APRA Announces New Award in Honour of Late Artist Manager Diana Torossian

APRA AMCOS has announced it will introduce a brand new award this year in honour of late artist manager, Diana Torossian, who passed away last September.

Given Torossian's passionate support of local songwriters and nurturing some of the country's best like David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA), Lindsay Rimes and Sarah Aarons, the Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award is open to all songwriters who have started to establish a commercial body of work.

At EMI Music Publishing Australia, Torossian signed the likes of ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted rockers Hoodoo Gurus, Baby Animals, and Diesel, and took those talents to Mushroom Music Publishing, Sony Music Australia and Polygram Music Publishing Australia, Peter Hoyland Management and other companies.

At BMG Music Publishing Australia, she was involved in the signings of Powderfinger, Rogue Traders, The Androids, The Grates, Adam Reily, Phil Buckle, and David Campbell, and was named manager of A&R.

Presented in July, the award will include a $5,000 cash prize plus $20,000 worth of songwriting and mentoring sessions with some of the industry’s leading names, including Andrew Lowden (Thrones), David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi (DNA), Evie Irie, Gary Pinto and Michael Fatkin, and five mentoring sessions with Lorrae McKenna (Golden Grants), Michael Parisi (management), Paul Harris (Warner Music A&R), Rachel Kelly (Unified Publishing) and Sammie Walsh (Beehive PR).

"Diana's passing left a gaping hole in the hearts of the many lives she touched," Musumeci said.

"Di managed us (DNA) for over 16 years and together we experienced so many incredible moments that will never be forgotten.

“Diana loved music. She loved everything about it; the artists, the industry, but above all the songs. Di loved working with songwriters as she believed they were the unsung heroes of the music world. I’m so proud that her legacy gets to live on through this amazing award.”

Lowden added: “Di was not only my manager but also my best friend and being a part of her life journey for me was a blessing I’m not sure will ever be beaten.

“She was, as anyone that knew her knows, a firebrand of fierce advocacy for writers and producers, a publishing and sync oracle and an all-round storm in a teacup. This was all fueled by a quiet deep reverence for the power of music and I’d give anything to have one more late-night conversation with her about Siouxsie and the Banshees or Monsoon.

“I’m overjoyed that her legacy gets to live on in the form of this award and I know that she would be so proud that she can still have a hand in shepherding songwriters to the world.”

Entries are open now until 5.30pm (AEST) on Monday June 16th. A panel of leading industry professionals will judge the award with the winners announced at a special event on Thursday July 24th at the Sydney APRA AMCOS offices. Entrants must be APRA AMCOS members and based in Australia.

"Diana’s untimely passing last year was a huge loss to the Australian music community," Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, said.

"Given her dedication and passion for Australia’s best and brightest new talent, it seems only fitting that this award has been established in her name, and we are delighted to be able to support it to help the next generation of songwriters get their foot on the ladder.”

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