ARIA shuns gendered award categories in a bid for inclusivity

Australia’s leading music awards show has made a major change to its gendered categories, in a bid to be more inclusive.

The ARIAs are shunning gendered categories in a bid to make the music awards ceremony more inclusive.

Organisers have said there will be no Best Male Artist or Best Female Artist at November’s show, in favour of a sole Best Artist award.

There will be 10 nominees in the running for the gong, as opposed to five in each of the previous categories.

“The time for separating artists based on gendered categories that exclude non-binary artists altogether has passed,” Annabelle Herd, chief executive of ARIA, said in a statement.

“The music industry is demanding a more equal, inclusive, safe and supportive space for everyone and ARIA is working hard to achieve that across the ARIA Awards and everything we do.”

Guy Sebastian at the 2019 ARIAs. Picture: AAP/Brendon Thorne

Last year, Archie Roach took out Best Male Artist, while Sampa the Great won Best Female Artist, the pair ultimately becoming the last ever winners of the gendered categories.

Sky News host Paul Murray declared sexism “has been solved” in the local music industry on the back of the ARIAs decision, which mirrors the Grammys in the US, which has been gender-neutral since 2012.

“The ARIA awards, which are the awards for music and have been around since the 1980s, well they’ve had plenty of people who have won them over the years as best male and female artist,” Murray said.

“People like Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem, people like John Farnham, Paul Kelly, and last year, Archie Roach as the best male artists.

“But this is 2021 and this is now an outdated idea, men and women, separate categories for the music awards.”

The first ARIAs were awarded in 1987, with the show being televised on free-to-air since 1992.

However due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, the ARIAs in November will be digital-only for the second year in a row, allowing people to watch around the world.

Amy Shark accepts the ARIA Award for Best Pop Release at the 2020 ARIAs. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Ms Herd added: “Even though it has been another huge year for Australian music, unfortunately, we are still living through a pandemic. As much as we wish it were different, it is just not possible to come together for an in-person event.

“Having said that, Covid will not stop us from recognising the outstanding achievements of ARIA Award nominees in 2021 and spotlighting the strength and resilience of our amazing local music industry.

“Even after an extremely difficult year, nothing can keep this industry down, and we hope to capture and pay homage to that spirit through the premium digital show that we have planned for this unique year.”

The 2021 ARIA Awards nominations will be presented as a YouTube Premiere in October, with the awards ceremony taking place on November 24.