The Brag Media, publisher of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, has unveiled the host and performers for the 2023 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards, as well as the nominees for the Rolling Stone Readers’ Choice Award.
The music awards return to Sydney on April 4 with a star-studded party to celebrate Australian music.
Former triple j breakfast host turned podcaster, and occasional political candidate, Alex Dyson is confirmed to return after hosting in 2022.
Dyson revived the Matt & Alex brand in 2020 alongside his former triple j co-host Matt Okine, to launch the ‘All Day Breakfast’ podcast.
Dyson said: “I couldn’t be prouder to dust off my only collared shirt and help Rolling Stone celebrate 12 months of Australian musical achievement. Our country continually punches above its weight when it comes to anthems, #choons and bangers, so honouring those who create them in collaboration with Australia’s finest music publication is an absolute privilege.”
Also announced today is the lineup set to take the stage at The Argyle in Sydney where the Australian music industry will gather to celebrate its achievements and the momentum that has gathered from a post-pandemic rebound of live music.
First up is Budjerah, a singer-songwriter and Coodjinburra man from the Bundjalung nation, who after winning the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award at the 2021 ARIA Awards, went on to release his debut EP in 2022.
Budjerah, who is also nominated for Best Single and Best New Artist, recently supported Ed Sheeran on his record-breaking Australian tour.
Also scheduled to perform is multi-platinum and ARIA-award-winning Aussie icon Tina Arena. Arriving on the scene on Young Talent Time in 1976, Arena cemented herself as one of Australia’s best-selling and most decorated singer-songwriters in the ‘90s and 2000s with a string of chart-topping hits, having now sold over 10 million records globally.
Poppy Reid, The Brag Media’s editor in chief, said the third annual Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards is a unique opportunity to showcase the depth of talent emerging in Australia over the past year, as well as to pay tribute to some of Australia’s most loved music icons.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to host two Australian performers of the ilk of the emerging Budjerah and the legend that is Tina Arena.
“Not only are they incredible performers, but they are a fantastic cross-section of the diverse offerings that have been born out of the Australian music scene over recent decades. I can’t wait to see them perform live next week!”
In addition to the previously announced finalists, The Brag Media has now revealed the nominees for the Rolling Stone Readers’ Choice Award, with nominees and winners selected by Rolling Stone Australia subscribers.
The shortlist is Boy & Bear, Lime Cordiale, Teenage Dads, The Wiggles, Daniel Johns, Tones And I, The Chats, CXLOE, Ruby Fields and San Cisco.
They join a list of nominees vying for top honours at this year’s Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards, with Vance Joy, The Wiggles, Gang Of Youths, Spacey Jane and Keith Urban all receiving multiple nominations.
Across the evening, the following awards categories will be bestowed upon worthy recipients: Best Single, Best New Artist, Best Record, Rolling Stone Global Award, and the aforementioned publicly-voted Readers’ Choice Award.
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone Australia introduced new awards sponsors in 2023, including headline partner Shure, alongside Australis, Canna, Panhead, JMC Academy, Brixton, and Jim Beam.
Will Repanellis, head of marketing at Jands, said of Shure’s sponsorship: “It’s fantastic that we can bring together two iconic music industry brands, with a combined 153 years of championing Australian music, at this year’s Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards.”
Reid added:”“We share a deep-seated love for local music with our new headline partner Shure, and together we can’t wait to celebrate the industry with our friends and guests next week.”
According to Roy Morgan data on the national magazine market, Rolling Stone Australia reached 224,000 readers in the six months to December 31 2022, up 17.3% on the same period in 2021, and ahead of Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Living, Harper’s Bazaar, Who and more.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, featuring Amy Shark on the cover, is out now.
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Top image: Alex Dyson, Tina Arena and Budjerah