One of the key events on the Australian music industry calendar, the ARIA #1 Chart Awards, returns on Friday August 10 to honour those local artists who achieved a number one single, album or music DVD from August 2010 to August 2012.
Media, industry and musicians alike will converge on one of Sydney’s hippest venues, The Ivy Sunroom, for the afternoon event, to celebrate the recipients of the ARIA #1 Chart Awards, witness some very special live acoustic performances and launch the revamped ariacharts.com.au site. This year’s master of ceremonies will be the enigmatic TV/music identity Chit Chat, and helping to bring the Awards to life is the soon to be launched digital music streaming service, Songl.
In the period from August 2010 to August 2012, a selection of diverse Australian acts spent 61 weeks in the #1 position across the ARIA singles, album or music DVD charts. This includes chart stalwarts such as Powderfinger, Guy Sebastian, The Wiggles, AC/DC, Hilltop Hoods and Missy Higgins, alongside newer names such as Gotye, Reece Mastin, Karise Eden, The Temper Trap, Drapht and Bliss N Eso.
Over this same period, 84 singles from Australian artists were awarded gold, platinum or multi-platinum status, whilst 73 individual Australian albums were accredited.
Dan Rosen, CEO ARIA said “A number one on the ARIA Charts is a wonderful achievement for an Australian artist and we are excited to be able to honour this accolade at the ARIA #1 Awards. This year’s recipients are a mix of established and new artists across a diverse range of genres, demonstrating the ongoing vitality of the Australian music industry. ”
Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and Sony Music Entertainment Chairman & CEO Australia & New Zealand, President Asia - “ARIA is delighted to stage the Number 1 Chart Awards in recognition of the amazing array of Australian artists that have topped the charts. In this highly competitive business, with releases from all around the world vying for the publics’ attention, one of the greatest thrills for an artist and their record label is to reach number one on the chart in the journey of building a long and successful career.
That is what defines us all as record labels and these artists deserve the spotlight of attention and recognition.” Major sponsor Songl will be entering the local market soon, providing music fans with access to the music they love anywhere, anytime and in the way they want to hear it.
“We’re thrilled to be supporting this year’s #1 Chart Awards, especially given the large number of Australian music artists that are right up there with the best of them at the moment,” said Mark Shaw, CEO of Digital Music Distribution. “Increasing the visibility and access to Australia’s most loved artists is what we’re all about so it’s great to be a part of an institution such as the #1 Chart Awards that recognise their music and talent.”
Set to be revealed at the event is the new look ARIA Charts website, www.ariacharts.com.au, which will provide an essential hub for fans, media and industry alike to source all the latest chart information.
Produced by MCM Media with site design by Igloo, it will include brand new features, better social integration and a renewed focus on video. The launch of the website precedes the release of the ARIA Charts mobile app later this year.
