Put simply, the APRA Music Awards are about honouring composers and songwriters.

It was with this simple ideology in mind that the APRA Music Awards were established in 1982. Staged as an annual event, the awards honour those composers and songwriters who have achieved the highest performances of their work and excellence in their craft over the previous year.

APRA Music Award recipients over the years have been as rich and varied as the songs they represent. Previous winners have included some of the finest names in the Australian contemporary music landscape with an honour roll that has included Neil and Tim Finn, Powderfinger, Neil Murray, Yothu Yindi, Paul Kelly, Nick Cave, Daniel Johns, Savage Garden, Alex Lloyd, Tina Arena, David Hirschfelder, Slim Dusty, Missy Higgins, John Butler, Bernard Fanning, Wolfmother and many, many more.

In 2001 APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) turned 75 and the Music Awards celebrated the anniversary in style with over 900 distinguished guests including Australian writers, musicians, critics and broadcasters.

Now, as APRA enters its 82nd year, the commitment to honouring songwriters and composers is as strong as ever.

In 2002 APRA introduced two new award categories that have been embraced by the music community. Acknowledging the huge impact of dance music to Australia's musical panorama, APRA introduced the category for Most Performed Dance Work. APRA also introduced The Breakthrough Award, for emerging composers or songwriters of any genre. The inaugural recipients of these awards were paulmac and Peta Morris (for 'Just The Thing') and Jennifer Waite and Grant Wallis respectively.

In 2006 APRA introduced two categories, which are awarded based on statistical analysis. They are Most Performed Urban Work and Most Performed Blues & Roots Work.

APRA continues to host three annual awards events in any calendar year in Australia.

The Classical Music Awards, co - presented with the Australian Music Centre (AMC) are held in July/August and honours the achievements of composers, performers and industry specialists in the contemporary classical genre.

The Screen Music Awards, held in conjunction with the Australian Guild of Screen Performers (AGSC) is held in November and acknowledges excellence and innovation in the genre of screen composition.

The APRA Music Awards will be held in June in 2008.

Some awards are based on peer voting by the 30,000 + eligible voting APRA members, whilst others are based on APRA's analysis of performance data.

Needless to say, it is usually considered a great honour to be recognised by ones peers. With the APRA Board, writer / publisher and member voted awards ('Songwriter of the Year', 'Song Of the Year', the 'Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music' and the 'Breakthrough Songwriter Award'); APRA intends to continue the fine tradition of honouring Australian songwriters.

The 2008 APRA Music Awards will be held on Monday June 16th at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.

Award Categories & Voting / Selection criteria for the APRA Music Awards are:

Song of the Year

Decided by the votes of APRA members. All eligible songs must be written by an APRA member and released in the preceding calendar year for consideration.

Songwriter of the Year

Decided by APRA's Board of writer and publisher directors rewarding the songwriter who has recorded the most impressive body of work in the previous year.

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

Decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors.

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors for an emerging songwriter or groups of writers.

Awards for Most Played Works

The following awards are given based on APRA's statistical analysis:

• Dance Work of the Year
• Most Played Australian Work
• Most Played Australian Work Overseas
• Jazz Work of the Year
• Country Work of the Year
• Urban Work of the Year (new from 2006 APRA Awards onwards)
• Blues & Roots Work of the Year (new from 2006 APRA Awards onwards)

* From 2008, the category of Most Performed Foreign Work will no longer form part of the APRA Music Awards