Paul Kelly wins APRA Song Of The Year

A.B. Original, Peking Duk and Amy Shark among the night's winners.

Some of Australia’s top songwriters were honoured at the 2018 APRA Music Awards in Sydney last night (10 April).

Having taken out four gongs at the ARIA Awards in 2017, veteran singer-songwriter Paul Kelly walked away with the night’s highest accolade, snaring Song Of The Year for the single ‘Firewood And Candles’ (co-written with The Ferrets’ Billy Miller). The album the track was lifted from, Life Is Fine, became Kelly’s first ever #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart when it was released in August 2017.

Hip hop act AB Original won the Songwriter Of The Year award for their powerful debut album Reclaim Australia. The duo, aka Briggs and Trials, won two ARIAs in 2017.

Peking Duk took out two awards, with single ‘Stranger’ named the Dance Work of the Year and the Most Played Australian Work. The Canberra dance duo won Song Of The Year at the 2017 ARIAs for the same track.

Producer M-Phazes also took out two awards, having been co-writer on Amy Shark’s ‘Adore’ (Pop Work Of The Year) and Illy’s ‘Catch 22’ (Urban Work Of The Year).

Also at the ceremony, held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre, 2006 ARIA Hall Of Fame inductees Midnight Oil were honoured with the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services To Australian Music.

The 2018 APRA Music Awards Winners

Song Of The Year

Firewood And Candles - Paul Kelly

Songwriter Of The Year

AB Original (Briggs & Trials)

Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year

Sarah Aarons

Overseas Recognition Award

Ben Abraham and Kylie Sackley

Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services To Australian Music

Midnight Oil

Most Played Australian Work

Stranger - Peking Duk feat. Elliphant

Country Work Of The Year

Kiss Somebody - Morgan Evans

Blues & Roots Work Of The Year

Best Part of Me - Busby Marou

Dance Work Of The Year

Stranger - Peking Duk feat. Elliphant

Rock Work Of The Year

Brace - Birds of Tokyo

Pop Work Of The Year

Adore - Amy Shark

Urban Work Of The Year

Catch 22 - Illy feat. Anne-Marie

International Work Of The Year

Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

Most Played Australian Work Overseas

Cheap Thrills - Sia

Licensee Of The Year

Settlers Tavern (Rob and Karen Gough)