 ARIA Award winner JOSH PYKE will also take the stage as a presenter at the 2008 Awards.

And last but definitely not least, in addition to performing her hit single So What, the super-hot superstar P!NK will bestow the final awards of the
night.

Don't miss Network Ten's exclusive broadcast of the 2008 ARIA Awards at 7.30pm on Sunday, 19 October when ROVE MCMANUS, MYF WARHURST, CHRIS LILLEY, JOSH PYKE, RICKI-LEE, BRIAN MCFADDEN, JOHN BUTLER,
NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE, HUMAN NATURE and VANESSA AMOROSI join SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END,GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS, FAKER, THE VERONICAS, GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNIPINGU and PINK! alongside hosts HAMISH & ANDY and ARIA Awards veteran JAMES MATHISON.

The countdown is on! With just two weeks until the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, blaze into the Australian music history books, organisers are delighted to announce three additional live performers who will join SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END, GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS and P!NK on Sunday 19 October at Acer Arena.

Hot on the heels of winning his first individual ARIA Award (for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM) at last Monday's ARIA Fine Arts Awards, event organisers are proud to announce that the angelic GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU will perform at the 2008 ARIA Awards. His tunning debut solo album Gurrumul has received four ARIA Award nominations (plus one ARIA Artisan Award nomination) and has, quite simply, set fans and critics alight. GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU is nominated in the categories of BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE, BEST MALE ARTIST and for the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR. The ARIA voting academy has reinforced the high praise he has received from music critics around the nation such as this from the Sydney Morning Herald: "Listen to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and you will surrender to the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded."

At the other end of the music spectrum is dynamic duo THE VERONICAS, who will bring their sassy pop smarts to the 2008 ARIA Awards. The ARIA Award winning twins Jess and Lisa Origliasso from sunny Queensland have also received four nominations, this time in the categories of BEST POP RELEASE (Hook Me Up), HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM (Hook Me Up) and two nominations in the HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE category for Hook Me Up and Untouched.

And magnetic Sydney outfit FAKER will make their maiden ARIA Awards appearance off the back of three nominations (plus one ARIA Artisan Award nomination) for their album 'Be The Twilight' and the smash hit single 'This Heart Attack'. They are represented in the categories of BEST ROCK ALBUM, BEST GROUP and SINGLE OF THE YEAR. Fans of Faker's eclectic, chaotic danceability, which mixes 80s influences with the raw mania of twenty-first century life, won't be disappointed!

In what will be a super-charged night of nights for the Australian music industry SAM SPARRO, THE LIVING END, GABRIELLA CILMI, THE PRESETS, FAKER, THE VERONICAS, GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU and P!NK join hosts HAMISH & ANDY and ARIA Awards veteran JAMES MATHISON. Stay tuned for details of guest presenters who will be announced in the coming weeks.

General public tickets are selling fast - get yours from Ticketek or phone 132 849.

Pictured at left - Faker.

At the 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards tonight, expectant mother Andrea Keller won her third ARIA Award, Richard Tognetti scored a hat trick, Chris Lilley was recognised for his unique comic brilliance, and angel-voiced Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu took the first of a possible four ARIA Awards in 2008.

The ARIA Fine Arts ceremony celebrated both passion and excellence within the Australian music industry across four genres. Honouring achievements in the Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtrack/Cast/Show recordings, the Fine Arts event, now in its fifth year in the ARIA program, was held for the first time at the magnificent City Recital Hall, Angel Place in Sydney.

Winner of the ARIA Award for BEST SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM is one Australian television's great success stories of recent years, Chris Lilley. His 4CD set release of SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH, the cult mockumentary hit from ABC TV, demonstrates Lilley's comedic brilliance and why Australians of all ages have adopted the vocal mannerisms of Jonah, Ja'mie and Mr G.

Having won the last two ARIA Awards for BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM for his Bach series, National Living Treasure Richard Tognetti makes it a hat trick – the first time ever in this category. For this year's ARIA Award winner, BACH SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND KEYBOARD, Tognetti was joined by musical and real life partners Neal Peres Da Costa on harpsichord and organ, and Daniel Yeadon on cello and viola da gamba.

FOOTPRINTS, the winner of the BEST JAZZ ALBUM, is a tribute album to the great composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter by Melbourne-based pianist Andrea Keller. Andrea couldn't attend the awards as she is due to give birth to her second child in less than two weeks, but will be back on stage to perform this album in November at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.

One of this year's great musical discoveries is a blind singer from North East Arnhem Land Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. His album GURRUMUL has won the ARIA Award for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. It is largely sung in indigenous languages and has had music critics hailing the arrival of an extraordinary
talent, a veritable "gift from the gods". The ARIA voters agreed and he has been nominated for four ARIAs this year, including the coveted BEST MALE ARTIST. One down, three to go?

The 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards was hosted by Australian screen icon Jack Thompson, with special guest presenters: director Bruce Beresford; three time ARIA Award winner Paul Dyer; and opera stars Emma Matthews and Philip Langridge.

The audience was treated to performances by this year’s nominees: Grace Knight, Mike Nock, Archie Roach, Neal Peres Da Costa and Daniel Yeadon, and The Divas from Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical.

ARIA congratulates all winners and nominees.

Photos from the 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards can be viewed in the gallery section.

Pictured are left are, L-R:
ABC Music's Robert Patterson, who accepted Chris Lilley's award for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show album.
Neal Peres Da Costa and Daniel Yeadon who, with Richard Tognetti, won Best Classical Album.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who won Best World Music Album.
Gurrumul's producer Michael Hohnen.
ARIA Fine Arts Awards host Jack Thompson.
Andrea Keller's cousin Chris, who collected her award for Best Jazz Album.

Show Group is able to offer the below special rates to guests attending the ARIA Awards on Sunday, 19th October 2008.

To book, please contact Tracey Bonavia at Show Group, tel 02 9352 9964, or email Tracey.

Please note these rates may only be available for the night of 19 October 2008, and room availability may be limited.

-OLYMPIC PARK-

Pullman Hotel
Olympic Boulevard
Homebush
tel 02 8762 1700
Standard room - $255
Executive room - $325
Suite - $435

-SYDNEY CITY-
All the below hotels are convenient to The Ivy, the location of the official ARIA Awards After-Party (entry available only to industry ticket holders aged 18 years and over).

Hilton Sydney
488 George Street
Sydney
tel 02 9266 2000
Standard room - $217
visit their website

Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
11 Jamison Street
Sydney
tel 02 9696 2500
Deluxe Room - $190

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
199 George Street
Circular Quay
Sydney
tel 02 9238 000
City view room - $230
visit their website

The one-thousand strong ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards voting academy has spoken! In what is arguably the most eclectic and exciting group of music artists to land on the ARIA honour roll, nominees across 28 categories in the 2008 ARIA Awards were today announced at a special industry gathering in Sydney. Highlighting the depth and diversity of talent across all genres of the Australian music community, the nominations set up what will be an intriguing evening when the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly brought to you by Motorola, rolls around on Sunday, 19 October at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.

A number of emerging Australian artists have received their first ever ARIA Award nominations, and two lead the nominations field. Vocal powerhouse GABRIELLA CILMI (pictured left) has received six nods for her debut album 'Lessons to be Learned'. She is nominated for SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Sweet About Me), BEST FEMALE ARTIST, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE, BEST POP RELEASE and HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE. Not bad for the 16-year-old Melbourne girl who toppled Madonna from the #1 position on the Motorola ARIA Chart - the youngest Australian solo artist ever to crack the top spot!

Nominated for five ARIA Awards is SAM SPARRO, the Sydney-sider taking on the world with his unique voice and powerful melodies. He also makes his ARIA Awards debut with his self-titled first album, with nominations for SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Black and Gold), BEST MALE ARTIST, BEST POP RELEASE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM (Sam Sparro) and BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE. Of Sparro, legendary soul diva Chaka Khan said, "Damn, that white boy can sing!" According to the ARIA Awards voting academy, she was right!

At the other end of the musical spectrum is GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU who has received four ARIA Award nominations (plus 1 ARIA Artisan Award nomination) for his stunning debut solo album Gurrumul. GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU is nominated in the categories of BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM, BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE, BEST MALE ARTIST and the coveted ALBUM OF THE YEAR. The ARIA Award voting academy has reinforced the high praise Yunupingu has received from music critics around the nation such as this, from the Sydney Morning Herald: "Listen to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and you will surrender to the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded."

Also receiving four ARIA Award nominations are those ARIA Award winning twins from Queensland, THE VERONICAS, in the categories of BEST POP RELEASE (Hook Me Up), HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM (Hook Me Up) and two nominations in the HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE category for 'Hook Me Up' and 'Untouched'.

Electronic duo THE PRESETS cap off an incredible year with four ARIA Award nominations for their second album 'Apocalypso' and the hugely popular single 'My People'. They have received salutes in the categories of BEST GROUP, BEST DANCE RELEASE, SINGLE OF THE YEAR and ALBUM OF THE YEAR. This is in addition to four ARIA Artisan Award nominations (more on this shortly). Another duo, brother and sister act ANGUS and JULIA STONE, have received their first ever ARIA Award nominations and they walk away with four nods for their glorious debut album 'A Book Like This' in the categories of BEST GROUP, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE (The Beast) and BEST BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM. ANGUS and JULIA STONE have also received two ARIA Artisan Award nominations.

Rock n' roll trio THE LIVING END has also received four ARIA Award nominations for their widely acclaimed album 'White Noise'. Hailed as 'the best album of their career' by Rolling Stone Magazine, White Noise has seen THE LIVING END score nominations for BEST GROUP, BEST ROCK ALBUM, ALBUM OF THE YEAR and SINGLE OF THE YEAR.

Sydney outfit FAKER has three ARIA Award nominations (plus 1 ARIA Artisan nomination) for their album 'Be The Twilight' and the smash hit single 'This Heart Attack'. They are represented in the categories of BEST ROCK ALBUM, BEST GROUP and SINGLE OF THE YEAR. Last year's ARIA Hall of Fame inductee NICK CAVE (AND THE BAD SEEDS) has received three ARIA Award nominations for the mighty 'Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!'. The band is nominated for ALBUM OF THE YEAR, BEST ROCK ALBUM and NICK CAVE is up for BEST MALE ARTIST.

Also receiving three ARIA Award nominations is dance act THE POTBELLEEZ, who has scored approval in the categories of BEST DANCE RELEASE, BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE and HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE for their infectiously catchy single 'Don't Hold Back'.

The multi talented KASEY CHAMBERS and her equally gifted partner, SHANE NICHOLSON, have received two ARIA Award nominations in the ALBUM OF THE YEAR and BEST COUNTRY ALBUM categories (and 1 ARIA Artisan nomination) for their debut album together, 'Rattlin' Bones'.

The 2008 ARIA Awards also sees debut nominations for a host of artists including THE PANICS, BRITISH INDIA, MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS, EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING, SPIT SYNDICATE, A-LOVE, THE HERD, MOBIN MASTER, WATUSSI and MUPH AND PLUTONIC. And longer established artists including THE WIGGLES, GYROSCOPE, SILVERCHAIR, KYLIE MINOGUE, ANDREA KELLER, JOHN BUTLER TRIO, RICHARD TOGNETTI, PETE MURRAY, HI-5, SLAVA GRIGORYAN, DELTA GOODREM, TINA ARENA, BEN LEE, LIOR, JIMMY BARNES, SARA STORER, THE WAIFS, THE AUDREYS, PAUL KELLY, CATHERINE BRITT and CUT COPY have also received nominations for the 2008 ARIA Awards. Please see below for the full list of nominees.

Winners of the ARIA Artisan Awards for BEST COVER ART, BEST VIDEO, ENGINEER OF THE YEAR and PRODUCER OF THE YEAR were also announced today. Please see seperate news entry for the results.

Winners of the BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM, BEST JAZZ ALBUM, BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM and BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW RECORDING ALBUM categories will be announced at the ARIA Fine Arts Awards on Monday, 29 September.

And for the second year at the ARIA Awards Nominations Event, retail outlets were honoured. AMRA (Australian Music Retailers Association), in conjunction with ARIA, is proud to announce the winners of the 2008 RETAILER OF THE YEAR Awards. The Awards are presented to independent and chain stores across Australia and recognise the importance of music retail to the artists, producers and promoters of music. Two new national Award categories have also been included this year for Best Digital and Best Specialty Store. A drum roll please for the fine folk at the following retail stores who have been honoured in the 2008 Retailer of the Year Awards:

WINNERS - BEST CHAIN STORES
NSW/ACT - JB Hi Fi, Penrith
QLD - JB Hi Fi, Brisbane City
SA/NT - JB Hi Fi, Adelaide City
VIC/TAS - JB Hi Fi, Bourke St
WA - JB Hi Fi, Osborne Park

WINNERS - BEST INDEPENDENT RETAIL OUTLETS
NSW/ACT - Richmond Records
QLD - Rocking Horse
SA/NT - The Muses, Adelaide
VIC/TAS - Discurio
WA - 78 Records

BEST DIGITAL STORE
Apple iTunes

BEST SPECIALTY STORE
Discurio, Melbourne

A special presentation to the winners will be made at the ARIA Chairman's Reception, an invitation-only event that will take place on Sunday, 19 October just prior to the ARIA Awards.

In keeping with tradition, ARIA Awards organisers also proudly announce the first artists who will perform live at the event on Sunday, 19 October. In addition to the confirmation of a very special performance by US superstar P!NK, the 2008 ARIA Awards will play host to performances by multiple nominees GABRIELLA CILMI, THE LIVING END, THE PRESETS and SAM SPARRO, with more live performances to be announced.

Dynamic duo HAMISH & ANDY will be making their hosting debut for the 2008 ARIA Awards alongside ARIA Awards veteran JAMES MATHISON. An exciting variety of guest presenters will be announced over the coming weeks.

Just over 6,000 tickets to the 2008 ARIA AWARDS go on sale to the general public at 12 noon TODAY (Wednesday, 10 September) and are expected to go quickly and sell to capacity. Tickets are available from Ticketek or phone 132 849.

For information on ALL nominees, click here.

The 2008 ARIA Award ARTISAN WINNERS were announced today at the Nominations Event in the categories of PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, BEST VIDEO and BEST COVER ART.

ARIA is proud to announce that KIM MOYES AND JULIAN HAMILTON, aka THE PRESETS (pictured left) have received the ARIA Award in the coveted PRODUCER OF THE YEAR category for their critically acclaimed album 'Apocalypso'.

KRIS MOYES has taken out the ARIA Award for BEST VIDEO for the powerful film clip for THE PRESETS’ 'My People'.

Multiple ARIA Award winner MATT LOVELL has been named ENGINEER OF THE YEAR again, this time for his work on SHIHAD’s album 'Beautiful Machine'.

And JONATHAN ZAWADA has won the ARIA Award for BEST COVER ART for, you guessed it, THE PRESETS album 'Apocalypso'.

ARIA congratulates the winners and all nominees in the 2008 ARIA Artisan Awards.

For information on all 2008 ARIA Award nominees, click here.

Introduced in 2004, the ARIA Fine Arts Awards recognise and honour the abundant pool of Australian artists thriving in the genres of Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtracks.

In previous years, entry to the ARIA Fine Arts Awards was by invitation only. This year members of the general public may attend, with tickets costing just $25 each, plus booking fee.

Jack Thompson will be hosting a star-studded ceremony with performances including the Divas from Priscilla The Musical, Mike Nock, Grace Knight and Archie Roach.

Guest presenters include Bruce Beresford, Paul Dyer, Emma Matthews, Philip Langridge and more to be announced.

ARIA FINE ARTS AWARDS
Monday 29th September 2008, 6.15pm
City Recital Hall
Angel Place
Sydney
Get Tickets

Industry tickets for the 2008 ARIA Awards are now on sale, and can be ordered via the form which you can download from our Industry Tickets page.

Industry tickets always sell out so we encourage you to place your orders quickly. Note that payment is required at the time of ordering, and tickets are not held until payment is received in full.

If you have any questions, give Neha in the ARIA Awards Event Office a call. Her details are on the form.

With tendays to go before the Final Five nominees are announced along with this year's exciting crop of Australian performers, and seven weeks until the 2008 ARIA Awards, ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) is pleased to announce that P!nk is confirmed to perform her new single So What live on stage at the 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, on Sunday, 19 October, 2008 at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.

Since her debut in 2000, P!nk has been widely hailed as a fearlessly talented artist and her genre-defying creative risk-taking has propelled her to global stardom and made her Australia's biggest selling international recording artist of 2006/7 with the 10 x platinum selling album, I'm Not Dead. In addition to her album sales success, the I'm Not Dead 2007 Australian tour sold over 300,000 tickets and made P!nk the biggest-selling female touring artist in Australian history. Her new single, So What, debuted at No. 4 on the Motorola ARIA Chart this week.

The final five nominees across 28 ARIA Award categories will be announced at a special industry function at CarriageWorks in Sydney on Wednesday, 10 September. The ARIA Awards Nominations Event will also feature the presentation of this year's ARIA Artisan Awards for Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year, Best Cover Art and Best Video. Also, in keeping with tradition, the ARIA Nominations Event will feature the announcement of performances and host of the 2008 ARIA Awards. General public tickets (all ages) will go on sale Wednesday, 10 September at 12.00 noon from Ticketek.

The 2008 ARIA Awards, proudly brought to you by Motorola, will take place on Sunday, 19 October at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. The ARIA Awards recognise excellence and innovation in all genres of Australian music and this year will be no exception. The event, which will see the unveiling of the remaining 20 category winners, will be exclusively telecast by official broadcast partner Network Ten from 7.30pm.

It's on! One thousand judges started casting their votes at 9am today in the 2008 ARIA Awards.

These judges will determine the winners in 26 ARIA Awards Categories. Two more categories (Highest Selling Single and Highest Selling Album) are determined by sales audit.

All votes are placed via a secure website, with the judges selecting three entries in each category. Their first choice gets five points, their second, three points, and their third choice, one point. All points are tallied and the entry with the most points in each category is determined the winner.

Voting closes at 6pm next Friday, August 15. The final five nominees in each category will be announced at the Nominations Event to be held Wednesday, Sept 10 at Carriageworks, Sydney.

The details for the ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola and the biggest and best night in the music industry calendar, have finally been announced. So grab your diaries and make a note of these dates:

The 22nd ANNUAL ARIA AWARDS will be held Sunday, 19th October 2008 at Sydney's Acer Arena.

The final five nominees in each category will be announced at the NOMINATIONS EVENT, to be held Wednesday, September 10 at Sydney's Carriageworks. The winners in the Artisan Award categories (Best Video, Best Cover Art, Engineer of the Year, Producer of the Year) will also be announced at this event.

The winners in the Fine Arts categories (Best World Music Album, Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, and Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album) will be announced at the FINE ARTS AWARDS, to be held the evening of Monday, September 29, at the City Recital Hall, Sydney.

As always, tickets are available to both industry and general public guests.

You can get your general public tickets through from noon on Wednesday, September 10.

And what a special night it was. ARIA congratulates the ARIA Hall of Fame inductees for 2008 - ROLF HARRIS, MAX MERRITT, DRAGON, RUSSELL MORRIS and THE TRIFFIDS.

Held last night at Melbourne's Town Hall, the Hall of Fame included appearances from not only the inductees, but also The Living End (who gave a blistering rendition of John O'Keefe's The Wild One to celebrate 50 years of Australian rock 'n' roll), James Reyne, Ian Moss, Tim Freedman (The Whitlams), Col Joye AM, Nick Cave, Rob Snarski, Kasey Chambers, Lior, Steve Kilbey and Tim Powles (The Church), Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) and past Hall of Fame inductees, The Seekers.

For more information, visit the ARIA Hall of Fame website (link to www.ariahalloffame.com.au).

Our new ARIA Hall of Fame website has just launched. Visit www.ariahalloffame.com.au.

Video highlights from last night's ARIA Awards are now online.

Click here to access a PDF of the media release with all the winner information.

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Congratulations to all the winners!

From the Red Carpet, Silverchair has just been announced as the winner of Highest Selling Single for Straight Lines, and Damien Leith picked up Highest Selling Album for The Winner's Journey.

Operator Please kicked the awards off, winning Best Breakthrough Single for Just A Song About Ping Pong.

Sneaky Sound System wins the ARIA for Best Breakthrough Album for their self-titled album.

The Best Country award goes to Keith Urban for Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing.

The award for Best Children's Release goes to The Wiggles for Pop Goes The Wiggles. The Wiggles are overseas on tour so the award was accepted by Captain Feathersword and their manager.

Dave Hughes just picked up an ARIA for best Comedy Release for his album Live.

Best Urban release went to the Hilltop Hoods for The Hard Road Restrung

Best Independent Release was won by The John Butler Trio for their album Grand National.

Sarah Blasko just won the ARIA for Best Pop Release for her album What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have.

The ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album goes to Josh Pyke for his album Memories and Dust.

Best Music DVD went to You Am I for Who Are They, These Rock Stars? Live At The Mint.

John Butler Trio just picked up another ARIA award for Best Blues & Roots Album.

The award for Best Dance Release goes to Sneaky Sound System for their self-titled debut album. This is their second award for the night.

The ARIA for Best Rock Album just went to Silverchair for Young Modern.

And Silverchair just picked up another award, this time for Best Group.

Missy Higgins just picked up an ARIA for Best Female Artist for her album On A Clear Night.

The Best Male Artist was won by Gotye for his album Mixed Blood.

Nick Cave has just been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Single of the Year has been awarded to Silverchair for Straight Lines.

The busy boys in Silverchair have also just won the award for Album of the Year, taking their tally for the night to five ARIAs.

ARIA congratulates all the nominees and winners in the 2007 ARIA Awards, proudly brought to you by Motorola.

The ARIAs are underway. Check out the gallery for all the Red Carpet photos.

The final five nominees in the Highest Selling Single and Highest Selling Album categories were announced today. They are based on both digital and retail sales for the first time in ARIA history, reflecting the significant changes in the music industry in recent years.

Announced live on Video Hits' ARIA Awards special this morning, you can see why these hotly contested categories are so close you couldn’t pick it if you tried!

In the Highest Selling Single category, Idol ingenue Damien Leith is nominated for his debut single Night of My Life, joined on the nomination blocks by inaugural Idol-er Shannon Noll in a duet with ex-Neighbours crossover, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, for Don't Give Up.

Rounding up the big single sellers are the sublime Silverchair with Straight Lines, Wolfmother with Joker and The Thief, and Australian music mademoiselle Missy Higgins with Steer.

Notching their total nomination nods up two points, Missy Higgins, Silverchair and Damien Leith also come out smiling with a Highest Selling Album nomination each for their respective albums On a Clear Night, Young Modern and The Winner's Journey.

No strangers to Highest Selling Album nominations, Human Nature find themselves unhampered by the inclusion of online sales with a nod for Dancing In The Streets, and comedy cult figure The 12th Man collects his second 2007 ARIA Award nomination for his album Boned.

The winners in these two categories will be announced during Network Ten's Red Carpet Special to be broadcast at 7.00pm tonight.

And those nominees again:

Highest Selling Single
Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Shannon Noll - Don't Give Up
Missy Higgins - Steer
Damien Leith - Night of My Life
Silverchair - Straight Lines
Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief

Highest Selling Album
Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night
Damien Leith - The Winner's Journey
Human Nature - Dancing in the Streets
Silverchair - Young Modern
The 12th Man - Boned

When ARIA organisers heard that international country music superstar Keith Urban was going to be in town around ARIAs time they saw an opportunity for two of Australia's finest guitarists to come together. So it gives us great pleasure to announce that 2007 ARIA Awards nominee Keith Urban will be joining fellow 2007 ARIA Awards nominee John Butler in a special one-off performance of The John Butler Trio's Single of the Year nominee, Funky Tonight.

Where you can see it? There's still a few general admission tickets available from Ticketek, or tune in to Network Ten's exclusive broadcast. The Red Carpet Special airs at 7.00pm, followed by the 2007 ARIA Awards broadcast at 8.30pm. See you then!

Here's the rundown of everything happening at Acer Arena on Sunday (a few general admission tickets are still available, if you're speedy). No ticket is needed to be part of the Red Carpet action - and there's plenty of it this year - so come and be part of the fun. For those watching at home, scroll down to see the Network Ten broadcast details.

Special note: We'll be updating this website direct from Acer Arena on Sunday night with photos and winner announcements. So if you're not at Acer and you're not watching Network Ten, then this very website is the place to be!

Red Carpet
The action starts at 3.15pm with a very special Red Carpet performance by RICKI-LEE COULTER. Your Red Carpet hosts, James Mathison and Hamish & Andy, will be interviewing artists and celebrities as they arrive. Of course there'll be the performers like Silverchair, Powderfinger, Sneaky Sound System, Gotye, Operator Please, Kate Miller-Heidke, John Butler Trio and Missy Higgins, but you can also expect to see the presenters who include Delta Goodrem, Megan Gale, Chrissy Amphlett and Mark McEntee of The Divinyls, Darren Hayes, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ben Lee, James Mathison, Dave Hughes, The Chaser's Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor, The Waifs' Donna Simpson and Vicki Thorn, and last but by no means least, Clare Bowditch... and of course all the nominees and other very special guests.

The second Red Carpet performance comes from THE VERONICA'S. Yep, The Veronica's,ON the Red Carpet! And in the midst of all this Red Carpet action comes the announcement of the winners in two very special categories: HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM and HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE. Clearly you can't not be there - and you don't even need a ticket!

Show Rundown
As the Red Carpet concludes, the main event kicks off inside Acer Arena around 5.15pm. Eighteen awards will be announced, along with the induction of Nick Cave into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
- Breakthrough Artist - Single
- Breakthrough Artist - Album
- Best Country Album
- Best Childrens Album
- Best Comedy Release
- Best Urban Release
- Best Independent Release
- Best Pop Release
- Best Adult Contemporary Album
- Best Music DVD
- Best Blues & Roots Album
- Best Dance Release
- Best Rock Album
- Best Group
- Best Female
- Best Male
- Single of the Year
- Album of the Year

Whilst industry guests are served their main course around 7.15pm, our general public guests will also have a break to get their drinks and snacks from Acer's food outlets.

The awards presentation is expected to conclude around 9.15pm, but due to the nature of live television could be a little later or earlier than this.

After Show Party
For industry guests holding after-show party tickets, the party starts at the conclusion of the Awards. Announcements in the venue will direct you to the location in Acer Arena.

NETWORK TEN BROADCAST
If you can't join us at Acer then you can't miss Network Ten's broadcast. Here's what you can expect to see:

7:00pm - Red Carpet Special
Join James Mathison and Hamish & Andy as they interview the artists and celebrities as they arrive on the Red Carpet. The show will also include performances from The Veronica's and Ricki-Lee Coulter, and the announcement of the winners in the categories of Highest Selling Album and Highest Selling Single.

8.30pm - 2007 ARIA Awards
The main event, broadcast direct from Acer Arena. Tune in to see performers Silverchair, Powderfinger, Sneaky Sound System, Gotye, Operator Please, Kate Miller-Heidke, John Butler Trio and Missy Higgins, and presenters who include Delta Goodrem, Megan Gale, Chrissy Amphlett and Mark McEntee from The Divinyls, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Darren Hayes, Ben Lee, James Mathison, Dave Hughes, The Chaser's Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor, Vicki and Donna from The Waifs and Clare Bowditch.

To see all the NOMINEES, and the winners in the FINE ARTS (announced October 15) and ARTISAN AWARD categories, CLICK HERE.

For the very first time the ARIA Awards have expanded onto the Red Carpet with two exclusive live performances for the outside crowd. Fans will now get up-close-and-personal performances from some of Australia's most loved females...and they can sure belt out a song!

International pop-rock twins THE VERONICAS will be pop-rocking the Red Carpet, adding a bit of attitude to the glitz and glamour of that rosy rug. Hot off the Top 5 Motorola ARIA Chart smash hit Hook Me Up, and on the brink of their album release on November 3 followed by a national tour, they are sure to be a popular addition to the growing list of artists performing this year.

Australian Idol success story RICKI-LEE COULTER will join the twins in the inaugural ARIA Red Carpet performance, but be assured she's no proverbial performance virgin - she's a virtual veteran! With her hit single Can't Touch It being certified Gold, at least we know Ricki-Lee isn't a stranger to awards: she has won the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards for Best Female Singer two years in a row.

MORE PRESENTERS JUST ANNOUNCED!
Starting off the stellar cast of the newest list of presenters are THE DIVINYLS' CHRISSY AMPHLETT and MARK McENTEE, fresh off their induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame last year. These two veterans of rock and roll royalty shouldn't be too shy - they have been on stage more times than we can remember.

David Jones muse and all round hottie, MEGAN GALE, will be turning up the heat as a presenter this year, and we look forward to seeing what fashion forward folds the leggy lovely will be draped in! Unless of course she chooses to model Invisible Zinc...

Far from invisible in ARIA's eyes is pointy pyramid darling MISSY HIGGINS, and with six ARIA Awards under her belt, you'd better believe the competition is glad to see her behind the podium. And with David Hasselhoff out of the picture this year, look out Rove...

Host of Network Ten's upcoming Australian series So You Think You Can Dance, and femme fatal front woman for Rogue Traders, NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE makes the transition from 2005 ARIA performer to 2007 ARIA presenter.

Successful songbird CLARE BOWDITCH will also be gracing the stage this year as a presenter, only this time it will be minus a baby bump. As 2006 ARIA Award winner for Best Female Artist, it's not surprising that she is keen to get back on the ARIA stage, albeit behind the podium.

The mantelpiece is getting heavy at THE WAIFS' house, winning four ARIA Awards (2 of them Artisan Awards) in 2003 and a host of nominations since. So it's no surprise that the band's own folk rock sisters DONNA SIMPSON and VIKKI THORN will be helping other artists on the night fill up their own trophy cabinet.

Limited General Admission tickets for the 2007 ARIA Awards are still available but won't be available for much longer - especially since Industry tickets are long gone!

ARIA is proud to announce that NICK CAVE - prolific songwriter, singer, author, screenwriter and composer - will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 2007 ARIA Awards, proudly presented by Motorola, at Acer Arena on Sudnay, October 28. NICK CAVE will become the final ARIA Hall of Fame inductee for 2007 and joins JO JO ZEP AND THE FALCONS, RADIO BIRDMAN, BRIAN CADD, HOODOO GURUS, MARCIA HINES and FRANK IFIELD who were inducted at the ARIA Hall of Fame event in July.

With a history of penning evocative, narrative prose for openhearted souls, NICK CAVE has a unique place in the lexicon of music history. He has been singing his dark tales of lust, religion, madness, murder and revenge for almost 30 years. But what makes Cave a true original is the diversity of his creative output, which is almost unprecedented in the music industry. From music and lyrics to poems and screenwriting, all are attacked with the same level of soul-searching depth and integrity.

In the art department of Caulfield Institute of Technology, (now Monash University in Melbourne) he met Mick Harvey, with whom he founded a high-school band that would become The Boys Next Door. The Boys Next Door dissolved into The Birthday Party in 1980 when the album of the same name was released. Led by Cave, the band moved from Australia to London, and with their incendiary raw and swaggering blues, impacted on the rock scene with a force that still resonates today.

Ed St John, Chairman, ARIA Awards Committee, said "Nick Cave has enjoyed - and continues to enjoy - one of the most extraordinary careers in the annals of popular music. His contribution over the past 30 years was never limited by geography or nationality and nor could it ever be described in terms of hit records, chart positions or radio airplay. He is an Australian artist like Sidney Nolan is an Australian artist - beyond comparison, beyond genre, beyond dispute. As an industry we should be immensely proud and humbled by Nick Cave's achievements; I know I speak for the ARIA Board when I say it's a real pleasure to be inducting this artist into the Hall of Fame."

Following The Birthday Party's break-up in 1983, Cave briefly sojourned in Los Angeles, writing a film script that would later manifest itself as the prison movie Ghosts... Of The Civil Dead, made with directors John Hillcoat and Evan English. He also assembled the first incarnation of The Bad Seeds, the start of a 20 years plus tenure of which he has been at the helm. When the first Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album ("From Her To Eternity") was released in 1984, the fusion of diverse talent that Cave had brought together constructed vivid musical backdrops to Cave's song narratives.

1985's "The Firstborn Is Dead" was quickly followed by 1986's "Your Funeral...My Trial" after which Cave took a two-year hiatus from recording, partially to appear in Wim Wenders' 1987 film "Wings of Desire". He then returned with "Tender Prey", which arguably featured Cave's strongest vocal performance up to that point. Cave's productivity picked up immensely over the next two years he had two books (1988's "King Ink", a collection of lyrics, plays, and prose, and 1989's "And the Ass Saw the Angel", a novel) published; appeared in "Ghosts...of the Civil Dead" as a prisoner; recorded a soundtrack to the film with Harvey and Bargeld; and released 1990's "The Good Son", his most relaxed, quiet album. The visceral walking blues of 1992's "Henry's Dream" came next.

"Let Love In" followed and then, in 1996, he released "Murder Ballads", a collection of songs about murder. Featuring duets with PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue, Murder Ballads became Cave's most commercially successful album to date and was followed up with the introspective and personal "The Boatman's Call "in early 1997. A spoken word release, "Secret Life of the Love Song" followed in 1999. Two years later, a rejuvenated Cave teamed up with the Bad Seeds once again for the piano-laden "No More Shall We Part". "Nocturama" was released in 2003. And then came the double-album "Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus" (released at the end of 2004), two self contained albums which many fans and critics feel is Cave's musical masterpiece.

NICK CAVE wrote the screenplay for 2005 film "The Proposition" (directed by long time collaborator John Hillcoat) and the accompanying score with friend and fellow Bad Seed, Warren Ellis. And now, Cave's creativity continues to soar with Grinderman, a musical partnership with Warren Ellis, Martyn P. Casey and Jim Sclavunos. Ellis and Cave have also recently collaborated on the soundtrack for the new Brad Pitt film "The Assassination of Jesse James by the outlaw Robert Ford".

With his continual quest for excellence, he is one of the most singular forces in contemporary music and a national living treasure. NICK CAVE we salute you.

A PDF version of this press release can be found in our Media Centre.

The ARIA Fine Arts Awards were held in Sydney tonight in front of a packed house of enthusiasts at the Conservatorium of Music's magnificient Verbrugghen Hall.

ARIA congratulates the winners in the Fine Arts categories:

Best World Music Album: Zulya for '3 Nights'
Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album: Choir of Hard Knocks for 'Choir of Hard Knocks'
Best Jazz Album: Mike Nock and Dave Liebman for 'Duologue'
Best Classical Album: Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra for 'Bach Violin Concertos'

Photos from the event can be viewed in our Gallery section. Pictured at left is Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

With just a bit over two weeks until the big night, ARIA is proud to announce additional performers and presenters.

In additional to the performers already announced - Powderfinger, Silverchair, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins and Sneaky Sound System - organisers have confirmed that ARIA nominee GOTYE (pronounced Gore-ti-yeah!) will perform at the awards. The multi-talented musician, writer and producer, has scored four ARIA Award nominations (Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Dance Release and Album of the Year plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) for Mixed Blood, a remix album of songs from his extraordinarily successful sophomore release Like Drawing Blood. Made on a shoestring budget and independently released without any traditional marketing, Gotye's success is proof that the cream always rises to the top.

The captivating KATE MILLER-HEIDKE, whose debut album Little Eve also landed her four ARIA Award nominations (plus 1 Artisan Award nomination), in the categories of Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist-Single, Breakthrough Artist-Album and Best Pop Release, will bring her unique style to the ARIA Awards stage. Her beautifully crafted debut album was delivered earlier this year to overwhelming critical response, debuting at #11 on the National Motorola ARIA Album Chart. The first single Words soon caught the attention of media across the country and introduced fans to Kate's unique and eclectic style. Her current single Make It Last is another up-tempo pop song that features Kate's signature vocals and gorgeous melody. With a national tour slated for November/December, the divine Ms Kate Miller-Heidke will be one to watch at the 2007 ARIA Awards.

Formed at Elenora High (Gold Coast, QLD) in 2005 during chess class, young upstarts OPERATOR PLEASE will ditch their school uniforms to perform at the ARIA Awards. Nominated twice (Best Pop Release and Breakthrough Artist-Single, plus 1 Artisan Award) for the infuriatingly catchy single Just A Song About Ping Pong, the song hit number 12 on the ARIA chart here and number 1 on the UK MTV chart. With a new single Get What You Want, a new album Yes Yes Vindictive (released through EMI on November 10th) and a major national tour that kicks off in November, the future's so bright they'll have to wear shades. In the meantime, all eyes are on the 2007 ARIA Awards. Who knows? They may take home an ARIA Award before they take home their High School Certificate!

Host ROVE McMANUS will be joined on stage by JAMES MATHISON and guest presenters including DELTA GOODREM, BEN LEE, CRAIG REUCASSEL, CHRIS TAYLOR and DAVE HUGHES.

The winner of no less than seven ARIA Awards, DELTA GOODREM, will take her turn on the other side of the podium at the 2007 Awards. With a hot new single In This Life (debuted at #1 and still going strong), a hot new look and a hot new, self titled album due for release on October 20th, the darling of the Australian music industry will make a welcome return to the ARIA stage.

Also no stranger to winning multiple ARIA Awards, the talented singer/songwriter DARREN HAYES will also make a special appearance at the 2007 ARIA Awards. With his current album This Delicate Thing We've Made out now, and a new single Me, Myself and I released on November 3rd, Darren is about to embark on his Time Machine tour of Australia.

Former ARIA Award winner and citizen of the world BEN LEE will have an ARIA homecoming off the back of brand new album Ripe and the breathtakingly catchy single Love Me Like the World is Ending. Here on an Australian tour, Ben will take time out to appear at the ARIAs before heading back to the US for a run of live shows.

Lock up your daughters! CRAIG REUCASSEL and CHRIS TAYLOR from the top rating water cooler program The Chasers War on Everything will dish it up at the 2007 ARIA Awards. Best known for pranks which include cross dressing, play acting and musical spoofs these errant sons of satire are guaranteed to set tongues wagging.

And last but certainly not least, everyone's favourite Aussie comedian DAVE HUGHES will be back to entertain at the 2007 ARIA Awards. He might have the laconic drawl but he also has one of the fastest comic minds this country has ever seen. We love ya Hughesy!

Tickets for the 2007 ARIA Awards are selling like the proverbial hotcakes with industry tickets selling out in record time. General Admission tickets for the general public are also moving fast with just under 2,000 left.

Stand by for further announcements in the coming weeks.

2007 ARIA AWARDS KEY DATES:
Monday, October 15, 2007 - ARIA Fine Arts Awards, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 2007 ARIA Awards, Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park

Platinum, Gold and Silver industry tickets have now completely sold out. A short waitlist is being maintained - email Neha in the Awards event office for more information.

Some public tickets are still available.

Over 700 artists, artisans, music industry staffers and media were at the lavish Sydney Theatre yesterday to hear the announcement of the 2007 ARIA Awards final five nominees.

A selection of photos from the event can be viewed here.

Pictured at left are Video Hits' Fuzzy and Andrew G from Australian Idol, just two of the special guests on hand to announce the nominees.

ARIA, Network Ten and Motorola are pleased to today announce the Final Five Nominees in 26 categories in the 2007 ARIA Awards, with the winners to be announced Sunday October 28 at Acer Arena.

For a full list of nominees, visit our Media Centre and download the press release that can be found at the top of the left-hand column. Alternatively, visit our Winners & Nominees page.

Also announced today is the return of Rove McManus as host of this year's event. Rove will be ably assisted by Australian Idol's James Mathison who'll be reporting from behind-the-scenes and on the Red Carpet.

ARIA is also pleased to announce the first artists who'll be special performers at the 2007 ARIA Awards. Please welcome Powderfinger, Silverchair, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins and Sneaky Sound System.

Finally, please join us in congratulating the winners of the Artisan Award categories in the 2007 ARIA Awards.

Produer of the Year: Wayne Connolly & Josh Pyke for Josh Pyke's acclaimed album 'Memories and Dust'.
Engineer of the Year: Wayne Connolly, also for his work on Josh Pyke's album 'Memories and Dust'.
Best Cover Art: Aaron Hayward and Dave Homer at Debaser for Powderfinger's album 'Dream Days at the Hotel Existence.' This is Debaser's second ARIA Award in as many years.
Best Video: Paul Goldman and Alice Bell for Silverchair's 'Straight Lines' film clip.

Tickets to the ARIA Awards are now on sale:

Click here for General Public tickets.

Click here for Industry Tickets.

We look forward to seeing you on October 28 at Acer Arena.

AMRA (The Australian Music Retailers Association), in conjunction with ARIA, today announced the winners of the 2007 RETAILER OF THE YEAR Awards.

The Awards are presented to five independent and five chain stores across Australia and recognise the importance of music retail to the artists, producers and promoters of music. A drum roll please for the good folk at the following chain and independent retail stores who have been honoured in the 2007 Retailer of the Year Awards:

WINNERS - BEST CHAIN STORES
NSW - HMV Mid City, Sydney
VIC/TAS - JB Hi-Fi, Chadstone
QLD - JB Hi-Fi, Chermside
SA/NT - JB Hi-Fi, Adelaide
WA - JB Hi-Fi, Perth City

WINNERS - BEST INDEPENDENT RETAIL OUTLETS
NSW - Leading Edge Music, Warriewood
VIC/TAS - Capricorn LEM, Warrnambool
QLD - Rocking Horse Records, Brisbane
SA/NT - The Muses, Adelaide
WA - 78 Records, Perth

A special presentation to these winners will be made at the ARIA Chairman's Reception, an invitation only event that will take place on Sunday, October 28th just prior to the ARIA Awards.

The Final Five nominees in 26 Award categories, along with the winners in the Artisan Award categories of Best Video, Best Cover Art, Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year, will be announced 11am on Wednesday 19th Sept.

Orders are now being taken for Industry tickets to this year's ARIA Awards. In past year's all industry tickets have sold out so we encourage you to get your orders in early.

Note that orders will only be accepted upon receipt of payment.

Click here to go to the Industry Tickets page, where you'll find a link to download the order form. Showgroup, our official travel partner, has also supplied a travel form should you wish to make any hotel or flight bookings.

The 930 members of the judging panel have now reviewed 853 entries and cast their votes.

The Final Five nominees in each category will be announced at the Nominations Event (entry by invitation only) to be held at the Sydney Theatre on Wednesday, September 19. At this event the winners in the Artisan Awards (Best Video, Best Cover Art, Producer of the Year and Engineer of the Year) will be announced.

The winners of the ARIA Fine Arts Awards (Best Jazz Album, Best Classical Album, Best World Music Album, and Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album will be announced on Monday, 0ctober 15.

Tomorrow 930 judges will commence their review of 853 entries to select the best Australian music released in the last 12 months.

Since their inception, the ARIA Awards have been peer-voted, ensuring their credibility and prestige both within the industy and in the wider community.

Of the 28 awards, 26 are decided by the voting panel, with the Highest Selling Album and Single categories decided by audited sales reports.

Voting runs until Friday, August 24. All votes are placed via a secure website developed and managed by our partners Gruden. At 5pm on August 24 the website is closed to everyone but Deloitte, who review the results and ensure there are no anomalies. Deloitte then deliver the top contenders in each category for the official announcement of the Final Five Nominees on Wednesday, September 19.

In case you missed Saturday's night premiere of the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame broadcast, Vh1 will be airing encore screenings as follows:

Tuesday 24th July - 8.30pm
Wednesday 25th July - 2.00pm
Thursday 26th July - 10.00pm
Saturday 27th July - 9.30pm

Pictured at left is Connie Mitchell of Sneaky Sound System performing with Hall of Fame inductee Marcia Hines. Their show-stopping performance is featured in the broadcast.

The 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame may have come and gone, but it will be long-remembered as a night of high emotion and ear-splitting action as ARIA honoured Hall of Fame inductees Hoodoo Gurus, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, Brian Cadd, Marcia Hines, Frank Ifield and Radio Birdman. Music industry legend John Woodruff was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Awards. Photos capturing all the emotion can be found here.

Pictured - Brian Henderson (at left) who inducted Frank Ifield into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

A PDF of this announcement can be found in the Media Centre section of this website.

With the ARIA HALL OF FAME just a week away, event organisers are delighted to announce details of the host, inductors, special guest performers AND a long overdue industry inductee who will take to the stage at Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom (Regent Theatre) on WEDNESDAY, JULY 18. The 2007 event, which will pay tribute to HOODOO GURUS, MARCIA HINES, FRANK IFIELD, BRIAN CADD, RADIO BIRDMAN and JO JO ZEP AND THE FALCONS will be broadcast exclusively on Vh1 (available on channel 810 on subscription television Foxtel, Optus and Austar) on SUNDAY, JULY 22 from 7.30PM.

In addition to the six inductees, ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) is proud to announce that manager, record company executive, concert promoter, music publisher and artist advocate JOHN WOODRUFF will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME event on Wednesday July 18th at Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom (Regent Theatre).

Awarded at the discretion of the ARIA Board, the Lifetime Achievement Award is primarily about recognizing shape shifters - industry players rather than musicians who have made a significant and profound contribution to Australian music and the Australian music industry. Previous recipients include Ted Albert, Daryl Somers, Stan Rofe, Ian Meldrum, Michael Gudinski, Ron Tudor, Bill Armstrong and Charles Fisher. Now John Woodruff becomes the next recipient to be bestowed this prestigious honour before his peers.

John Woodruff commenced his career in Adelaide and has been responsible for nurturing some of Australia's greatest music talents from the beginning of their careers to international heights, among them The Angels, Icehouse, Johnny Diesel and the Injectors, Baby Animals and the world breaking, chart topping Savage Garden. In his current ventures he is actively involved in the development of another generation of stars on the world stage including Evermore, Butterfly Effect, Kisschasy and Small Mercies.

In the late 1970s John Woodruff, together with Ray Hearn and Rod Willis, formed Dirty Pool Artist Management. Dirty Pool was responsible for changing the power and leverage from venue owners back to the artists. Previously performers were only paid on a minimal fee basis and the venue promoter took most of the money. By changing the system, John brought balance and fairness in remuneration between the parties.

Before the advent of the current trend of downloading music files legally and illegally, John was at the forefront of presenting a forum at Parliament House in Canberra to demonstrate how artists' rights could be damaged by such activities. As a result, changes were made to the copyright act in regard to digital rights, which protect artists to some degree to this day. His foresight in such areas as this led to the formation of The Music Managers Forum of which he was a founding member. The organisation has since grown to become an international body, the International Music Managers Forum (IMMF), that allows artist managers from around the globe to discuss changes in various territories and business sectors to the betterment of their artists and also to act as a lobby group for performers.

John Woodruff's list of credentials is long and impressive and also includes being the founder and co-publisher of Australia's only music industry trade magazine, The Music Network. Since being informed of this honour, I have come to realise more and more with every passing day, just how much it means to me personally and to the wonderful people around me. I am humbled and deeply moved. It's a great feeling that 'you know what, somebody did notice'. I've often said that I am the luckiest bastard alive, and this just goes further to prove it', said John Woodruff.

Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and long time friend of John's said: Woody is one of the best blokes I've ever met both professionally and personally. His contribution to the industry is truly remarkable. It's been a real pleasure to be part of the incredible journey so far. Woody - 'I'm glad I bought the ticket!'.

Rockwiz hostess with the mostest, JULIA ZEMIRO will host the 2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME event. A regular face on television via Good News Week (ABC TV), as a performer/writer on the sketch comedy show Totally Full Frontal, and more recently The Great BBQ Challenge for The LifeStyle Channel, Song For The Socceroos for SBS, presenting at the 2005 ARIA Awards and Ten's hit show Thank God You're Here, this will be her first time in the hot seat for this dedicated event. Citing US Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Springsteen as her first love, comedienne, actor and all round entertainer, JULIA ZEMIRO will bring her unique talent and her wonderful knowledge and empathy for Australian music to the ARIA HALL OF FAME.

Taking on induction honours for the 2007 HALL OF FAME event is a group of performers who are widely respected in their own right. This Sporting Life's HG NELSON will step up the plate to induct HOODOO GURUS while JIMMY BARNES will induct BRIAN CADD. Super agent HARRY M MILLER, who staged the production of Hair, will fittingly induct MARCIA HINES, and self-proclaimed Birdman fan DANIEL JOHNS will induct RADIO BIRDMAN.

As always, the live music at the ARIA HALL OF FAME will be a combination of special tributes and inductee performances. Two time ARIA Award winners, THE WAIFS, will perform a special tribute to FRANK IFIELD. On the upcoming performance Josh Cunningham from THE WAIFS said, Anyone who has had the Beatles as an opening act is an undisputed legend. It is a privilege and an honour to be asked to perform Frank Ifield's classic, 'I Remember You'. BRIAN CADD will perform two hits from his extensive repertoire - Ginger Man (with THE AUDREYS) and Little Ray of Sunshine (with RAI THISTLETHWAYTE from THIRSTY MERC). Rai said, I am honoured to be asked by Brian. My mum used to call me Little Rai (of sunshine) as a kid. I'm really looking forward to it. Joining MARCIA HINES on stage for what is sure to be a show stopping performance will be CONNIE MITCHELL, lead singer of Sydney pop-dance outfit SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM.

RADIO BIRDMAN, HOODOO GURUS and JO JO ZEP AND THE FALCONS will each perform two of their most memorable songs on the night, each song a classic in its own right. With the live performances at the ARIA HALL OF FAME event always a highlight, this year will be no exception.

Music fans should not miss this slice of Australian history. Featuring all the live performances and magic moments, the exclusive 2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME broadcast will be screened on Vh1 on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm. The Triple M Network is the radio broadcast partner for the ARIA Hall of Fame.

The 2007 ARIA Awards judging panel was today sent an email inviting them to register to vote this year. The panel, comprising 1200+ members of the music industry, is integral to the ARIAs as it is they who decide the winners of 26 of the 28 ARIA Awards. (The Highest Selling Album and Highest Selling Single categories are based on audited sales).

The ARIA board encourages all voters to register immediately so the production team can begin issuing user name and passwords. Voter registration closes promptly at 5pm on Friday, July 27.

The judges will be placing their votes for the 2007 ARIA ARIA Awards between 15-24 August, and the final five nominees in each category will be announced on Wednesday, September 19.

ARIA is pleased to announce that tickets to the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame have sold out again this year. For those who have missed out on tickets, tune in to the Vh1 exclusive broadcast on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame, to be held in Melbourne on Wednesday, July 18, are now on sale. This special and exclusive event always sells out so we encourage you to order tickets early. The order form, and all information about the event, can be found in our Hall of Fame section.

Pictured in the shot at left are, L-R:

Jo Camilleri - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Wilbur Wilde - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Brian Cadd
Chris Masuak - Radio Birdman
Pip Hoyle - Radio Birdman
Marcia Hines
Brad Shepherd - Hoodoo Gurus
Rick Grossman - Hoodoo Gurus
Frank Ifield

ARIA is honoured to announce a further three iconic Australian music artists who will be inducted into the prestigious ARIA HALL OF FAME in five weeks time. This widely respected annual music industry event will take place on WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 at the Plaza Ballroom at Melbourne's Regent Theatre and will be broadcast exclusively on Vh1 (available on subscription television Foxtel and Austar) on SUNDAY, JULY 22 from 7.30PM.

These new inductees reflect the rich tapestry of Australian music and have helped make it the force that it is in our unique music culture. Drum roll please, for joining the already announced music legends HOODOO GURUS, MARCIA HINES and FRANK IFIELD into the ARIA HALL OF FAME in 2007 are:

"Not very long ago we couldn't have imagined being within a mile of this event, but as Lou Reed said, 'Those were different times'", said members of RADIO BIRDMAN. Arguably one of Australia's most incendiary and important rock n' roll bands, the name and iconic symbol of RADIO BIRDMAN evokes many images for those who know and love Australian rock music. Seeing their independence as essential to maintaining complete artistic freedom, RADIO BIRDMAN's unique chemistry has seen the band stay the course while others have come and gone. They cut a completely individual path through the music of the day, and exploded into fragments at the peak of the group's power before regrouping in the mid '90s. Now touring Australia this month off the back of their most recent album Zeno Beach, RADIO BIRDMAN continue to maintain the rage.

Singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer BRIAN CADD remains a key figure in the history of Australian music. One glance at his extensive discography reinforces his prolific musical output – from co-founder of much loved outfit The Groop, to Axiom, a band that was widely considered Australia's first ever supergroup. And his career is still as active as ever with his work continuing as a producer and the release and supporting tour of his own most recent studio album, 2005's Quietly Rustling. "I've had forty incredible years in this world of music. During that time I have had the honour to write and record with many fabulous creative people and to perform in front of many wonderful audiences. I can't really imagine how it could have been much better or any more fun. Now being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame absolutely puts the icing on the cake for me. I truly appreciate this honour so very much," said BRIAN CADD of his impending induction.

JO JO ZEP AND THE FALCONS were one of the more popular Australian bands of their day. Primarily a vehicle for front man Joe Camilleri, who assembled the group in Melbourne in 1976, the band's line-up fluctuated regularly over the years; in addition to Camilleri, the nucleus consisted of guitarists Jeff Burstin and Tony Faehse, bassist John Power, saxophonist Wilbur Wilde and drummer Gary Young. From the word go, the band were a gritty, sax-powered R&B outfit but they remained wildly unpredictable in the years to follow, and moved from genre to genre with ease. Retiring in 1983, the band made a considerable impact on the Australian music scene. "After all is said and done, it's a good thing to celebrate, and a nice thing to recognize, the fact that 30 years ago a band which was true to itself helped shape the distinctly Australian music culture we all love today", said Joe Camilleri of JO JO ZEP AND THE FALCONS.

With sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious speeches, don't miss the exclusive 2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME broadcast on Vh1 on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm as Australian music artists toast their peers and forebears in rock, followed by fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime performances that make history as much as pay tribute to it.

Biographies on each inductee available in the Media Centre in the Press Release section.

2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME
Wednesday, July 18
Plaza Ballroom in the Regent Theatre
Melbourne
Broadcast on Vh1 on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm.

Last year Divinyls strutted and pouted their way through a much-anticipated reunion set. Daddy Cool did the Eagle Rock while at the other end of the music spectrum Helen Reddy thrilled with a powerful acceptance speech that didn't leave a dry eye in the house. These iconic performers joined Rose Tattoo, Icehouse, Lobby Loyde and Midnight Oil (inducted at the 2006 ARIA Awards) as the 2006 ARIA Hall of Fame inductees.

Now ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) is proud to announce the return of the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame - an event dedicated to paying tribute to iconic artists that have made a significant impact and enduring contribution to our music landscape.

This very special event, now in its third year, will take place on Wednesday, July 18th at the Plaza Ballroom at Melbourne's Regent Theatre. Once again ARIA is thrilled to announce that VH1 will be broadcasting the event on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm. "It's with great pride that once again VH1 will bring the Hall of Fame to subscription television. At VH1 we love to celebrate iconic talent, & this is a tremendous way of acknowledging icons that have played a significant role in influencing the Australian music industry" says Dave Sibley Managing Director of MTV Networks Australia and New Zealand.

The first inductees to be announced for 2007 run the gamut and celebrate our musical diversity - from garage rock 'n' roll and rhythm & blues to yodelling and country music. And on July 18th, as has become tradition, other artists will toast their peers and officially induct these music forebears into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

ARIA is honoured to announce the first three music artists who will be inducted into the 2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME and become a part of Australian music history at Melbourne's Regent Theatre.

The HOODOO GURUS, one of the most inventive, lyrically smart and exciting rock' n 'roll bands Australia has ever produced will line-up to be inducted into the ARIA HALL OF FAME on July 18th. "Somewhat unexpected, it should be said, but humbling never the less, to be up for a gong like this. But here's the rub - both my wife and my mother were reduced to tears of joy when I told them of the Gurus' impending induction. It was lovely to see in their faces some vindication that all those unfailing years of good faith weren't entirely misplaced! As far as my 5-year old daughter is concerned we're, like, The Monkees now. BIG. So now I'm conspiring to have them all on the same table on the night for maximum impact," said Gurus guitarist Brad Shepherd.

The Hoodoo Gurus will be inducted into the ARIA HALL OF FAME alongside Australia's first lady of rhythm and blues, Ms MARCIA HINES."I am very proud to have been adopted as a native daughter. This is one of those defining moments of reward for the sleep lost, the miles travelled, the enduring friendships, and those that have travelled with me and provided help along the way. To have loved the journey and to have wished for nothing more than I have received, means this induction takes me way beyond anything I could have expected from my career. Thank you," said Marcia Hines.

The last of the first three Inductees is legendary singer / songwriter / yodeller FRANK IFIELD (pictured at left), one of the most original Australian country music artists. On his impending induction into the ARIA HALL OF FAME, Frank Ifield said, "My father used to quote an old adage stating; "A prophet is never recognised in his own home" - and yet, this event seems to prove an exception to that rule. However, no performer embarks on a career thinking to create history - with passion we gave our all, doing what we loved doing to the best of our ability - while hoping to earn a quid. That is the reason for feeling humbled that my lifetime in the world of show business could be honoured in my own homeland by an induction to the ARIA Hall Of Fame".

2007 ARIA HALL OF FAME
Wednesday, July 18
Plaza Ballroom in the Regent Theatre
Melbourne

Vh1 will be broadcasting the event on Sunday, July 22 at 7.30pm.

Details for the 2007 ARIA Awards will be announced June 15 when our new website goes live.

If you're an artist or record company looking to enter yourself or your artist(s) in this year's Awards, note that only ARIA members can submit entries for consideration by the judging panel. An ARIA member can be an artist, a record company, a distributor etc. For more information and an application form, visit the ARIA website and head to the members section. NOTE: Whist applications are accepted year-round, if you'd like to enter this years ARIA Awards you must get your application to ARIA by FRIDAY, 22 JUNE 2007. Assuming you meet the membership criteria, this will allow enough time for your application to be processed and for you to submit your entries by the deadline.

Full details on how to submit entries will be sent to ARIA members before the end of May, and after that to new members as soon as their application is approved. Entries will be via our entry website between 9-27 July.

Judging is scheduled to take place 15-24 August.

Should you have any other questions about the 2007 ARIA Awards email Rachel in the Awards office.

Congratulations to this year's winners!

Wolfmother winning Best Breakthrough Album.

Youth Group picking up an ARIA for Best Breakthrough Single.

Best Urban Release went to The Hill Top Hoods. Nice work guys.

Best Pop Release went to the lovely Veronicas.

Troy Cassar-Daley takes home the ARIA for Best Country.

The Hill Top Hoods just picked up their second ARIA award for the night for Best Independent Release.

Best Rock Album goes to Wolfmother. Their second ARIA for the night.

Check the galleries for what happened between Rove and Johnny Knoxville backstage!

Best Adult Contemporary Album went to Bob Evens.

Best Music DVD went to Eskimo Joe.

TV Rock feat. Seany B have just won an ARIA for Best Dance Release for Flaunt It. They also picked up another for Highest Selling Single.

Human Nature won an ARIA for Highest Selling Album.

Wolfmother wins again this time for Best Group. That makes three for them tonight.

The unstoppable Wiggles just won for Best Children’s Album.

Lano & Woodley have picked up the ARIA for best Comedy release.

The Audreys picked up the ARIA for Best Blues & Roots Album.

Clare Bowditch was announced as Best Female Artist. Her first ARIAs.

Bernard Fanning takes out Best Male Artist.

Silverchair have just taken the stage.

Midnight Oil have just been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Eskimo Joe's Black Fingernails, Red Wine has just won Single of the Year.

Tea and Sympathy has just been announced as Album of the Year. Big congratulations to Bernard Fanning.

ARIA would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners in this years ARIA awards. Look out for more photos being added over the next few days.

The ARIAs are underway and checkout the galleries for all the Red Carpet photos.

Joining Divinyls, Icehouse, Daddy Cool, Lobby Loyde, Rose Tattoo and Helen Reddy, the legendary MIDNIGHT OIL will be the final recipients to be inducted into the 2006 ARIA Hall of Fame.

ARIA Awards Committee Chairman and President and CEO, Warner Music Australia, Ed St John said "Midnight Oil is one of the greatest rock & roll bands this country has ever produced. They were incredibly successful all over the world, but much more importantly, they made music that mattered. They covered subjects that had rarely been addressed in a rock song before: land rights, the environment, social justice, war, human rights and Australian history. The sound of their music, created by five supremely talented singers and musicians, evoked the very essence of Australia. There has never been a band like this, and I doubt there will ever be one like them again. Midnight Oil were unique, and ARIA is enormously honoured to be inducting the band into the Hall of Fame."

MIDNIGHT OIL is a band that made a career out of making noise about the important issues. They brought a new sense of political and social immediacy to pop music with incendiary hits like Beds Are Burning and Blue Sky Mine, which brought global attention to the plight of, respectively, Aboriginal settlers and impoverished workers. MIDNIGHT OIL always put its money where its mouth was - in addition to staging benefit performances for groups like Greenpeace and Save the Whales, former singer Peter Garrett is now fighting from the frontline as a Member of Parliament for the Federal Labour Party in the NSW seat of Kingsford-Smith.

The Oils defied all musical fashions to create fourteen extraordinary albums with combined international record sales of more than 12 million units. As a musical unit they railed against injustice, apathy, inequality and the lurking evil forces of cynicism and conservatism with sound, fury and righteous indignation.

On October 28, MIDNIGHT OIL is releasing their 18th album Flat Chat, a cross section of heart kicking classics featuring the Oils at their hard, fast and rocking best and demonstrates once again why Midnight Oil were regarded as one of Australia’s premier international rock bands!

“We always tried to make music with words that spoke to the times and with actions that backed up the words, so it’s a mighty honour to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame after more than 25 years of writing and performing together� said MIDNIGHT OIL’s lead singer, Peter Garrett.

Don’t miss MIDNIGHT OIL as they are inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, to be broadcast exclusively on Network Ten at 7.30pm on Sunday October 29th.

Honouring achievements in the Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtrack/Cast/Show recordings, the 2006 ARIA Fine Arts Awards was held at the magnificent Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music last night.

Paul Kelly and Dan Luscombe took out the BEST SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM category for Jindabyne, which also features the haunting vocals of Melbourne’s Soteria Bell, newcomer country artist Katie Brianna, actor Ursula Yovich and The Stormwater Boys.

The Necks unique blend of jazz, ambience and trance has brought them cult-fame in Australia and throughout Europe. They won their second BEST JAZZ ALBUM ARIA for Chemist and the award was accepted for the trio by bass player Lloyd Swanton.

It is no surprise that one of this year’s landmark recordings took out the BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM for National Living Treasure Richard Tognetti. Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin is his first solo album.

The Cat Empire is currently touring North America, so its ARIA for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM was accepted by manager Correne Wilkie. The winning Cities: The Cat Empire Project CD is a musical homage to its home-town of Melbourne.

Nominees who performed in this year’s ceremony were violinist Niki Vasilakis, pianists Paul Grabowsky and Simon Tedeschi, and brothers Joseph and James Tawadros on Egyptian oud and req’.

The event was broadcast nationally on ABC Classic FM, hosted by Damien Beaumont, with special guest presenters Tara Morice and David Campbell.

The ABC’s John Crawford, announced that the ABC Classic FM Listeners’ Choice Award went to the impressive 4CD release Wagner: Die Walküre, the world’s first 6-channel super audio CD (SACD) recording of The Ring in surround sound, by the State Opera of South Australia and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

2006 ARIA FINE ARTS AWARDS WINNERS

Best Classical Album
RICHARD TOGNETTI - Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
(ABC Classics/UMA)

Best Jazz Album
THE NECKS – Chemist
(Fish of Milk/Shock)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album
PAUL KELLY, DAN LUSCOMBE featuring SOTERIA BELL - Jindabyne
(Capitol/EMI)

Best World Music Album
THE CAT EMPIRE - Cities: The Cat Empire Project
(Virgin/EMI)

ABC Classic FM Listeners’ Choice Award
WAGNER: DIE WALKÜRE – State Opera of South Australia & Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (Melba Recordings)

Whilst there are still General Public tickets left, in the industry section Gold, Platinum and Silver tickets are now completely SOLD OUT.

General public tickets are selling faster than ever before, so get cracking and buy your tickets now so you don't miss the music industry's biggest night of the year!

APPLICATIONS FOR MEDIA ACCREDITATION AT THE 2006 ARIA AWARDS HAVE NOW CLOSED.

Media enquiries may be directed to ARIAAwards@ferrisdaviesprm.com.au

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ARIA invites authorised media representatives to apply for Media Accreditation at this years ARIA Awards.

The application form is available to download on the media centre page under 'press releases'.

Media must complete this form to gain access to the Red Carpet and Media Room at the ARIA Awards on Sunday, October 29.

Please note that accreditation is for the Red Carpet and/or Media Room only and does not provide access to the Awards dinner or after-show party.

Media accreditation is reserved for working members of the media. Due to space restrictions there is a limited number of press passes available however ARIA will accommodate as many media requests as possible. Submission of the Media Accreditation Request Form does not guarantee accreditation.

Your completed request (along with any required additional information) must be received no later than Monday, 9 October 2006 for consideration. The form includes details on where to send your application.

ARIA Awards organisers are proud to annouce further performers and special co-presenters who will light up the stage at the 2006 ARIA Awards, brought to you by Motorola on Sunday October 29 at Acer Arena.

Without further ado we can reveal that the following artists will join KEITH URBAN, ESKIMO JOE, THE VERONICAS and WOLFMOTHER live on stage at the 2006 ARIA Awards.

HILLTOP HOODS, arguably Australia’s most successful hip-hop act, will take the stage at the 2006 ARIA Awards to perform beats that draw from the best musical traditions of funk, jazz and soul. Nominated for 5 ARIA Awards, live the HILLTOP HOODS are untouchable.

Also nominated for 5 ARIA Awards (plus 2 Artisan Award nominations) is BERNARD FANNING who will bring his unique voice to the 2006 ARIA Awards.

Bringing a little Motown magic to the 2006 ARIA Awards will be HUMAN NATURE who have been nominated for 2 ARIA Awards. Watch one of Australia’s finest pop acts come full circle at the 2006 ARIA Awards.

Joining JAMES MATHISON at the podium as a presenter for the 2006 ARIA Awards will be star of both the small and large screen Mr JOHNNY KNOXVILLE. Known for his cunning stunts and currently starring along with his crew in the Wolfmother film clip for Joker and The Thief, KNOXVILLE will be in Australia to promote the sequel to the hugely successful Jackass movie Jackass Number 2. In town to promote his album Right Where You Want Me US pop star JESSE MCCARTNEY will also take time out to co-present at the ARIA Awards. And Little Birdy’s KATY STEELE and her brother, The Sleepy Jackson’s LUKE STEELE will also step up to the presenting plate.

A new generation of young-guns take on some Australian Music legends at the 2006 ARIA Fine Arts Awards.

In it's third year, the ARIA Fine Arts Awards will also be a family affair with three sets of brothers figuring in the nominations.

The ARIA Fine Arts Awards recognise excellence in the categories of Jazz, Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show, World and Classical. The winners will be announced during an invitation only ceremony on Wednesday 11th October from 7.00pm at the magnificent Verbrugghen Hall at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music.

The gala event with live performances will be hosted by Damien Beaumont and broadcast nationally by ABC Classic FM. In addition to the four ARIAs, an ABC Classic FM Listener's Choice Award will be presented.

For more information on the ARIA Fine Arts Awards on Wednesday 11th October, please click here.

20 Years of ARIA Awards
27 Award winning artists
31 Award winning tracks

Never before have so many award winning Australian artists appeared on one album - representing the cream of the Australian recording industry of the last 20 years.

Not only is every track on this album a historic moment in Australian music, but a number of these tracks were also huge worldwide hits!

What better way to celebrate 20 years of excellence in Australian music than with an album of award winning music.

Get your copy of the ARIA Awards 20th Anniversary CD (2CD Pack) at all leading record stores now!!

Industry Platinum tickets have now completely sold out. Gold tickets are limited, and some Silver tickets are still available.

For more information on industry tickets, or to download an order form, click here.

Media accreditation, for genuine working media only, is by application and requests must be received by ARIA Awards Event Publicists, Ferris Davies PRM, by Friday October 6. Visit our Media Centre and you'll find a link to download the application form in the Download column.

Please note that applications will not be accepted after October 6.

Hot on the heels on the final five nominees being announced, ARIA is excited to confirm the first four artists who will be performing at the ARIA Awards on October 29.

Everybody cry Wolf! Nominated for no less than 5 ARIA Awards, the three curly haired brothers in arms from WOLFMOTHER will perform live at the ARIA Awards for the very first time.

Also nominated for 5 ARIA Awards (and 4 ARIA Artisan Awards) and already the winners of 2 Artisan Awarsd, Perth power pop outfit ESKIMO JOE will grace the ARIA Awards stage to showcase their unique blend of soulful guitar rock and grand melodies.

Adding musical sunshine to ARIA Awards proceedings will be identical twins Jess & Lisa aka THE VERONICAS. Australia's favourite pop duo have taken Australia by storm with the clever, catchy pop songs from their debut Album 'The Secret Life Of.....' which has been nominated for 3 ARIA Awards.

And making a very special return trip home from the US will be Australian country rock icon KEITH URBAN. He's been a busy man, shooting a video clip and putting the finishing touches on his fourth, as yet untitled studio album.

...and that's just the beginning. Stay tuned for further announcements of special guests, presenters and performers.

Nominees in the 28 categories of the 2006 ARIA Awards were announced earlier today at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW.

Presenters James Mathison, Maya Jupiter, Myf Warhurst and Divinyls Chrissy Amphlett announced the final five nominees (final six in the Breakthrough Artist - Single and final four in the Best Comedy Album categories) to an assembled audience that included Augie March, Bob Evans, Catherine Britt, Dan Kelly, Eskimo Joe, Human Nature and Youth Group to name a few.

The winners in the Artisan Award categories - Best Video, Best Cover Art, Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year were also announced by recent ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Iva Davies.

Our congratulations go to all nominees.

In keeping within the tradition ARIA established at the 2005 Hall of Fame, this years inductees will be honoured in song by some of Australia's best new talent.

Jet have flown home to do two warm up shows in preparation for the release of their much anticipated new album Shine On. Jet will be cranking out a special tribute to Rose Tattoo by performing 'We Can't Be Beaten'.

For the first time in almost 12 years, founding members of Divinyls Chrissy Amphlett and Mark McEntee will be taking the stage at the ARIA Hall of Fame to perform two of their biggest hits 'I Touch Myself' and 'Boys In Town', whilst the original line up of Daddy Cool will regroup to perform arguably their two most iconic hits 'Eagle Rock' and 'Come Back Again'.

Also appearing on the night is Iva Davies and Icehouse who will perform 'We Can Get Together' and a special rendition of their classic song 'Great Southern Land'.

And finally, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs will perform a very special music tribute to Lobby Loyde.

Just who else will be performing....stay tuned for further announcements!

ARIA is delighted to announce one final music artist who will be honoured at the ARIA Hall of Fame event on Wednesday August 16 at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne.

Arguably one of Australia's legendary guitar heroes, LOBBY LOYDE, will join DIVINYLS, ICEHOUSE, DADDY COOL, HELEN REDDY and ROSE TATTOO into the hallowed ARIA Hall of Fame.

Acknowledged as the godfather of heavy rock in Australia, LOBBY LOYDE has influenced countless performers both here and overseas through his playing and songwriting as well as his production work.

Barry Lyde - or Lobby Loyde, as he has been known since the late 60's - started out like so many guitar heroes, under the all-pervasive influence of The Shadows' Hank Marvin. His incendiary guitar work has been a focal point of every band he's played with.

Among those who have cited Loyde as an influence are Billy Thorpe, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Pavement's Stephen Malkmus (who covered The Coloured Balls That's What Mama Said), Henry Rollings (who owns all Lobby's recordings), Bored! and Cosmic Psychos.

"When kids pick up guitars in this country, they don't say: 'I want to sound like Lobby Loyde', " said Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson. "They say: 'I want to sound like that' - without knowing it's Lobby. More than anyone else, Lobby helped create the Australian guitar sound. Long before Angus (Young) or Billy Thorpe or the Angels or Rose Tattoo. Lobby inspired Australian bands to step forward and play as loud and aggressively as they could. People are still trying to copy it today." Angry Anderson (The Age, Sat June 10th, 2006)

The 2006 ARIA Hall of Fame event will be broadcast exclusively on subscription television. Foxtel and Austar Digital subscribers will be able to see this special telecast on VH1 on Sunday, August 20th at 8.30pm

The 20th Annual ARIA Awards will be held on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, at Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park (formerly the Sydney SuperDome) and telecast on Network Ten at 7.30pm that night.

The ARIA Awards recognise excellence and innovation in all genres of Australian music and this year will be no exception with the 2006 Awards marking their 20th Anniversary.

2005/06 has been a bumper year for Australian artists with the likes of Bernard Fanning, Wolfmother, Shannon Noll, The Veronicas, Rogue Traders, Pete Murray, Eskimo Joe and Human Nature all releasing platinum selling albums as well as Gold album releases from Something For Kate, Hilltop Hoods, Augie March and Lee Kernaghan during the eligibility period.

Over 1,000 members of the Australian music industry begin casting their votes on Wednesday, August 16. Once voting has closed on Friday, August 25 and the numbers crunched, the final five nominees across 28 ARIA Award categories will be announced in Sydney on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. The Nominations' Event will also feature the presentation of this year's ARIA Artisan Awards for Producer of the Year, Engineer of the Year, Best Cover Art and Best Video.

Tickets to this star-studded event will go on sale to the general public (all ages) on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2006. This year's ARIA AWARDS will feature a total of 9 performances from Australia's finest recording artists. The coveted performance slots will be announced after the Nominations Event on Wednesday, September 13.

In its third year as part of the ARIA Awards program, the ARIA FINE ARTS Awards will be held on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, in the magnificent Verbrugghen Hall at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music. At this event (to be simulcast on ABC Classic FM) the winners in the categories of Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, and Best Original Soundtrack/Cast Recording will be announced along with the ABC Classic FM Listeners' Choice Award for Best Classical Album.

KEY DATES:

Eligibility period for releases - Tuesday, August 16, 2005 to Saturday, August 5, 2006 inclusive
Voting period - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 to Friday, August 25, 2006 inclusive
Hall of Fame event - Wednesday, August 16, 2006, Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne
Tickets on sale to ARIA Members - Monday, September 4, 2006
Tickets on sale to Industry - Monday, September 11, 2006
ARIA Nominees announced and ARIA Artisan Awards presented - Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tickets on sale to General Public - Thursday, September 21, 2006
ARIA Fine Arts Awards presented at Sydney's Conservatorium of Music - Wednesday, October 11, 2006

ARIA and Gruden are proud to announce the launch of the new ARIA Awards Entry Website.

Using the experience gained in the development and running of the ARIA Awards Voting website over the past 5 years, Aria and Gruden have again simplified the awards process.

The ARIA Awards Entry Website makes life simpler for ARIA members, who in previous years had to complete almost 60 pages of paperwork in order to nominate their favourite artists. The intuitive online system streamlines this process and has the added benefit of greatly reducing the scope for error.

The site also provides a full set of tools for the management of digital assets including cover art, music videos and audio files.

Rather than having to collate these assets for each submission and send them in on a disc, ARIA members can easily manage assets online and associate them with the relevant nominations.

Now, with help from Gruden, ARIA members can spend more time developing their artists and ARIA can concentrate on bringing you all another great Awards.

ARIA is pleased to announce the return of the ARIA HALL OF FAME; an annual stand alone event which will see the Australian music community pay tribute to artists who have made significant contributions to this country's musical landscape. The ARIA Hall of Fame 2006 event will take place on Wednesday, August 16 at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne's Regent Theatre.

The Hall of Fame has been an important part of the ARIAs since 1988. Traditionally taking place during the music awards ceremony, ARIA has inducted a diversity of artists into the Hall of Fame, including AC/DC, Dame Joan Sutherland, Olivia Newton John, Johnny O'Keefe, Paul Kelly, John Farnham, INXS, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Little and more.

At this inaugural event, Divinyls, Icehouse, Daddy Cool, Helen Reddy and Rose Tattoo will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame 2006. ARIA is pleased to announce that the evening will include performances by Divinyls, Icehouse, Daddy Cool as well as two very special guest performers who will be announced in the coming weeks.

The entire event will be broadcast exclusively on VH1 on Sunday August 20 at 8.30pm.

For more information on the event, click here. For information on tickets email jules in the ARIA Awards event office.