# 2009 ARIA Music Awards

The 23rd Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) took place on 26 November 2009 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. The ceremony was telecast on the Nine Network at 8:30pm that night. The nominees for all categories were announced on 8 October, with the winners of the Fine Arts Awards and Artisan Awards announced on 10 November. Biggest winners for the year were Empire of the Sun which collected a total of seven awards.
The ARIA Hall of Fame inducted: Kev Carmody, The Dingoes, Little Pattie, Mental As Anything and John Paul Young.

## Ceremony details

The ceremony was hosted by Gyton Grantley and Kate Ritchie with presenters including Ruby Rose, Missy Higgins, Powderfinger, Orianthi, Vanessa Amorosi, Guy Sebastian, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Richard Wilkins, Lee Kernaghan, Daniel Merriweather, Jabba, Jason Dundas, Natalie Gruzlewski, John Butler, Keith Urban, Tim Ross (Rosso), Cassie Davis, Andrew G, Jimmy Barnes, Marieke Hardy, Lindsay McDougall, Rove McManus and Robbie Williams.
Performers were The Temper Trap, Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy, Hilltop Hoods, Empire of the Sun, Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Kate Miller-Heidke, Sydney Children's Choir, Ladyhawke and Robbie Williams, who performed his new single "Bodies".

## Multiple winners and nominees

* Empire of the Sun – 7 awards from 11 nominations
* Hilltop Hoods – 2 awards from 6 nominations
* Ladyhawke – 2 awards from 6 nominations
* AC/DC – 2 awards from 4 nominations
* Jessica Mauboy – 1 award from 7 nominations
* Sarah Blasko – 1 award from 5 nominations
* C. W. Stoneking – 1 award from 4 nominations
* Eskimo Joe – 5 nominations
* Kate Miller-Heidke – 4 nominations
* The Temper Trap – 4 nominations
* Lisa Mitchell – 3 nominations

## Awards

Nominees and winners with results indicated on the right.
ARIA Awards :
| Album of the Year |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| AC/DC | AC/DC | Black Ice | Black Ice | Nominated |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Won |
| Eskimo Joe | Eskimo Joe | Inshalla | Inshalla | Nominated |
| Sarah Blasko | Sarah Blasko | As Day Follows Night | As Day Follows Night | Nominated |
| The Temper Trap | The Temper Trap | Conditions | Conditions | Nominated |
| Single of the Year |||||
| Artist | Artist | Single | Single | Result |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | "Walking on a Dream" | "Walking on a Dream" | Won |
| Hilltop Hoods | Hilltop Hoods | "Chase That Feeling" | "Chase That Feeling" | Nominated |
| Kate Miller-Heidke | Kate Miller-Heidke | "The Last Day on Earth" | "The Last Day on Earth" | Nominated |
| Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | "My Delirium" | "My Delirium" | Nominated |
| The Temper Trap | The Temper Trap | "Sweet Disposition" | "Sweet Disposition" | Nominated |
| Highest Selling Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| AC/DC | AC/DC | Black Ice | Black Ice | Won |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Nominated |
| Hilltop Hoods | Hilltop Hoods | State of the Art | State of the Art | Nominated |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | Been Waiting | Been Waiting | Nominated |
| The Presets | The Presets | Apocalypso | Apocalypso | Nominated |
| Highest Selling Single |||||
| Artist | Artist | Single | Single | Result |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | "Walking on a Dream" | "Walking on a Dream" | Nominated |
| Evermore | Evermore | "Hey Boys and Girls" | "Hey Boys and Girls" | Nominated |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | "Burn" | "Burn" | Nominated |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | "Running Back" (with Flo Rida) | "Running Back" (with Flo Rida) | Won |
| Wes Carr | Wes Carr | "You" | "You" | Nominated |
| Best Group |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| AC/DC | AC/DC | Black Ice | Black Ice | Nominated |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Won |
| Eskimo Joe | Eskimo Joe | Inshalla | Inshalla | Nominated |
| Hilltop Hoods | Hilltop Hoods | State of the Art | State of the Art | Nominated |
| The Drones | The Drones | Havilah | Havilah | Nominated |
| Best Female Artist |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | Been Waiting | Been Waiting | Nominated |
| Kate Miller-Heidke | Kate Miller-Heidke | Curiouser | Curiouser | Nominated |
| Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Nominated |
| Lisa Mitchell | Lisa Mitchell | Wonder | Wonder | Nominated |
| Sarah Blasko | Sarah Blasko | As Day Follows Night | As Day Follows Night | Won |
| Best Male Artist |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Bob Evans | Bob Evans | Goodnight, Bull Creek! | Goodnight, Bull Creek! | Nominated |
| C. W. Stoneking | C. W. Stoneking | Jungle Blues | Jungle Blues | Nominated |
| Daniel Merriweather | Daniel Merriweather | Love & War | Love & War | Won |
| Josh Pyke | Josh Pyke | Chimney's Afire | Chimney's Afire | Nominated |
| Paul Dempsey | Paul Dempsey | Everything Is True | Everything Is True | Nominated |
| Breakthrough Artist – Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | Been Waiting | Been Waiting | Nominated |
| Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Won |
| Lisa Mitchell | Lisa Mitchell | Wonder | Wonder | Nominated |
| Sia | Sia | Some People Have Real Problems | Some People Have Real Problems | Nominated |
| The Temper Trap | The Temper Trap | Conditions | Conditions | Nominated |
| Breakthrough Artist – Single |||||
| Artist | Artist | Single | Single | Result |
| Art vs. Science | Art vs. Science | "Art vs. Science" | "Art vs. Science" | Nominated |
| Bluejuice | Bluejuice | "Broken Leg" | "Broken Leg" | Nominated |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | "Running Back" (with Flo Rida) | "Running Back" (with Flo Rida) | Nominated |
| Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | "My Delirium" | "My Delirium" | Won |
| Lisa Mitchell | Lisa Mitchell | "Coin Laundry" | "Coin Laundry" | Nominated |
| Best Pop Release |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Empire of the Sun | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Won |
| Jessica Mauboy | Jessica Mauboy | Been Waiting | Been Waiting | Nominated |
| Kate Miller-Heidke | Kate Miller-Heidke | Curiouser | Curiouser | Nominated |
| Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Nominated |
| Sarah Blasko | Sarah Blasko | As Day Follows Night | As Day Follows Night | Nominated |
| Best Rock Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| AC/DC | AC/DC | Black Ice | Black Ice | Won |
| Eskimo Joe | Eskimo Joe | Inshalla | Inshalla | Nominated |
| Jet | Jet | Shaka Rock | Shaka Rock | Nominated |
| The Drones | The Drones | Havilah | Havilah | Nominated |
| The Temper Trap | The Temper Trap | Conditions | Conditions | Nominated |
| Best Dance Release |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Hook n Sling | Hook n Sling | "The Best Thing" | "The Best Thing" | Nominated |
| Sneaky Sound System | Sneaky Sound System | 2 | 2 | Nominated |
| The Presets | The Presets | "Talk Like That" | "Talk Like That" | Won |
| Tommy Trash | Tommy Trash | "Need Me to Stay" (with Mr Wilson) | "Need Me to Stay" (with Mr Wilson) | Nominated |
| Zoe Badwi | Zoe Badwi | "Release Me" | "Release Me" | Nominated |
| Best Children's Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Bindi Irwin | Bindi Irwin | Bindi Kidfitness 2 Jungle Dance Party | Bindi Kidfitness 2 Jungle Dance Party | Nominated |
| The Fairies | The Fairies | Princess Perfect | Princess Perfect | Nominated |
| Georgie Parker | Georgie Parker | Here Comes the Sun | Here Comes the Sun | Nominated |
| The Saddle Club | The Saddle Club | Best Friends | Best Friends | Nominated |
| The Wiggles | The Wiggles | Go Bananas! | Go Bananas! | Won |
| Best Country Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Felicity Urquhart | Felicity Urquhart | Landing Lights | Landing Lights | Nominated |
| Jasmine Rae | Jasmine Rae | Look It Up | Look It Up | Nominated |
| Keith Urban | Keith Urban | Defying Gravity | Defying Gravity | Nominated |
| Shane Nicholson | Shane Nicholson | Familiar Ghosts | Familiar Ghosts | Nominated |
| Troy Cassar-Daley | Troy Cassar-Daley | I Love This Place | I Love This Place | Won |
| Best Independent Release |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Bertie Blackman | Bertie Blackman | Secrets and Lies | Secrets and Lies | Won |
| C. W. Stoneking | C. W. Stoneking | Jungle Blues | Jungle Blues | Nominated |
| Dappled Cities | Dappled Cities | Zounds | Zounds | Nominated |
| Sneaky Sound System | Sneaky Sound System | 2 | 2 | Nominated |
| The Drones | The Drones | Havilah | Havilah | Nominated |
| Best Urban Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Astronomy Class | Astronomy Class | Pursuit of Happiness | Pursuit of Happiness | Nominated |
| Hilltop Hoods | Hilltop Hoods | State of the Art | State of the Art | Won |
| Horrorshow | Horrorshow | The Grey Space | The Grey Space | Nominated |
| Pez | Pez | A Mind of My Own | A Mind of My Own | Nominated |
| Phrase | Phrase | Clockwork | Clockwork | Nominated |
| Best Blues and Roots Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Ash Grunwald | Ash Grunwald | Fish Out of Water | Fish Out of Water | Nominated |
| C. W. Stoneking | C. W. Stoneking | Jungle Blues | Jungle Blues | Won |
| Pete Murray | Pete Murray | Chance to Say Goodbye | Chance to Say Goodbye | Nominated |
| The Waifs | The Waifs | Live from the Union of the Soul | Live from the Union of the Soul | Nominated |
| The Wilson Pickers | The Wilson Pickers | The Land of the Powerful Owl | The Land of the Powerful Owl | Nominated |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Bob Evans | Bob Evans | Goodnight, Bull Creek! | Goodnight, Bull Creek! | Nominated |
| David Campbell | David Campbell | Good Lovin' | Good Lovin' | Nominated |
| Josh Pyke | Josh Pyke | Chimney's Afire | Chimney's Afire | Won |
| Little Birdy | Little Birdy | Confetti | Confetti | Nominated |
| Paul Dempsey | Paul Dempsey | Everything Is True | Everything Is True | Nominated |
| Best Comedy Release |||||
| Artist | Artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Dave Hughes | Dave Hughes | Dave Hughes Is Handy | Dave Hughes Is Handy | Nominated |
| Hamish & Andy | Hamish & Andy | Unessential Listening | Unessential Listening | Won |
| Rodney Rude | Rodney Rude | Rodney Rude Goes the Growl | Rodney Rude Goes the Growl | Nominated |
| The BBQ Kings (Pat Drummond, Tony Williams & Chris O'Leary) | The BBQ Kings (Pat Drummond, Tony Williams & Chris O'Leary) | The Fellowship of the Grill | The Fellowship of the Grill | Nominated |
| Tripod | Tripod | For the Love of God! | For the Love of God! | Nominated |
| Best Music DVD |||||
| Artist | Artist | DVD | DVD | Result |
| Jimmy Barnes | Jimmy Barnes | Live at the Enmore | Live at the Enmore | Nominated |
| Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson | Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson | Rattlin' Bones Max Sessions | Rattlin' Bones Max Sessions | Nominated |
| Sia | Sia | TV Is My Parent | TV Is My Parent | Won |
| The Cat Empire | The Cat Empire | Live at the Bowl | Live at the Bowl | Nominated |
| Various | Various | RocKwiz Salutes the Bowl | RocKwiz Salutes the Bowl | Nominated |
| Fine Arts Awards |||||
| Best Jazz Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Dale Barlow, George Coleman Jr, Mark Fitzgibbon, Sam Anning | Dale Barlow, George Coleman Jr, Mark Fitzgibbon, Sam Anning | Treat Me Gently | Treat Me Gently | Nominated |
| Kate Ceberano, Mark Isham | Kate Ceberano, Mark Isham | Bittersweet | Bittersweet | Nominated |
| Katie Noonan | Katie Noonan | Blackbird: The Music of Lennon and McCartney | Blackbird: The Music of Lennon and McCartney | Won |
| Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band | Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band | Tell It Like It Is | Tell It Like It Is | Nominated |
| Michelle Nicolle | Michelle Nicolle | The Loveliest Night | The Loveliest Night | Nominated |
| Best Classical Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer | Handel: Concert Grossi Opus 6 | Handel: Concert Grossi Opus 6 | Won |
| Australian Chamber Orchestra | Australian Chamber Orchestra | Classical Destinations II | Classical Destinations II | Nominated |
| Emma Matthews | Emma Matthews | Emma Matthews in Monte Carlo | Emma Matthews in Monte Carlo | Nominated |
| Slava & Leonard Grigoryan | Slava & Leonard Grigoryan | Distance | Distance | Nominated |
| Teddy Tahu Rhodes, David Hobson | Teddy Tahu Rhodes, David Hobson | You'll Never Walk Alone | You'll Never Walk Alone | Nominated |
| Goldner String Quartet | Goldner String Quartet | Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets | Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets | Nominated |
| Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Amanda Brown | Amanda Brown | Son of a Lion Original Soundtrack | Son of a Lion Original Soundtrack | Nominated |
| Soundtrack | Soundtrack | Balibo | Balibo | Won |
| Soundtrack | Soundtrack | Samson and Delilah | Samson and Delilah | Nominated |
| Soundtrack | Soundtrack | East of Everything Series Two Soundtrack Album | East of Everything Series Two Soundtrack Album | Nominated |
| Tex Perkins, Murray Paterson | Tex Perkins, Murray Paterson | Beautiful Kate | Beautiful Kate | Nominated |
| Best World Music Album |||||
| Artist | Artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Fiona Joy Hawkins | Fiona Joy Hawkins | Blue Dream | Blue Dream | Nominated |
| Kamerunga | Kamerunga | The Push | The Push | Nominated |
| Seaman Dan | Seaman Dan | Sailing Home | Sailing Home | Won |
| Warren Fahey | Warren Fahey | Australia: Folk Songs & Bush Verse | Australia: Folk Songs & Bush Verse | Nominated |
| Wicked Beat Sound System | Wicked Beat Sound System | Dreaming | Dreaming | Nominated |
| Artisan Awards |||||
| Producer of the Year |||||
| Producer | Musical artist | Release | Release | Result |
| Empire of the Sun, Donnie Sloan, Peter Mayes | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Won |
| Forrester Savell | Karnivool | Sound Awake | Sound Awake | Nominated |
| Suffa | Hilltop Hoods | State of the Art | State of the Art | Nominated |
| Tim Powles | Regular John | The Peaceful Atom Is a Bomb | The Peaceful Atom Is a Bomb | Nominated |
| Wayne Connolly, Paul Dempsey | Paul Dempsey | Everything Is True | Everything Is True | Nominated |
| Engineer of the Year |||||
| Engineer | Musical artist | Release | Release | Result |
| DJ Debris | Hilltop Hoods | State of the Art | State of the Art | Won |
| Greg Wales | You Am I | Dilettantes | Dilettantes | Won |
| Jimi Maroudas | Eskimo Joe | Inshalla | Inshalla | Nominated |
| Pete Mayes | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Nominated |
| Steven Schram | Little Birdy | Confetti | Confetti | Nominated |
| Best Video |||||
| Director | Musical artist | Single | Single | Result |
| Head Pictures, Damon Escott, Stephen Lance | Sarah Blasko | "All I Want" | "All I Want" | Nominated |
| Josh Logue for Mathematics | Empire of the Sun | "Walking on a Dream" | "Walking on a Dream" | Won |
| Josh Logue for Mathematics | Empire of the Sun | "We Are the People" | "We Are the People" | Nominated |
| Mark Alston | Kate Miller-Heidke | "The Last Day on Earth" | "The Last Day on Earth" | Nominated |
| Sam Bennetts | Bluejuice | "Broken Leg" | "Broken Leg" | Nominated |
| Best Cover Art |||||
| Cover artist | Musical artist | Album | Album | Result |
| Aaron Hayward, David Homer Debaser | Empire of the Sun | Walking on a Dream | Walking on a Dream | Won |
| C. W. Stoneking | C. W. Stoneking | Jungle Blues | Jungle Blues | Nominated |
| Mathematics | Eskimo Joe | Inshalla | Inshalla | Nominated |
| Sarah Larnach | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Nominated |
| Sharon Chai | Sarah Blasko | As Day Follows Night | As Day Follows Night | Nominated |

## ARIA Hall of Fame Inductees

The following were inducted into the 2009 ARIA Hall of Fame on 27 August at Melbourne's Forum Theatre:
* Kev Carmody
* The Dingoes
* Little Pattie
* Mental As Anything
* John Paul Young

## Judging academy

In 2009, the generalist categories were determined by the "voting academy", which consisted of about 1000 representatives from across the music industry. (See pie chart at right for percentage breakdowns.)
Members of the academy are kept secret. Membership is by invitation only. An individual record company may have up to eight members on the academy. The only artists eligible to vote are winners and nominees from the previous year's awards.