ARIA Awards Axe Gendered Categories In An Inclusive Move

ARIA Awards Axe Gendered Categories In An Inclusive Move

Australia’s biggest music awards are saying goodbye to gendered categories and embracing genderless categories.

No longer will there be the best male artist and best female artist award. Instead, the ARIA’S will combine the categories and have now created a new genderless award, Best Artist.

The music awards said in a statement that this move, “reflects our commitment to embrace equality and true diversity.”

The ARIA’S are seemingly following in the footsteps of the Grammys which removed all gendered categories back in 2012.

 

In a statement, ARIA, CEO, Annabelle Herd, said: “The time for separating artists based on gendered categories that exclude non-binary artists altogether has passed.”

In a statement, ARIA, chair, Natalie Waller, said: “A key principle of ARIA and the Australian music community is that peers are given equal opportunity and treated to the unity they deserve.

“Therefore, we are incredibly proud to enter the next chapter of ARIA’s ever-evolving journey by removing the gender-based award categories, reconstructing the way in which the event has been traditionally held.

“Removing the gender titles and celebrating all artists together within their respective genre groups feels like an organic step for the future of ARIA.”

While the awards will now more accurately reflect the diverse Australian music scene, people did take to Twitter to voice their concerns that gender-neutral awards would mean female artists would miss out.

However, it’s also important to note that genderless awards allow for non-binary artists to be recognised by the ARIAs without having to be misgendered.




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Annabelle Herd ARIA Natalie Waller

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