title: Gold Coast Music Awards
text: # 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
  
  