# Gold Coast Music Awards

The Gold Coast Music Awards is an annual awards night celebrating the Australian music industry based in the Gold Coast.
Founded in 2015 by Samantha Morris, Chloe Popa and Amanda Gorman, the awards are produced by the Gold Coast Music Network, with support from City of Gold Coast and Major Events Gold Coast. 2021's finalists were announced in August 2021, with the awards held on September 4. The People's Choice Award was opened to public voting on 19 August, with all finalists automatically nominated.

## Categories
### Current

Since 2015 the categories have evolved. The most recent addition was the Gold Coast Music Prize in 2020.
| Category | First awarded | Last awarded | Notes |
| Artist of The Year | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Breakout Artist of The Year | 2015 | 2021 | Previously Emerging Artist of the Year - Renamed in 2017 |
| Live Act of The Year | 2018 | 2021 | |
| Musician of The Year | 2019 | 2021 | |
| Release of The Year | 2017 | 2021 | Previously Album of the Year - Renamed in 2019 |
| Song of The Year | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Venue of The Year | 2015 | 2021 | |
| Video of The Year | 2016 | 2021 | |
| People's Choice Award | 2015 | 2021 | Not awarded in 2018 |
| Gold Coast Music Prize | 2020 | 2021 | |

### Retired

| Category | First awarded | Last awarded | Notes |
| Live Music Event of the Year | 2015 | 2017 | Renamed Event of the Year in 2016 |
| Local Music Champion of the Year | 2015 | 2016 | Renamed Champion of the Year in 2016 |
| Hall of Fame | 2019 | 2019 | |

## 2015 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2015 awards took place on July 22 at Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast. Finalist were announced in June. The winners were the following.
Local Music Champion of the year
Polly Snowden
Emerging Artist of the year
Hanlon Brothers
Live Music Venue of the year
Soundlounge
Band/Artist of the year
Karl S Williams
Live Music Event of the year
Buskers By The Creek
Song of the year
Lane-Harry X Ike Campbell - Anarchy
People’s Choice
Casey Barnes

## 2016 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2016 awards took place on June 16. The winners were the following.
Music Champion of the year
Guy Cooper
Emerging Artist of the year
Leopold's Treat
Live Music Venue of the year
Nightquarter
Artist of the year
Hussy Hicks
Event of the year
Blues On Broadbeach
Song of the year
Ella Fence - Unknown Water
Music Video of the year
Ella Fence - Unknown Water
People’s Choice
Jason McGregor

## 2017 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2017 awards took place on 27 April at Surfers Paradise. The winners were the following.
Breakout Artist of the year
Tesla Cøils
Venue of the year
elsewhere
Artist of the year
Amy Shark
Event of the year
Blues on Broadbeach
Song of the year
Amy Shark - Adore
Album of the year
Lane Harry x Ike Campbell - Youth
Video of the year
The Black Swamp - Common Crows
People’s Choice
Being Jane Lane

## 2018 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2018 awards took place on 3 May. The winners were the following.
Album of the year
Hussy Hicks - On The Boundaries
Artist of the year
Amy Shark
Breakout artist of the year
Hollow Coves
Event of the year
Shakafest
Live act of the year
The Mason Rack Band
Song of the year
Hollow Coves - Coastline
Venue of the year
Miami Tavern Shark Bar
Video of the year
Lane Harry x Ike Campbell - The Dash

## 2019 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2019 awards took place on 2 May. The winners were the following.
Hall Of Fame Inductee
Amy Shark
Artist of the year
Amy Shark
Breakout Artist of the year
San Mei
Live Act of the year
Amy Shark
Musician of the year
Ian Peres
Release of the year
Amy Shark - Love Monster
Song of the year
San Mei - Wonder
Venue of the year
Vinnies Dive
Video of the year
YT DiNGO - Shipwrecked
People’s Choice
Elska

## 2020 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2020 awards took place on 30 April and were streamed on Facebook. The winners were the following.
Artist Of The Year
Casey Barnes
Breakout Artist of the year
Eliza And The Delusionals
Live Act of the year
Tijuana Cartel
Musician of the year
Julz Parker (Hussy Hicks)
Release of the year
Busby Marou - The Great Divide
Song of the year
DVNA - Looking Like A Snack
Venue of the year
HOTA: Home Of The Arts
Video of the year
Eddie Ray - The Story
Gold Coast Music Prize
DENNIS.
People’s Choice
Lagerstein

## 2021 Gold Coast Music Awards

The 2021 awards took place on 4 September. The winners were the following.
Artist of the year
Casey Barnes
Breakout of the year
Jesswar
Live Act of the year
Peach Fur
Musician of the year
Scott French
Release of the year
Karl S Williams - Lifeblood
Song of the year
Beckah Amani - Standards
Venue of the year
Mo's Desert Clubhouse
Video of the year
Beckah Amani - Standards
Gold Coast Music Prize
Selve
People’s Choice
Euca