Australia has a new awards ceremony set to honour women in music.
The first Australian Women in Music Awards & Forum will take place in Brisbane in October, with support from some of the biggest names in the industry.
Tina Arena, Claire Bowditch, Christine Anu, The Preatures' singer Isabella Manfredi and Deborah Conway have all thrown their support behind the awards, hoping to showcase and promote women in the industry.
"These awards are a powerful signal to our industry, our artists and our audience that female musicians can, should and will take centre stage, " singer Katie Noonan, an artistic adviser of the awards, said at the launch in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The awards were announced just days before International Women's Day, by broadcaster Tracee Hutchison chair of AWMA's national advisory council, and were founded by Vicki Gordon.
Gordon, who was the first woman voted onto the ARIA Board, was the executive director of label Transistor Music and the current president of CiCADA International Inc which supports young indigenous, marginalised and disadvantaged artists and communities.
The awards come on the back of a growing wave of support for female artists around the globe and will feature forums and keynote events which will aim to put the spotlight on the women in the music industry.
*The inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards & Forum will take place at the Brisbane Powerhouse October 9 - 10
Australian Associated Press
