WAM was originally formed as the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia. WAM first received project funding from the state government in 1989, and in the early 90s the word "rock" was dropped from the title to give the organisation scope to take on a broader constituency.
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In 1989 the inaugural WA Song Contest commenced, in 2002 it was rebranded as the WAM Song of the Year.
The WAM Song of the Year is open to all residents of Western Australia. The song must be the original work of the songwriter(s). Songwriters with a publishing deal can only enter the Professional category.
Winners
2003
In 2003 there were 1,247 entries and 75 shortlisted nominees in the 15 genre categories. Winners each received $1,000 (Children & Youth winners received $500) and a days recording time at a top Perth studio. The Grand Prize winner received the opportunity to have a promotional single recorded, pressed and released among other select opportunities.
The individual category award winners were:
2004
The WAM Song of the Year for 2004 was announced at the Fly by Night Club in Fremantle on Thursday 16 September 2004. The evening featured performances from past winners including Andrew Horabin and Lynn Hazelton, as well as finalists for the 2005 competition. The WAM Song of the Year was presented by the Minister for the Arts the Hon. Sheila McHale. There was over 1,300 songs entered in the competition with 75 works nominated by the industry panels as finalists in the 15 genre categories.
The individual category award winners were:
2005
The WAM Song of the Year for 2005 was announced at the Fly By Night Club in Fremantle on Thursday 27 October 2005. The evening featured performances from past winners including Andrew Horabin and Lynn Hazelton, as well as finalists for the 2005 competition. Performing on the night were The Bank Holidays, Lake of Bass, New Rules For Boats, Peter Brandy, The Flairz and the 2004 Song of the Year winner, Lauren Brede. The WAM Song of the Year was presented by the Minister for the Arts the Hon. Sheila McHale. There were close to 1,500 songs entered in the competition with 86 works nominated by the industry panels as finalists in the 17 genre categories.
The individual category award winners were:
2006
The WAM Song of the Year for 2006 was announced on Thursday 19 October 2006 at the Fly By Night Club in Fremantle with awards in 17 different categories. Performing on the night were Kavyen Temperly from Eskimo Joe, The Panda Band, Abbe May and The Rockin' Pneumonia, One Horse Town, the Catherine Noblet Quartet and The Watts. Presenters from Xpress Magazine, The West Australian, RTRFM, ABC Radio, Nova 93.7, Drum Media, Network 10, APRA, Perth International Arts Festival and Minister for the Arts, the Honorable Sheila McHale announced the winners. The winners of most categories were awarded $1,000 cash and 1 day of recording time in a leading Perth studio. The winner of the Grand Prize received an additional 3 days recording time with producer Rob Grant at Poons Head Studios and the pressing of 500 promotional singles/EPs through Westlink Multimedia/MGM.
The individual category award winners were:
2007
The 2007 WAM Song of the Year was announced at the Fly By Night in Fremantle, on Wednesday 31 October 2007. There were eighteen category winners and included for the first year a Professional category where published Western Australian based songwriters are given the chance to enter their works in WA’s premier song writing Awards. The Grand Prize for the WAM Song of the Year in 2007 includes a 3-day recording session and a pressing of 500 CDs.
The individual category award winners were:
2008
The 2008 WAM Song of the Year was announced at the Fly By Night in Fremantle, on Thursday 9 October 2008. The 85 nominees in 17 categories were announced on Monday 22 September. The Grand Prize for the WAM Song of the Year 2008 included a cash prize of $5,000, together with a 3-day recording session at Poons Head Recording Studio and 500 CDs by DiskBank.
For the first time, the public were invited to listen to and vote for a nominee in the Most Popular Song category. Public voting was later cancelled after claims of technical issues allowing multiple votes, it was replaced by judging by Sunday Times and PerthNOW entertainment staff. The professional category was also cancelled due to lack of numbers.
Over 400 songwriters from throughout Western Australia submitted 1640 songs, the second highest number of entries received in the competition's 19-year history.
The 18 award winners were:
2008 Grand Prize
As judged by an independent industry panel from all category winners.
"Feel" by Roly Skender and The Tonics
2008 Most Popular Song
As judged by The Sunday Times and PerthNOW entertainment staff from all nominated songs.
"Give Up Money For Music" by Robert Sazdov (BSYDE)
2009
The 2009 WAM Song of the Year was announced by the Hon. Dr Graham Jacobs MLA – Minister for Mental Health, at the Fly By Night Musicians’ Club in Fremantle. There were 80 nominees across 16 categories were chosen from over 1,200 entries. The Grand Prize carried a prize of $5,000 cash, a publishing deal with Shock Music Publishing, a recording and mastering package courtesy of Poons Head Studios and James Hewgill Music, and a run of 500 CDs supplied by Diskbank.
The sixteen award winners were:
2009 Grand Prize
"Streamers" by Umpire
2009 Popular Vote
"Run for the Hills" by The Words
2010
The 2010 WAM Song of the Year was announced by the Hon. Dr Graham Jacobs MLA – Minister for Mental Health, at the Fly By Night Musicians’ Club in Fremantle. The Grand Prize carried a prize of $5,000 cash, a publishing deal with Perfect Pitch Publishing, a recording and mastering package courtesy of Poons Head Studios and James Hewgill Music, and a run of 500 CDs supplied by Diskbank.
The sixteen award winners were:
2010 Grand Prize
"Breakfast in Bedlam" by Georgi Kay
2010 Popular Song
"Take Me Home" by Them Little Secrets and Fred Rea
2011
2011 WAM Song of the Year was announced by Russell Woolf (Presenter - ABC News Weather & 720 ABC Perth Drive program), at the Fly By Night Musicians’ Club. The Grand Prize carried a price of $2,000 cash, attendance at the 2012 Song Summit in Sydney, opportunities for a publishing deal, three days recording, mastering, cd pressing. With live performances by the Pop category winners The Panda Band, Indigenous category nominees Bartlett Brothers, The Big Old Bears and 2010's Grand Prize winner, Georgi Kay.
The sixteen award winners were:
2011 Grand Prize
"Speak the Truth in Love" by Timothy Nelson
2012
2012 WAM Song of the Year was hosted by Darren de Mello from 96FM at the Fly By Night Musicians Club. Rainy Day Women took out the Grand Prize of $2,000 cash, three days recording at Albert Studios in Sydney engineered by Wayne Connolly, a mentoring session from Alberts Creative Services; an album distribution deal to China courtesy of 88tc88, a mastering session with James Hewgill Music, 500 CDs pressed by DiskBank, an opportunity for a publishing deal with Perfect Pitch Publishing, a Berkleemusic online music course and a RØDE Microphones package. They also received the opportunity to perform at the AGWA Nights finale at the 2013 WAMi Festival, and had their song included on the 2013 Kiss My WAMi compilation. Performances included Kucka, Yabu Band, Timothy Nelson & amp; The Infidels, and Boom! Bap! Pow!
The sixteen award winners were:
2012 Grand Prize
"Sleigh Bed" by Rainy Day Women
2013
2013 WAM Song of the Year was held at Fly By Night Musicians Club. Taking out the Grand Prize, self-made beat producer Mathas, was awarded the Grand Prize for his song Nourishment (also featuring Abbe May) which included $3,000 cash, three days recording at Albert Studios in Sydney (engineered by Wayne Connolly), a mentoring session from Albert’s Creative Services Team, a mastering session with James Hewgill Music, 500 CDs pressed by DiskBank, an opportunity for a publishing deal with Perfect Pitch Publishing, a Berklee Music online music course and a RODE microphones package. Performances on the night included Rainy Day Women, country and blues and roots nominees The Ghost Hotel, vocal and electronic maestros Ylem & Deas and Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics.
The sixteen award winners were:
2013 Grand Prize
"Nourishment" by Mathas feat Abbe May
2014
2014 WAM Song of the Year was held at the B Shed warehouse in Fremantle, with KUČKA taking out the Grand Prize of $3,000 cash, recording time at the hit-making Albert Studios in Sydney, the opportunity for a publishing deal with Perfect Pitch Publishing, two days recording at Sonic Lolly, mastering provided by William Bowden of King Willy Sound (Grammy award recipient for mastering Goyte’s Somebody That I Used to Know), a BerkleeOnline music course, 500 CDs pressed by DiskBank, a RØDE Microphones package, plus more. Performances on the night included: Methyl Ethel (Pop) and Grace Barbé (World), plus Lilt and DJ John Safari.
2014 GRAND PRIZE: Unconditional by KUČKA
CATEGORY WINNERS: BLUES/ROOTS: Morgan Bain, Hold On
COUNTRY: Ruby Boots, Wrap Me In A Fever ELECTRONIC: KUČKA, Unconditional
EXPERIMENTAL: Intenso Band, Earthquake FOLK: Winter’s Mile, Tell My Lover
HEAVY/METAL: Chaos Divine, Soldiers JAZZ: Trisk, Charon
OUTSTANDING INDIGENOUS: The Merindas, Ready To Love OUTSTANDING REGIONAL: Codee-Lee, Ain’t Got Time For That
POP: Methyl Ethel, Rogues PUNK/HARDCORE: Rag n’ Bone, Wood & Wire
ROCK: Tired Lion, I Don’t Think You Like Me SCHOOLS 14 & UNDER: Charlotte Viney, Hurricane
SCHOOLS 15 – 17: Mike Waller, Seasons URBAN/HIP HOP: Coin Banks, Someone
WORLD: Grace Barbé, Fatige
2015 / 2016
Beni Bjah - with his song Survivor – holding the coveted Grand Prize, the win marking a significant moment in the competition’s history, with Beni being the first ever indigenous artist artist to take the peak honours. Judged by a diverse panel of independent industry heavyweights from the likes of triple j, Inertia, Spinning Top Music, The West Australian, Mudhoney, Lubricated Goat, You Am I, Pendulum, triple j Unearthed, BIGSOUND, Branded/Music Matters Live, 4ZZZ, RRR, Music Row Voice, Maric Media, Earache Records, Xpress Magazine, RTRFM, Live Music Office, Firestarter, TheMusic.com.au, Perfect Pitch Publishing, Pilerats, Association of Artist Managers, Birds of Tokyo, Eskimo Joe, Dave Hole and more. Performances on the night by category winners Rag n' Bone (Rock), Katie J White (Blues/Roots), Beni Bjah.
2015/16 GRAND PRIZE: Survivors by Beni Bjah
CATEGORY WINNERS:
ROCK: Rag n’ Bone, Death Rattle Waltz
POP: Joni In The Moon, War And Porn
ELECTRONIC: Tobacco Rat, Trenchtown 2020
FOLK: Galloping Foxleys, My Love Affair With Archer
EXPERIMENTAL: Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving, Shaking Off Futility
BLUES/ROOTS: Katie J White, River
COUNTRY: Lynn Hazelton & Bill Chambers, Melita Station
URBAN/HIPHOP: Marksman Lloyd, Pause (Feat. Coin Banks & Nic Di Lena, Prod. Sable)
HEAVY/METAL: Chaos Divine, Badge Of Honour
PUNK/HARDCORE: Nerve Quakes, Monarch
WORLD: Eastwinds, Blame Lulu Peanuts – Metsahällilaul
SCHOOL 14 YEARS & UNDER: Madi Henry, Stronger
SCHOOLS 15-17 YEARS: Charlotte Viney, With You
OUTSTANDING INDIGENOUS: Beni Bjah, Survivors
OUTSTANDING REGIONAL: FINGERS Mitchell Cullen, Didge It
JAZZ: Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group, Pius Bartosik