15th ANNUAL ARIA MUSIC AWARDS
FINAL FIVE NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Incredibly, with a landslide feat of a remarkable nine ARIA nominations, The Avalanches have tipped the peak as the most nominated ARIA act this year.

Enjoying the success of 2 top 20 UK singles (“Frontier Psychiatrist” and “Since I Left You”), coupled with a top 10 album which has now reached Gold status in the UK and newly signed in the U.S. to London-Sire, after a bidding war that included Madonna's Maverick label, the outfit are enjoying international raves from Fatboy Slim and have been nominated in the categories of Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Group, Best New Artist Single, Best New Artist Album, Best Dance Artist Release, Producer of the Year (Bobbydazzler), Engineer of the Year (Tony Espie / Bobbydazzler), and Best Cover Art (Bobbydazzler). Let it be known that Bobbydazzler are in fact two individual members of The Avalanches.

Just one nomination behind them is the powerful, hard-edged Brisbane-based Powderfinger. After three nominations last year, this long-established outfit has moved dramatically upwards for ARIA consideration, appearing in eight categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Group, Highest Selling Australian Single, Highest Selling Australian Album, Best Video (for Paul Butler and Scott Walton) and Best Cover Art (Kevin Wilkins).

This year's nominations have recognised established icons - such as Kylie Minogue (six nominations - Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Release, Best Female Artist, Highest Selling Australia Single, Highest Selling Australian Album) and You Am I (four nominations - Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Group, Best Alternative Release) - while also recognising the sudden, sweeping rise of stylish and impressive 'newcomers'.

Crashing into ARIA consideration for the first time, with multiple nominations, are the textured and compelling Something For Kate, who debuted at #2 nationally this year with their Echolalia album and are in contention for six categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Group, Best Alternative Release, Best Video (Bart Borghesi) and Best Cover Art ( Stephanie Ashworth).

Making just as exceptional an ARIA debut is the independent and musically clever John Butler Trio, who are currently performing in the U.S. with Gov't Mule and Taj Mahal. This intriguing new outfit is nominated in five categories - Best Male Artist, Best New Artist Single, Best New Artist Album, Best Independent Release, Best Blues & Roots Album.

Augie March follow close behind with four - Best New Artist Album, Producer of the Year (Augie March / Paul McKercher / Richard Pleasance), Engineer of the Year (Richard Pleasance / Chris Dickie / Chris Thompson / Paul McKercher), Best Cover Art (Sam Hickey).

Other artists to achieve multiple nominations this year are: paulmac, Killing Heidi, The Living End, John Farnham, Jodi Phillis and Eskimo Joe, to name a few.

The 15th Annual ARIA Music Awards will be hosted by David Campbell and presented at Sydney's Capitol Theatre on Wednesday 3 October.

PRE-ARIA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Powderfinger, Kylie Minogue, David Campbell, Mark Seymour and Winners List including ARIA HALL OF FAME inductees THE SAINTS

The first fifteen statues of the 15th Annual ARIA Music Awards, presented as the 'Pre-Arias' in a special ceremony hosted by Richard Wilkins today at City Live in Sydney's FOX Studios, not only honoured a diverse array of Australian recording talent but provided the first indication of this year's voting trends.

This year's induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame was punk stalwarts The Saints, active (and unpredictable) since 1976. In his impasssioned induction, author Clinton Walker reminded all present of the immortal words of Sir Bob Geldof: "Rock music of the seventies was changed by three bands - the Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Saints." Founder members Chris Bailey, Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay were on hand to receive the plaudits of their peers.

Powderfinger and Kylie Minogue - nominated for a further six and five awards respectively at the ARIAs on October 3rd - were announced as winners - taking out the Best Rock Album (Odyssey Number Five ) and Best Pop Release (Light Years) awards respectively; while Kevin Wilkins' visual design for the Best Rock Album was named Best Cover Art. The Avalanches, topping the nominations tally for that night with 6 further category listings (nine in all), saw their producer Bobbydazzler awarded as Producer of the Year for work on their Since I Left You album.

Former Hunters & Collectors leader Mark Seymour, now solo performer, emerged victorious in the coveted Best Adult Contemporary Album category with his highly acclaimed One Eyed Man.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and various artists such as Russell Morris took out the Best Original Soundtrack award for the hit comedy film The Dish.

David Campbell's dynamic and indefatigable portrayal of pioneering Oz Rock legend Johnny O'Keefe in Shout! - The Legend of The Wild One was recognised by an ARIA for the Best Cast/Show Album. This should send David surging into his role as compere of the ARIA Awards with even more than his customary energy.

Best Comedy Release, Best Jazz Album and Best Classical Album awards provided a clean sweep - the winners being, respectively, Guido Hatzis for Whatever; the Bernie McGann Trio for Bundeena (on Rufus); and Genevieve Lacy, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Paul Dyer for Vivaldi's Il Flauto Dolce (on ABC Classics).

Dedicated specialist indie imprints fared well with the Best Blues & Roots album award going to Collard Greens & Gravy for More Gravy on the Black Market Music label; and the Best World Music Album to Mara! for Live In Europe on the Mara label.

The Best Video award was received by director Ben Saunders for Wake Up by Eskimo Joe on Modular/EMI, beating out competing clips for recordings by Scandal'us, Invertigo, Powderfinger, Gerling and Human Nature.

The winners of the final fourteen awards - including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Group, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best New Artist, Best Country Artist, Best Children's Album and Best Independent Release - will be known at the 15th Annual ARIA Music Awards, held on Wednesday, October 3 at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, hosted by David Campbell, televised on Channel Nine at 8.30pm, and webcast on the ninemsn website simultaneously.