Gold Coast’s premier music industry event, the Gold Coast Music Awards (GCMAs), reveal their 2023 finalists, with winners crowned at a star-studded gala event and live concert on Thursday August 31 at HOTA Home of the Arts.
Back for its ninth year in 2023, the GCMAs received a record 937 nominations (up from 686 in 2022) showcasing the incredible talent and success of the South East Queensland music industry.
Finalists for the 2023 Gold Coast Music Awards:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Beckah Amani
Budjerah
Busby Marou
Chutney
Girl and Girl
Mass Sky Raid
Natalie Pearson
Saint Lane
Wildheart
BREAKOUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chutney
ECB
Emmagen Rain
Friends of Friends
Girl and Girl
Hinterland
Peach Fur
Latour
Lily Grace
Lyric
LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Gold Coast Music
Budjerah
Busby Marou
Girl and Girl
Hollow Coves
Hussy Hicks
Peach Fur
Tijuana Cartel
Wildheart
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
sponsored by TAFE Queensland
Beckah Amani
Budjerah
Dave Amphlett
Elias Kokkoris
Harry J Hart
Jay Bainbridge
Lindsay Waddington
Omar Hanlon
Paul George
SOFIA ISELLA
RELEASE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by City of Gold Coast
Beckah Amani – ‘April’
Buttered – ‘Feel This Way’
Chloe Styler – ‘Side A’
Georgia Hoareau – ‘wish somebody told her’
Girl and Girl – ‘Divorce +’
Heavy Wax – ‘HEAVY WAX’
Mass Sky Raid – ‘Calm In Chaos’
Saint Lane – ‘i thought my name was cursed’
The Vultures – ‘Escobar’
SONG OF THE YEAR
Alt Fiction – ‘Why Are You Still Here?’
Beckah Amani – ‘Waiting On You’
Budjerah – ‘Therapy’
Busby Marou – ‘Everything Is Beautiful’
Danny Dyson – ‘Say Something’
Georgia Hoareau – ‘Girl’
Girl and Girl – ‘Dance Now’
Mass Sky Raid – ‘Begin With The End’
Peach Fur – ‘Yummy’
Saint Lane – ‘Staring at the Sun’
SOFIA ISELLA – ‘Us and Pigs’
The Vultures – ‘Escobar’
These Four Walls – ‘Marigold’
STUDIO PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Blake Malone
George Carpenter
Jared Adlam
Josh Beattie
Julz Parker
Lindsay Waddington
Mattymadeit
VENUE OF THE YEAR
sponsored by Oztix
Burleigh Town Hotel
Den Devine
elsewhere
Hound and Stag
Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
The Avenue
Vinnies Dive
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alt Fiction – ‘Why Are You Still Here’
Beckah Amani – ‘Waiting On You’
Burger Joint – ‘Pub In The Middle Of Nowhere’
Busby Marou – ‘Everything Is Beautiful’
daste. – ‘Butterfly (So Free)’
ECB – ‘Slime’
Eimhin – ‘Lately’
Geniie Boy – ‘Better’
Georgia Hoareau – ‘Oh Well’
Girl and Girl – ‘Divorce 2’
Peach Fur – ‘Yummy’
Saint Lane – ’03:33’
SOFIA ISELLA – ‘All of Human Knowledge Made Us Dumb’
VISUAL CREATIVE OF THE YEAR
Bianca Hinton
Bianca Taylor-Andrews
Jared Hinz
Monkey Noise
Simone Gorman-Clark
GOLD COAST MUSIC PRIZE
sponsored by Friends of the Arts
Bayley Pearl
Bella Paton
daste.
Emmagen Rain
Georgia Hoareau
Lyric
NXT
Tanisha
Tomorrow’s Forecast
CHLOE POPA, CO-FOUNDER OF THE AWARDS SAYS:
“We were overwhelmed by the number of Award nominations we received this year, a total of 937. That number of nominations equates to several days’ worth of non-stop listening for the judging panel. It’s incredible to think that that is just a small portion of the music being produced on the Gold Coast each year.”
“We’re always excited to see new nominees added to the mix each year and 2023 did not disappoint. There is a very strong contingent of emerging artists and new talent making waves on the Gold Coast right now. The finalists reflect a good balance of rising stars as well as musicians who are already recognisable on the national and international stage such as Budjerah, Tijuana Cartel, Hussy Hicks and Hollow Coves.”
“Recognition of those working behind the scenes has been a real focus for the Awards this year with the categories of Studio Producer and Visual Creative. The finalists named across these categories hold an impressive list of achievements between them and we’re looking forward to shining a light on the work they are doing in the industry.”
FAST FACTS
2023 Gold Coast Music Awards Ceremony
Thursday 31 August – from 5pm – 8pm @HOTA, Home of the Arts | Theatre One
With live performances from:
Beckah Amani
Buttered
Chloe Styler
ECB
Saint Lane and Lily Papas
Tijuana Cartel
Gold Coast Music Awards x SPRINGTIME pre-party
Thursday 31 August – 8pm to 10pm @HOTA, Home of the Arts | Terrace
Tickets for awards ceremony and SPRINGTIME party are on sale now gcmusicnetwork.com.au