The APRA SONG OF THE YEAR features a nomination for SILVERCHAIR for 'Straight Lines' while their 2007 tour mates POWDERFINGER have received a nomination for 'Lost & Running' (Powderfinger were APRA Song of the Year winners in 2001 with ‘My Happiness').

THE JOHN BUTLER TRIO (winners of 2004 APRA Song of the Year with ‘Zebra') is nominated with 'Better Than' and THIRSTY MERC make their first appearance as APRA Song of the Year nominees with '20 Good Reasons.' And '1,2,3,4,' performed by Canadian act FEIST but co-written by Australian songwriter SALLY SELTMANN of NEW BUFFALO has also been nominated.

As decided by APRA registered songwriters, the APRA SONG OF THE YEAR is a peer-voted music award. To be considered by
the 30,000 eligible voting members of APRA for this Award, songs must
be written by an APRA member and released in the preceding calendar year.

THE JOHN BUTLER TRIO leads the tally for the 2008 APRA Music Awards with 3 nominations (including Song of the Year). The band are also nominated twice in the category of BLUES & ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR with the songs 'Good Excuse' and the rip roaring 'Funky Tonight.' They are joined in this category by THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS with 'I Thought About You' and THE HIPTONES with 'I've Been Loving You Too Long.'

The category of MOST PLAYED AUSTRALIAN WORK is also a battle of the heavyweights, again featuring SILVERCHAIR with 'Straight Lines' (their 2^nd nomination for 2008), POWDERFINGER'Lost & Running' (their 2^nd nomination for 2008), THIRSTY MERC with 20 'Good Reasons' (also their 2^nd nomination for 2008) alongside ESKIMO JOE with 'New York' and EVERMORE with 'Light Surrounding You.'

The category of COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR, features TROY CASSAR-DALEY (with 'Everything's Going to be Alright'), multiple APRA Award winner LEE KERNAGHAN with 'Spirit of the Bush,' JAMES BLUNDELL with 'Higher Than Heaven,' previous APRA Award winners CARTER AND CARTER with 'Run Away' and TRAVIS SINCLAIR with 'Rockin' The Rig.'

This year, the category of JAZZ WORK OF THE YEAR features five debut APRA Award nominees. They are STEPHEN MAGNUSSON with 'Away,' MATT MCMAHON TRIO with 'Ceremony,' THE MOOVIN' AND GROOVIN' ORCHESTRA with 'Eucalypso,' COLIN HOPKINS'More Spare Time' and WAY OUT WEST with 'Postcard From Footscray.'

The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors decide the celebrated Songwriter of the Year award and the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music. The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors also decide the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, which recognises emerging songwriter talent. These awards will also be announced at the 2008 APRA Music Awards on June 16^th.

The 2008 APRA Music Awards will be hosted by the ever irreverent and entertaining Jonathan Biggins and will feature live performances and special guest presenters.

The one-hour TV special - They Write The Songs.They Write The Songs will be broadcast exclusively on MAX, 8:30pm Monday 30 June. 

CATEGORIES – 2008 APRA MUSIC AWARDS

• Song of the Year
• Songwriter of the Year
• Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
• Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
• Most Played Australian Work
• Most Played Australian Work Overseas *
• Dance Work of the Year
• Jazz Work of the Year
• Country Work of the Year
• Urban Work of the Year
• Blues and Roots Work of the Year