WAM Song of the Year
Encyclopedia
WAM was originally formed as the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...

, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. 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.

In 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...

 the inaugural WA Song Contest commenced, in 2002
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...

 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

  • 1996 - Lash - then known as Exteria (‘Youth’ category)
  • 1997 - Beaverloop ('Pop' category)
  • 1998 - Cartman
    Cartman (band)
    Cartman was a four piece indie rock band from Perth, Western Australia.-Early years:The band was formed in 1997 in what began as a desperate attempt to enter a songwriting competition by Joe Hawkins....

    (‘Pop’ & ‘Acoustic’ categories)
  • 2000 - Ivan Zar (‘Blues’ category)
  • 2001 - Halogen
    Halogen (band)
    Halogen is a five-piece band from Perth, Western Australia. Formed in 1998 by two expatriate New Zealanders - Jasmine Yee and Frans Bisschops.-History:...

    (special theme category ‘Love’)
  • 2002/03 - Andrew Horabin ('Political' category)
  • 2004 - Lauren Brede ('Outstanding Regional' category)
  • 2005 - Damian Crosbie (The Panda Band
    The Panda Band
    The Panda Band are an indie pop band originating from Perth, Western Australia. They have a reputation for combining numerous musical genres. They have toured nationally as support acts for bands such as The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, The Grates and Evermore.-Biography:The band originally...

    )
    ('Pop' category)
  • 2006 - Erik Hecht (Institut Polaire
    Institut Polaire
    Institut Polaire were an indie band originating from Perth, Western Australia.-History:Institut Polaire formed as a three piece in 2004 by an American ex-pat , an English born scientist and a country boy moved to the big city...

    )
    ('Pop' category)
  • 2007 - Josh Fontaine ('Pop' category)
  • 2008 - Roly Skender and the Tonics ('Pop' category)
  • 2009 - Umpire ('Pop' category)

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:
  • Country - "Asbestos Fibro" - ADM Powell
  • Easy Listening Pop/R'n'B - "Back 2 those Timez" - Chanelle
  • Electronic/Hip Hop - "Boy X Girl Y" - Johnson, Vernie
  • Hard Rock/Metal/ Punk - "Reprisal" - Simon Pilkington, Aaron Smith
  • Indi Pop/Rock - "Andy Warhol" - Little Birdy
    Little Birdy
    Little Birdy are an Australian indie rock band formed in Perth, Western Australia in 2002 by singer and guitarist Katy Steele, drummer Matt Chequer, guitarist and keyboardist Simon Leach, and bass guitarist Scott O'Donoghue...

  • Jazz/ Funk - "That Hurt" - Myles Wright
  • Roots - "Sheba Lane" - Lynn Hazelton
  • Soundtrack/ Filmscore/Experimental - "Green Lantern" - Johannes Luebbers
  • World/Multicultural - "Day Oh" - Eloy Cardenas
  • Indigenous - "Raining On Djilba" - George Walley
  • Children - "Something More" - Wesley Fuller
  • Youth - "On My Own" - Ryan Blair, Justin Flamer
  • Love - "Walking Over Sea" - Sam Dunn, Ben Dunn
  • Political - "Georgie Boy" - Andrew Horabin
  • Songs For Kids - "Pirlpirltji" - L. Hazelton, A. Ovi, S. Stanford

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:
  • Commercial/Contemporary Pop - "Breathe" - Cassie Swinney, Alistair Watson & Escher
  • Country - "Dirty Liar" - Rob Findlay & Haley Mason
  • Electronic/Dance Category - "Hit '5'" - Tim Macnamara & Diego Bosco
  • Hard Rock/Metal - "Bay of Martyrs" - Mike Sukys
  • Indie Rock/Punk Category - "Tread Easy" - James Crombie & The Bank Holidays
    The Bank Holidays
    The Bank Holidays are an indie pop band from Perth, Western Australia.-Biography:The Bank Holidays were conceived by James Crombie and Wibekke Reczek whilst holidaying in Norway , who several weeks later in London enlisted old school friend Nat Carson to form the band...

  • Jazz - "West Bank Moon" - Michael Pigneguy & Sian Brown
  • Roots - "Slipping With the Blues" - Gerard Maunick
  • Urban - "Wait a Minute" - Bjorn Berlinger & Nathan Jamieson
  • Love - "Blame Me" - Frans Bisschops, Jasmine Yee & Michael Miller
  • Gospel - "Take Over" - Chad Blondel
  • ASME Upper Secondary (Years 11-12) – "Radio Play" - Melissa Erpen
  • ASME Lower Secondary (Years 8-10) – "Home Sweet Home" - Danni Stefanetti
  • ASME Primary Category – "Sidewalk Surfer" - The Flairz
    The Flairz
    The Flairz were a garage rock band from Perth, Western Australia.-History:All three founding members were 10 years old and already writing their own songs when they started to get their first press in 2003. The Flairz then played their first show in December 2003...

  • Indigenous - "Hardway" - The Hill (John Bullen, Jarred Wall)
  • Outstanding Regional Song - "Time For You To Go" - Lauren Brede

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
The Bank Holidays
The Bank Holidays are an indie pop band from Perth, Western Australia.-Biography:The Bank Holidays were conceived by James Crombie and Wibekke Reczek whilst holidaying in Norway , who several weeks later in London enlisted old school friend Nat Carson to form the band...

, Lake of Bass, New Rules For Boats
New Rules for Boats
New Rules for Boats is a five piece band from Perth, Western Australia formed in early 2004.-History:Joseph Derwort, Sean Pollard and Benjamin Golby of New Rules For Boats first met at Perth Modern School, where all three had music scholarships, although they didn't form the band until after they...

, Peter Brandy, The Flairz
The Flairz
The Flairz were a garage rock band from Perth, Western Australia.-History:All three founding members were 10 years old and already writing their own songs when they started to get their first press in 2003. The Flairz then played their first show in December 2003...

 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:
  • Pop - "Sleepy Little Death Toll Town" - Damian Crosbie (The Panda Band
    The Panda Band
    The Panda Band are an indie pop band originating from Perth, Western Australia. They have a reputation for combining numerous musical genres. They have toured nationally as support acts for bands such as The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, The Grates and Evermore.-Biography:The band originally...

    )
  • Mixed Bag - "Then You Appear" - Damian Crosbie (The Panda Band
    The Panda Band
    The Panda Band are an indie pop band originating from Perth, Western Australia. They have a reputation for combining numerous musical genres. They have toured nationally as support acts for bands such as The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, The Grates and Evermore.-Biography:The band originally...

    )
  • Blues & Roots - "4 Men Dead" - Kevin Smith
  • Country - "Lord I Want An Exit" - Emily Barker
  • Electronic/Dance - "We Gave Colour Away" - Harvey Rae and Hiro? (Thread)
  • Love - "Drunkard's Wife" - Pete Stone
  • Rock - "Information" - Sascha Ion, Ronan Charles, Stuart Leach (One Horse Town)
  • Urban - "Take 5" - Bjorn Berlinger (Tsunami)
  • World and Folk - "Long Time Ago" - Peter Brandy
  • Jazz - "Storm" - Marnie Kent and Grant Windsor (Ginger Blu Collective)
  • Heavy Rock/Metal - "Falling" - Shannon de Bie
  • Gospel - "Learning to Say" - Mark Cullen
  • Indigenous Song of the Year - "Long Time Ago" - Peter Brandy
  • Regional Song of the Year - "Lord I Want An Exit" - Emily Barker
  • Primary School Aged - "Holey Cheeses" - Oliver Bradley, Albert Loss
  • Lower Secondary School Aged - "Memory Lane" - Wesley Fuller
  • Upper Secondary School Aged - "The Best is Yet to Come" - Ben Blondel

2006

The WAM Song of the Year for 2006 was announced on Thursday 19 October 2006 at the Fly By Night Club in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...

 with awards in 17 different categories. Performing on the night were Kavyen Temperly
Kavyen Temperly
Kavyen Temperley is the lead singer, song writer, bassist and occasionally the keys of the Australian band Eskimo Joe as well as Basement Birds.-Biography:...

 from Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....

, The Panda Band
The Panda Band
The Panda Band are an indie pop band originating from Perth, Western Australia. They have a reputation for combining numerous musical genres. They have toured nationally as support acts for bands such as The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, The Grates and Evermore.-Biography:The band originally...

, Abbe May and The Rockin' Pneumonia, One Horse Town, the Catherine Noblet Quartet and The Watts. Presenters from Xpress Magazine, The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...

, RTRFM
RTRFM
RTRFM is a not-for-profit, community radio station based in Perth, Western Australia. It is self-funded, largely through listener subscription and fund-raising events, however it does carry some "advertising material" at a maximum of 5 mins per hour. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, on 92.1 in the...

, ABC Radio, Nova 93.7, Drum Media
Drum Media
Drum Media is a free weekly tabloid-sized music and lifestyle magazine established in 1990 and based in Sydney, Australia. It is distributed throughout Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra, and surrounding districts. A separate weekly issue began circulating in Perth in September 2006. The...

, Network 10, APRA
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...

, Perth International Arts Festival
Perth International Arts Festival
The Perth International Arts Festival is Australia's longest running cultural festival, held annually in Western Australia between February-March. The program features contemporary and classical music, dance, theatre, opera, visual arts, large-scale public works, Lotterywest Festival Films and the...

 and Minister for the Arts, the Honorable Sheila McHale
Sheila McHale
Sheila Margaret McHale is a former Australian Labor Party MP in the Government of Western Australia. Prior to retirement, she served as Member for Kenwick and Minister for Disability Services, Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and Consumer Protection....

 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/EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...

s through Westlink Multimedia/MGM
MGM Distribution
MGM Distribution is the largest independent distributor of Australian music and music related merchandise and was established in April 1998 by Sebastian Chase....

.

The individual category award winners were:
  • Pop - "City Walls and Empires" - Erik Hecht (Institut Polaire
    Institut Polaire
    Institut Polaire were an indie band originating from Perth, Western Australia.-History:Institut Polaire formed as a three piece in 2004 by an American ex-pat , an English born scientist and a country boy moved to the big city...

    )
  • Blues/Roots - "Sidewindin'" - Abbe May
  • Gospel - "Flowers In the Desert" - Jeremy Dixon
  • Electronic/Dance - "These Times" - David McKinney, Rachel Claudio
  • Heavy Rock/Metal - "Drag In Drag Out" - Kevin Curran, Todd Fishwick
  • Primary - Free - "Matt Larsen"
  • Rock - "Red Means Go" - B. Mulvena-Trinder, I. Berney, J. Sher, C. Palmer
  • Jazz - "Wanderer" - Catherine Noblet
  • Lower Secondary - "Shadows Of A City" - E. Hamilton, G. Hutchings, M. Mackintosh, L. Osborn
  • Urban - "Lose Control" - S.Roy, C.Wancer (Roy-Al feat. Cristian Alexanda)
  • World/Folk - "Mon Ankor Anmourer" - Grace Barbe, James Searle
  • Love - "Old Folks, Drunks and Babies" - Sascha Ion
  • Upper Secondary - "Happy Birthday Dave" - Matthew Beau Gresham
  • Regional - "Call Of The Wild" - Xavier Brown
  • Country - "Live On Love" - Polly (Kylie) Medlen
  • Indigenous - "Our Song" - Jason Bartlett and Phillip Bartlett
  • Mixed Bag - "It's a PC 21st Century New Millennium Romantic Arrangement..." - Andrew Horabin

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:
  • Gospel - "My Hallelujah" Paul Morrison
  • Jazz - "Curious Yellow" Adrian Kelly
  • Country - "Take Me With You" Polly Medlen
  • Urban - "Get By" Glen Foreman, Scott Griffiths & Alex Plant
  • Electronic / Dance - "Hot Property" Hayley McLennan and Simon Sieradzki
  • Indigenous - "Kick the Monkey" Jason Bartlett & Phillip Bartlett
  • World and Folk - "Moodjebing" Jessie Lloyd & Della Rae Morrison
  • Regional - "Two Months" Polly Medlen
  • Love - "There is a Room on Hold" James Crombie & Wibekke Reczek (The Bank Holidays
    The Bank Holidays
    The Bank Holidays are an indie pop band from Perth, Western Australia.-Biography:The Bank Holidays were conceived by James Crombie and Wibekke Reczek whilst holidaying in Norway , who several weeks later in London enlisted old school friend Nat Carson to form the band...

    )
  • Blues 'n' Roots - "Lara Clare" Craig Sinclair
  • Primary - "Valley of Flowers" by Madi MacDougall & Erika McKay
  • Lower Secondary - "Wishing on a Star" Jordi Davieson
  • Upper Secondary - "Overcast Day" Timothy Nelson
  • Mixed Bag - "Bring Out Your Dead" Rachael Dease, Tristen Parr, Ant Gray, Tara John & Greg Hosking (Schvendes
    Schvendes
    Schvendes are a band of brothers and sisters from Perth, Western Australia. They write stories about murder, mayhem, love and loss upon a background of gentle Rhodes piano, pounding drums, screaming guitar, soaring cello and vocals, which have been described as both sweet and terrifying...

    )
  • Rock - "The World or Nothing" Scott Tomlinson, Greg Sanders, Brenton Bell & Dayvid Clark
  • Heavy Rock/Metal - "Broken Eyes" Brett Jones, Johnny Kyi & Nigel Watts
  • Pop - "Holidayz" Josh Fontaine
  • Professional - "Sun Dirt Water
    Sun Dirt Water (song)
    "Sun Dirt Water" is the name of a single by the Australian folk-rock band The Waifs, from their album Sun Dirt Water. "Sun Dirt Water" was written by Vikki Thorn.-Chart performance:...

    " by Vikki Thorn
    Vikki Thorn
    Vikki Thorn is an Australian harmonica player, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter and one-third of the Australian folk rock band The Waifs. Her sister Donna Simpson also plays guitar and sings in the band...

     (The Waifs
    The Waifs
    The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by Josh Cunningham , and sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson...

    )

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
The Sunday Times (Western Australia)
The Sunday Times, owned by News Limited, is a tabloid Sunday newspaper printed in Perth and distributed throughout Western Australia.-History:...

 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:
  • Blues & Roots - "Howl And Moan" by Abbe May
  • Café - "Revien" by Cloud Kollektiv
  • Country - "Place Where I Belong" by Phyllis Bennell (Warangka Band)
  • Electronic/Dance - "Realizing" by Cloud Kollektiv
  • Gospel - "Light" by Lindsay Hamminga
  • Heavy Rock/Metal - "Refuse The Sickness" by R Felton, S Mitchell, D Anderton, M Kruit & C Mitchell (Chaos Divine
    Chaos Divine
    Chaos DivineOriginPerth, Western AustraliaGenresProgressive metalYears active2005–presentLabelsFirestarter Music & DistributionStudio Albums2011 - The Human Connection2009 - AvalonEPs2006 - RatioMembersSimon Mitchell...

    )
  • Indigenous - "Gundulla - We Dance" by D Stokes, B Stokes, J Masters & R Martinez (The Yabu Band)
  • Jazz - "Til Death Does Me Part" by Johannes Luebbers
  • Mixed Bag - "The Land" by Abraham Dunovits (Funkalleros)
  • Pop - "Feel" by Roly Skender and The Tonics
  • Regional - "Kaya" by Charmaine Bennell (Warangka Band), from Bunbury WA
  • Rock - "Howl And Moan" by Abbe May
  • School, Primary - "Shadows" by Josephine Langford
  • School, Secondary Lower - "Smile" by Mike Nutt
  • School, Secondary Upper - "The Pony And The Ark" by Lyndon Blue
  • Urban - "Behind The Curtain" by Emcee Able
  • World & Folk - "Kaya" by Charmaine Bennell (Warangka Band)


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:
  • Urban - "Skyhawks" by Mathas
  • World/Folk - "Son of a Son of a King" by Michael Strong and The Ghost Anyway
  • Regional - "Spirit Calling" by Simon and Tammy London
  • Cafe - "Era Quondam" by Minute 36
  • Schools 14 Yrs and below - "Everything" - Convict X
  • Schools 15-17 Yrs - "Rocket Ship" by King George
  • Rock - "Acute" by Sugar Army
  • Pop - "Streamers" by Umpire
  • Heavy - "Total Existence Failure" by Voyager
  • Mentally Healthy - "I'm Not Scared" by Black Board Minds
  • Blues and Roots - "Lover Don’t You Wanna" by DivCraft
  • Experimental - "A Vexing Predicament" by Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving
  • Country - "Sleeping Alone" by Timothy Nelson
  • Jazz - "Thinking Without Thinking" by Tilman Robinson
  • Indigenous - "Here I Go" by Black Poet
  • Electronic/Dance - "They Wanna Dance" by Scott Tomlinson


2009 Grand Prize

"Streamers" by Umpire

2009 Popular Vote

"Run for the Hills" by The Words
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