NATIONAL SONGWRITER AWARDS
The NATIONAL SONGWRITER AWARDS recognise the BEST SONGS & SONGWRITERS released in Australia. The awards are OPEN to all country songwriters and are judged by highly qualified judges selected from outside the country music community to ensure quality judging without bias or prejudice.
**ENTRIES OPEN NOVEMBER 2024**
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Any artist recording and releasing a single or album in Australia is eligible to nominate in the National Songwriter & Composer of the Year Categories
The National Composer of the Year is for INSTRUMENTALS ONLY
The Lyrics Only category is open to all poems and songs recorded or unrecorded
Material will be judged on Country Music content, song suitability, song structure both Lyrics and Composition
Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
Any poor behaviour or negative commentary directed at the CCMA, the Committee or Awards will result in permanent expulsion from involvement in any future events
By nominating in these Awards the artist, studio and label give consent to the Awards to use up to 30 secs of any track for promotional purposes pertaining to the Awards including YouTube and other Social Media platforms
2024 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2024 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Desert Rose - Terry Bennetts & Keith Lethbridge
Diesel Smoke - Paul Hudnott
How We Love Before We Leave - Shaza Leigh
I Call Australia Home - Craig Lloyd
Local Hero - Peter Campbell, B Smoother & D Murphy
Out On The Clay - Peter Campbell
Tamworth Gold - Allan Caswell & Larry Cann
Time To Fly - Shaza Leigh
Why I Love December - Shaza Leigh
Widgee Widgee Station - Alice Benfer & Kevin Bennett
2024 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Butts Boogie - Lindsay Butler
Fraser Island - Shaza Leigh
Two Chords - Shaza Leigh & Rick Aitchison
Where Our Heart Lives - Shaza Leigh
Wiga - Pixie Jenkins
2024 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
A Fiddle & A Steel - Andrew Ryan
Ned's Songbird - Anne Fraser & Faith Julija Kristensen
How We Love Before We Leave - Shaza Leigh
The Great Outback - Shaza Leigh & Ken Knuth
Chasing Rabbits In Her Sleep - Terry Bennetts
2024 NEW SONGWRITER
Child Of The Lord - Tina Pettaras
Constellation - Jenny Schneider, Bruce Schneider & Susan Newton
Out Where Dreams Are Free - Kylie Moss
Two Cultures - Donna Atkins
Why Don't You Let Me Go First - Kylie Moss
2024 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
Beautiful World - Shanleigh Rose Carey
Boy Next Door - Shanleigh Rose Carey
Country Strong - Kassidy Jewell
The Road - Amy Ryan
When Will I Be Enough - Lucy Beveridge
2023 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2023 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Beauty Of The Bush - Andrew Ryan
Hear The Angels - Shaza Leigh
I Love This Rodeo - Lynchburg (A.Caswell/L.Waddington)
In The Wattego - Andrew Ryan
Lawson’s Legacy - Shaza Leigh & Billy Wye
One Reason Why - Shaza Leigh & Bella Dior
Proud To Call You Dad - Lloyd Back
Surrounded By Love - Shaza Leigh
The Dinner Tree - Terry Bennetts
The Willow Weeps For Me - Kylie Adams-Collier & John Seers
2023 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Bunyip Bounce - Shaza Leigh
La Chica Bella - Lindsay Waddington
Rabbit Flat Polka - Terry Bennetts
Tassie Tango - Lindsay Butler
Tenterfield Sunset - Lindsay Butler
2023 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
A Saddle There For Me - Christine Eccelston
Drunk From The Same Canteen - Russell Leeming
Rosary & Crucifix - Russell Leeming
Think Of Me - Terry Bennetts
When The Murrumbidgee’s In A Hurry - Christine Eccelston
2023 NEW SONGWRITER
Even God Had A Dog - Dean Winchester
How Can This Bn Randall
The Old Hills Hoist - Owen Smith
Two Hearts Beat Better Than One - Tina Pettaras
We’re Already There - Dean Winchester
2023 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
As I Ride - Amy Ryan
Diamantina Dreaming - Amy Ryan
Fly Away - Klancie Freebody
Our Land - Amy Ryan
Wasn’t Me - Klancie Freebody
2022 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2022 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Magpie - Aurelle Brunjes
Fees Like Home - Becci Nethery
I Like Your Truck - Faith Julija
Rivers Reborn - Greg Williams
The Baker's Daughter - Louise Bruce
Just Get Better - Lynchburg
Love You When I Can - Lynchburg
1868 - Matt Scullion
Our Family Rock - Shaza Leigh
The Old Home's Gone - Shaza Leigh & Billy Wye
2022 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Instrufundamental - Lindsay Waddington
Tamworth Express - Shaza Leigh
Wattle In The Spring - Shaza Leigh
Kimberely Winds- Shaza Leigh & Lindsay Butler
Calling Of The Heart - Terry Bennetts
2022 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
3 Little Street - Brooke Seabrook
The Fullness Of My Life - Brooke Seabrook
Side By Side - Christine Eccleston
Youngie - Lynchburg
Claire's Homestead - Sam Burgess
2022 NEW SONGWRITER
Lucky - Brett Rostron
Broken Voices, Broken Hearts - Brooke Seabrook
Thousand Miles From Nowhere - Christine Hardy
Rise of The Phoenix - Nick Nicolas
A Place I Call Home - Tayla Clavarino
2022 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
My Way Out Of The Dark - Bailey Peerie
Stuck - Bailey Perrie
Let Go - Dennis Comino
Paper Town - Ella Powell
I'm Off To Tamworth - Jake Murdoch
2021 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2021 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
The Greatest Show On Earth - Alan Percy
She Said What - Della Harris
Dance In The Rain - Levena Stewart/Bella Mackenzie
A Country School - Lindsay Waddington/D.Oliver/Sharon Heaslip
Are They Ever Leaving Home - Lloyd Back
Old Boots - Lloyd Back
Walking The Wall - Michael Lehnen
Cutting Gems Out Of Stone - Shaza Leigh
Dawning Of The New Age - Shaza Leigh
The Bush Is Still The Same - Shaza Leigh
2021 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Bush Bashin' - Lindsay Butler
Lonely Heart - Lindsay Waddington
Tanami Track - Lindsay Waddington
Desert Dreaming - Shaza Leigh
Call Of Kakadu - Shaza Leigh
2021 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
Poppies In The Hall - Christine Eccelston
Downsizing - Eric Read
Red Dirt Rising - Floyd Black
Nan's Wise Words - Jacinta Read
Born To Be Free - Shaza Leigh/Billy Wye
2021 NEW SONGWRITER
Means To Him - Alison Jensen
A Touch Of Old Spice - A.Tenace/V.Witherden
Little Sparrow - Aurelle Brunjes
Why Did I Fall For You - Briana & Ken Dinsdale
Spinnin' - Tayla Clavarino
2021 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
Overthinking - Bella Mackenzie
Evaline - Briana Dinsdale
Misty Idol - Lily Grace
Without Me - Mackenzie Lee
Do It Again - Sari Abbott
2020 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2020 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Collided - Ben Mawdsley
I Wanna Be That Man - Brett Clarke
If We Could Return - Michelle Russell/Shaza Leigh
Slanguage - Matt Scullion
Traces Of Doubt - Shaza Leigh
2020 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Pushing Time Again - Lex K
Nullabor - Lindsay Waddington
El Gringo - Peter Salata/Lindsay Waddington
Bless The Blarney - Shaza Leigh
Scrubby Creek - Terry Bennetts
2020 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
Big Man Boots - Christine Eccleston
Lindsay Butler, I Salute You - Kerry Hodge
Jimmy Webster, Mate Of Mine - Kerry Hodge
True Bush Balladeers - Lex K
Pictures On The Wall - S.Leigh/A.Brooks/G.Pearson
2020 NEW SONGWRITER
River Run Dry - Annalisse Thiedeke McHugh
Mango Trees - Aurelle Brunjes
Kalgoorlie Dreaming - Garry Jones
Working On The Land - Garry Jones
Floodline - Ken Dinsdale
2020 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
Green - Bella Mackenzie
This Is Not The End - Brianna Dinsdale
Bring On The Rain - Chandler Jay
Summers Here - Freddy Bailey
Hey Mr DJ - Mackenzie Lee
2019 National Songwriter Awards Winners
2019 NATIONAL SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
It’s Not Quite A Ghost Town - Brian Stitt
Yahoo - Emma Jene
Swing From The Chandeliers - Rachel Summerell
As My Memories Fade - Shaza Leigh & Emma Jene
Land Of Our Kin - Shaza Leigh
2019 NATIONAL COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Huntah’s Melody - Anthony Baxter
Nullabor - Lindsay Waddington
Hill Of Tara - Shaza Leigh
Mist On The Murray - Shaza Leigh
Chicken Pickin’ - Terry Bennetts
2019 LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
Dust Off The Drovers - Christine Eccleston
Ghost Train - John Cauchi
Where The Earth and Sky Collide - John Stretton
Love Songs and Memories - Lex K
Back Where I Use To Live - Lorena Quinlivan
2019 NEW SONGWRITER
Birdsong - Aurelle Brunjes
Barbed Wire and Bullets - Jim Van Fleet
I Don’t Know - Jim Van Fleet
I Say You Don’t - Julie Prowse
Mr Majestic Smile - Shane Butterworth
2019 JUNIOR SONGWRITER
Falling Apart - Amira Hamze
Dear Future Me - Briana Dinsdale
Help Me Meet The Lord - Briana Dinsdale
Road Called Life - Felicity Dowd
When The Rains Come - Freddie Bailey-Cook
