2021 ARIA Covid-era awards ceremony upsets publicists

As Amy Shark leads the field for this year’s ARIAs, the organisers of the reimagined awards ceremony have upset nominees and their publicists with their ‘cruel’ requests.

The ARIA Awards have been battling the dramas that go with putting on an awards ceremony in the Covid world.

In what is set to be the first major awards ceremony to take place in NSW since lockdowns were lifted across Australia, the ARIAs will take place on November 24.

However planning the 34-year-old event hasn’t been without controversy.

Musician Amy Shark is leading the nominations with her indie pop record Cry Forever. Picture: Sam Horton

Saturday Confidential’s phone ran hot throughout the week with disgruntled publicists criticising the association for a number of reasons.
Their first gripe was the “cruel” request of asking every single nominee — 159 — to record an acceptance speech.

Initially publicists were reportedly told “if your talent doesn’t record one, we will accept the award on their behalf”.

When Confidential asked organisers whether this was the case later this week, they had backflipped on the decision and said they would only be asking winners to record a message.

Musicians and their minders were also put out by the fact initially only 10 awards were going to be televised in what was going to be a 45-minute long YouTube stream.

“So basically they are only branding 10 awards worthy of being streamed,” one insider said.

“This really upset people and isn’t very inclusive.

“We completely understand everyone is still finding their feet when it comes to figuring out how to downscale what was once a big event big like the ARIAs but there’s no denying people are feeling flat.”

When the organisers were asked to comment, they said this decision had also been overturned, telling Confidential the whole event would be broadcast now and split up in two parts.

“Everyone understands it’s tough at the moment due to Covid restrictions and a lack of money, but maybe they should have abandoned the event all together just as the Logies and ACRAs have,” another insider said.

“Perhaps ARIA should have conserved their energies to stage an event when everyone could be together again.”

The ARIAs aren’t the only ones to downsize their awards night, with the NIMAs (National Indigenous Music Awards) also putting on an online presentation on Sunday night.

The reimagined NIMA award ceremony will broadcast live around Australia via Triple J, Double J and Triple J Unearthed.

Originally published as 2021 ARIA Covid-era awards ceremony upsets publicists