# Adam Brand (musician)

Adam Brand (born 27 January 1970) is an Australian country singer-songwriter. Brand released his debut album in 1997. He has since released 14 studio albums and has won 12 Country Music Awards of Australia. Adam Brand has been voted CMC Oz Artist of the Year five consecutive years between 2007 – 2011.

## Early life

Adam Brand was born on 27 January 1970 in Perth, Western Australia. Brand's first stage appearance was at age 3 singing "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" with his father Mick at a pub in Perth.
His love for music was heavily influenced by his father who was a singer and a fan of Elvis Presley. His mother exposed him to Kris Kristofferson, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers.
At age 10, Adam picked up the drum sticks. In his teens, Brand began playing the drums in church bands around Colac and Geelong where he was introduced to gospel and developed his lifelong love of rhythm.

## Career
### 1997-1999: Career beginnings

In January 1997, Brand began busking on Peel Street, Tamworth which led to his first record deal with Festival Mushroom Records which he signed in September 1997. In July 1998, Brand released his debut self-titled studio album, which peaked at number 44 on the Australian ARIA album charts and was certified platinum. At the 1999 CMAA awards, Brand won three Golden Guitars; Song of the Year, New Talent of the Year and Video of the Year. The album was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Country Album at the 1999 ARIA Music Awards. Brand won the 'Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Award' at the Mo Awards in July 1999.

### 2000–2005: Career Establishment

In January 2000, Brand won his fourth CMAA Award for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with Melinda Schneider for "Love Away the Night". In March 2000, Brand released his second studio album Good Friends which peaked at number 26 on the ARIA charts. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the 2000 ARIA Awards. In January 2001, Brand won three more CMAA Awards; Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. He also won a Mo Award for Male Country Performer of the Year.
In January 2002, Brand released his third studio album Built for Speed which peaked at number 24 ARIA charts and was certified platinum in Australia. Brand won a further Mo Award for Male Country Performer of the Year. In January 2003, "The Anzac" won the CMAA Award for Heritage Song of the Year, Brand's eighth CMA Award overall. In 2003, Brand contributed the tracks "Sicilian Born" and "Menindee" to the compilation album Australian Storytellers. Both songs received CMA Awards nominations.
In August 2004, Brand released his fourth studio album Get Loud, which debuted at number 16 on the ARIA charts, was certified Gold and earned Brand's third ARIA Award nomination for Best Country Album. In October 2005 Brand released a Christmas album titled Christmas in Australia.

### 2006–2009: Continued Success and Dancing with the Stars

In July 2006, Brand released his sixth studio album What a Life which peaked at number 28 on the ARIA charts and was certified Gold. Brand received another ARIA nomination for 'Best Country Album' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2006. In January 2007 Brand is awarded the inaugural Country Music Channel Oz Artist of the Year Award. In January 2008, Brand won three more CMA Awards for his song "Spirit of the Bush" with Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde. In January 2008, Brand released his seventh studio album Blame It on Eve which became Brand's first ARIA top ten album. In September 2008, Brand's first compilation album Greatest Hits 1998–2008 was released. In January 2009 Brand wins his third consecutive CMC Oz Artist of the Year Award and his twelfth CMA Award when he won Male Artist of the Year. In March 2009 Brand released his eighth studio album Hell of a Ride, which peaked at number 19 on ARIA charts. In March 2009, Brand was the lead act at the Victorian Bushfire Appeal concert in Traralgon.
From July to September 2009, Brand competed the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars (Australia) and was declared the winner on 6 September 2009. Brand partnered professional dancer Jade Hatcher, whom he married on 31 May 2010.
In September 2009 Brand signed a recording contract with Arista Records, the Nashville-based division of Sony Music Entertainment for the distribution of his recordings in the United States.

### 2010–present: Adam Brand label

In January 2010 Brand won his fourth consecutive CMC Oz Artist of the Year Award. In August 2010, Brand released his ninth studio album It's Gonna Be OK which peaked at number 11 on the ARIA charts. The Track "Ready for Loving" was released in the United States and reached the Top 40 in the US Country charts. In January 2011, Brand won CMC Oz Artist of the Year Award for the fifth consecutive year. In May 2011, Brand released a compilation album titled You're a Revhead before supporting Taylor Swift on her North American tour.
In August 2012, Brand released his tenth studio album There Will Be Love on Arista Nashville/Sony Music Australia, which peaked at number 4 on the ARIA charts; Brand's highest-charting album. This was followed by My Acoustic Diary which was the first album recorded by Brand's own label. It was distributed by ABC Music. The album saw Brand re-record 13 of his own tracks in an acoustic setting. Upon release, Brand said "I have decided to re-record some of these diary entries acoustically, the way they were first written… I've chosen songs that represent pivotal points in my life, and my growth as a songwriter and as an artist trying to find my own voice."
Brand's twelfth studio album My Side of the Street was released in August 2014, became his second top 5 album. It was nominated for an ARIA Award and two CMA Awards. In January 2015, Brand won CMC Oz Artist of the Year Award for a fifth year.
In January 2016, Brand released his thirteenth studio album Adam Brand and the Outlaws, featuring fellow Australian country musicians Travis Collins, Drew McAlister, Matt Cornell and Mike Carr. The album peaked at number 6 on the ARIA charts and was nominated for an ARIA Award. The album won a CMC Award for Highest Selling Album. In February 2017, Brand released Get On Your Feet which peaked at number 7 on the ARIA charts.
In July 2018, Brand celebrated 20 years since the release of his debut album releasing a compilation album titled Milestones... 20 Years. The album debuted at number 6 on the ARIA charts, becoming his highest charting compilation album. In September 2018 Brand joined Scott Darlow, Sarah McLeod, Jack Jones and Todd Hunter to re-record the Dragon song "Rain" with all net proceeds from the sale to go towards to the Buy-a-bale program in support of Australian farmers suffering from the Australian drought.
In late 2019, Brand appeared in the first season of The Masked Singer Australia as the 'Dragon' and was the sixth contestant voted out.
In August 2019 Brand released a new single "Life's Been Good to Me" after taking 12 months off to start a family with the birth of his first child, a baby girl named Pepper. Adam will be hitting the road with his Speed of Life Tour March 2020 when he will release his new album. Special guests on the tour will be new country duo "Cornell & Carr". Matt Cornell and Mike Carr were previously members of Adam Brand and the Outlaws.

## Personal life

Brand is a fan of motor sport. His song "Dirt Track Cowboys" is themed around speedway racing and features speedway commentator Wade Aunger. Brand has also raced, spending several years racing in the V8 Utes category racing Ford Falcon V8s in the early 2000s. Brand made a return to racing in 2011, competing in the 2011 Eastern Creek Six Hour. Brand and his co-drivers won their class racing a Suzuki Swift.
He has been married and divorced three times. At the age of 39 he met Jade Hatcher, then 19, on the set of Dancing with the Stars in 2009. They went on to win the competition despite a lower score compared to their competitor, Today Tonight presenter Matt White. Brand and Hatcher married in May 2010, but in late 2011 it was announced that they had separated. They later divorced.
In 2019, Brand became a father for the first time, after his partner gave birth to daughter Pepper.
Brand's partner gave birth to a second baby in August 2022.

## Discography

* Adam Brand (1998)
* Good Friends (2000)
* Built for Speed (2002)
* Get Loud (2004)
* Christmas in Australia (credited to Adam Brand and Friends) (2005)
* What a Life (2006)
* Blame It on Eve (2008)
* Hell of a Ride (2009)
* It's Gonna Be OK (2010)
* There Will Be Love (2012)
* My Acoustic Diary (2013)
* My Side of the Street (2014)
* Adam Brand and the Outlaws (as Adam Brand and the Outlaws) (2016)
* Get On Your Feet (2017)
* Speed of Life (2020)
* All or Nothing (2022)

## Awards and nominations
### AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2009 | Hell of a Ride | Best Independent Country Album | Won | |
| 2023 | All or Nothing | Best Independent Country Album or EP | Nominated | |

### APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Brand has been nominated nine times.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | "Last Man Standing" | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2000 | "Dirt Track Cowboys" | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2001 | "Beating Around the Bush" | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2002 | "Good Things in Life" | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2003 | "New England Highway" | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2008 | "Spirit of the Bush" (Lee Kernaghan featuring Adam Brand and Steve Forde) | Country Work of the Year | Nominated |
| 2009 | "Coming From / Khe Sanh" | Country Work of the Year | Nominated |
| 2010 | "Hell of a Ride" | Country Work of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | "Freedom Rebels" | Country Work of the Year | Nominated |

### ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Brand has been nominated seven times.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | Adam Brand | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2000 | Good Friends | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2004 | Get Loud | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2006 | What a Life | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2014 | My Side of the Street | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2016 | Adam Brand and the Outlaws | Best Country Album | Nominated |
| 2022 | All Or Nothing | Best Country Album | Nominated |

### CMC Awards

The Country Music Channel (CMC Awards) are an annual fan voted award ceremony. From 2007 to 2010, The CMC awarded only one category, The Oz Artist of the Year, which Brand won four years in a row. The CMC Awards officially commenced in 2011, with four categories in total. Brand has won 11 awards in total.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2007 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2009 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2010 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2011 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2015 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2015 | Adam Brand – "What Your Love Looks Like" | Video of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | Adam Brand and the Outlaws – Adam Brand and the Outlaws | ARIA Highest Selling Album | Won |
| 2018 | Adam Brand | Oz Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2018 | Adam Brand | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Adam Brand – "Drunk" | Video of the Year | Won |

### CMA Awards

The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. Brand has won 12 awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | Adam Brand – "Last Man Standing" | APRA Song of the Year | Won |
| 1999 | Adam Brand | New Talent of the Year | Won |
| 1999 | Adam Brand – "Last Man Standing" | Video Track of the Year | Won |
| 2000 | Adam Brand and Melinda Schneider – "Love Away the Night" | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Won |
| 2001 | Adam Brand – Good Friends | Album of the Year | Won |
| 2001 | Adam Brand – Good Friends | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won |
| 2001 | Adam Brand – "Good Things in Life" | APRA Song of the Year | Won |
| 2003 | Adam Brand – "The Anzac" | Heritage Song of the Year | Won |
| 2004 | Adam Brand – "Sicilian Born" | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2004 | Adam Brand – "Menindee" | Heritage of the Year | Nominated |
| 2004 | Adam Brand – "The Anzac" | Video Clip of the Year | Nominated |
| 2004 | Adam Brand – "The Anzac" | Single Of The Year | Nominated |
| 2005 | Adam Brand – "Get Loud" | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2005 | Adam Brand – "Get Loud" | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 2005 | Adam Brand – "Get Loud" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2005 | Adam Brand – Get Loud | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2005 | Adam Brand – Get Loud | Top Selling Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2006 | Adam Brand – Get Loud | Top Selling Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2007 | Adam Brand – "Open Ended Heartache" | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2007 | Adam Brand – What a Life | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2007 | Adam Brand – "Open Ended Heartache" | Single of the Year | Nominated |
| 2007 | Adam Brand – "Life Will Bring You Home" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2008 | Adam Brand (with Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde) – "Spirit of the Bush" | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Adam Brand (with Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde) – "Spirit of the Bush" | Video Clip of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Adam Brand (with Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde) – "Spirit of the Bush" | Single of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Adam Brand (with Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde) – "Spirit of the Bush" | Heritage Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2009 | Adam Brand – "Get On Down the Road" | Male Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2009 | Adam Brand– "Comin' From" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2009 | Adam Brand (with The Sunny Cowgirls) – "Someday" | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Adam Brand – My Side of the Street | Top Selling Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Adam Brand – My Side of the Street | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Get On Your Feet | Contemporary Country Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Adam Brand | Male Artist Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | Adam Brand – Speed of Life | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | Adam Brand | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | "All Or Nothing" | Single of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | "All Or Nothing" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | All Or Nothing | Contemporary Country Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | All Or Nothing | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2023 | Adam Brand | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | "Our Church" (with Matt Cornell) | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Pending |

### MO Awards

The Mo Awards is an annual award ceremony recognising achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Brand has won three awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1999 | Adam Brand | Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Award | Won |
| 2001 | Adam Brand | Male Country Performer of the Year | Won |
| 2002 | Adam Brand | Male Country Performer of the Year | Won |

### Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as the Q Song Awards) are an annual awards ceremony celebrating Queensland's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | All Or Nothing | Highest Selling Album of the Year | Won | |

### Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986. Adam Brand has won one award.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
| 1999 | "Uncle Pete" by Adam Brand | New Songwriter Award | Won |