Missy Higgins has been nominated for a number of ARIA Awards.
Bruce Springsteen, who won't be at the ARIA Awards, once sang that everybody's got a hungry heart. Australian musicians like rapper 360, pop star Ricki-Lee and teen favourite Reece Mastin, who will be at the ARIAs this year may be hoping that it's only their hearts which go hungry.
In a move which could be seen either as a cash-strapped industry looking to save money or a prudent shift to a "Grammys" style show, the ARIA Awards this year on November 29 will be leaner, nearer and maybe even quicker.
Gone are the tables and three course meals, which cost upwards of $500 a seat for guests. Gone too is the venue which has hosted the ARIAs for pretty much all of the past decade, the large, multi-functional but not widely loved arena at Homebush. In their place come finger food in theatre/concert seating at the inner city Entertainment Centre, which may be half the size of its suburban competitor but won't face the whining from industry types who believe life ends somewhere around Annandale.
ARIA CEO Dan Rosen who is known for taking a very positive view of all developments, said the loudly expressed and widespread industry dislike of the long-running location, which is a lengthy bus ride away from the after show parties, was not a factor in the move from Homebush to the city.
"I think it was about bringing it back into the city and trying to keep the vibe before and after the show," Rosen said. "And correlating with ARIA Week which will be in and around the inner city."
ARIA Week will involve a series of performances, panel discussions and conferences leading up to the Thursday night show. It will be, Rosen was very quick to assure, nothing like the now infamous 2010 ARIA week. That was the year where many awards were presented at poorly attended and even more poorly covered events days in advance of the main event at the Opera House which was itself widely and accurately described as a debacle.
As for the food, that has nothing to do with cost cutting either apparently, although Fairfax understands that among the options initially discussed with the venue was not serving food at all. (An idea which lasted as long as it took someone to remember that an open bar but no food usually leads to rather "entertaining" acceptance speeches by the end of the night.)
"[Cost] is not material," Rosen said. "We're still paying staff to serve drinks and food."
Pressed on whether he was saying that cutting costs wasn't an issue for downsizing record companies facing reduced circumstances - and in the case of the Universal takeover of EMI, disappearing circumstances - Rosen did say that "we are always looking to do things economically but that's not the driving force."
Hungry or otherwise, among the nominees announced today at the Art Gallery of NSW, for what is being perhaps optimistically described as "a punchy show" on November 29, will be 360 who leads the field with six nominations including album of the year, best live act and best male artist. It won't be an easy run for him though as he'll be up against last year's behemoth, Gotye, in those categories.
Another Melbourne artist, rockabilly/blues/swing revivalist Lanie Lane, has a chance at four awards, including best female artist. Like 360, the competition is heavyweight for Lane as a former female artist of the year, Missy Higgins, is in that category, as well as a chance at winning album of the year.
ARIA Award nominees
Album of the Year
360 – Falling & Flying
Gotye – Making Mirrors
Missy Higgins – The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
The Jezabels – Prisoner
The Temper Trap – The Temper Trap
Best Male Artist
360 – Falling & Flying
Angus Stone – Broken Brights
Gotye – Making Mirrors
Guy Sebastian – Battle Scars
Keith Urban – For You
Matt Corby – Into The Flame
Best Female Artist
Jessica Mauboy – Gotcha
Kimbra – Vows
Lanie Lane – To The Horse
Missy Higgins – The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
Washington – Insomnia
Best Group
Cold Chisel – No Plans
Hilltop Hoods – Drinking From The Sun
The Jezabels – Prisoner
The Temper Trap – The Temper Trap
Breakthrough Artist - Release
360 – Falling & Flying
Alpine – A Is For Alpine
Lanie Lane – To The Horses
Matt Corby – Brother
San Cisco – Awkward
Best Independent Release
San Cisco – Awkward
The Bamboos – Medicine Man
The Jezabels - Prisoner
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Darren Hayes – Secret Codes And Battleships
Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp – Songs of the Southern Skies
Missy Higgins – The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
Best Blues & Roots Album
Angus Stone – Broken Brights
Lanie Lane – To The Horses
Mia Dyson – The Moment
Paul Green & The Other Colours – Behind The Stars
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Buried In Verona – Notorious
DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams
Frenzal Rhomb – Smoko at the Pet Food Factory
House Vs Hurricane – Crooked Teeth
Sleepmakeswaves - …and so we destroyed everything
Best Pop Release
Gotye – Making Mirrors
Jessica Mauboy – Gotcha
Kimbra – Vows
San Cisco – Awkward
Best Rock Album
Children Collide – Monument
Oh Mercy – Deep Heat
The Jezabels – Prisoner
The Temper Trap – The Temper Trap
Best Urban Album
360 – Falling & Flying
Hilltop Hoods – Drinking From The Sun
Katalyst – Deep Impressions
The Bamboos – Medicine Man
Best Children's Album
Bananas In Pyjamas – Playtime
Hi-5 – Sing It Loud
dirtgirlworld – dirtgirl rocks the planet
Rhys Muldoon – I'm Not Singing
The Wiggles – Surfer Jeff
Best Comedy Release
Anthony Salame – Is This Thing On?
Arj Barker – Joy Harvest
Buddy Goode – Unappropriate
Sammy J – Skinny Man, Modern World
The Beards – Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard
Best Country Album
Beccy Cole – Songs and Pictures
Catherine Britt – Always Never Enough
McAlister Kemp – Country Proud
The McClymonts – Two Worlds Collide
Troy Cassar-Daley – Home
Best Dance Release
Havana Brown – When The Lights Go Out
Hermitude – Hyperparadise
Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl feat. Georgi Kay – In My Mind
Knife Party – Rage Valley
Sneaky Sound System – From Here To Anywhere