The Australian Music Prize continues to hemorrhage credibility after a judge removed himself from the final stages of the judging process.
Speaking with themusic.com.au, longtime judge and Group Managing Editor of Street Press Australia Andrew Mast said that he would not partake in the judging process this year as the shortlist did not reflect the breadth or quality of Australian music released in 2011.
“I have informed AMP that I won’t be participating in the final vote,” he said.
This year’s shortlist includes Abbe May, Adalita, Boy & Bear, Gotye, Gurrumul, Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders, The Jezabels, Kimbra and The Middle East with all but two artists, Abbe May and Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders, previously nominated for an ARIA or J Award.
“Look, I don’t think this year’s shortlist is a true indication of the quality and variety of great Australian music that was released in 2011.” he said. “I believe the change in the voting system this year meant that some of the smaller releases that fell outside of the mainstream were overlooked.”
“I have championed the AMP since its instigation, and will keep supporting them in the future, but each year it seems to get harder and harder for non-pop and mainstream rock artists to be shortlisted. There are acts like Fred Smith, Melodie Nelson, Joelstics and Oscar + Martin who would have made the shortlist in the past but now seem to slip between the cracks.”
Mast attributes the middle of the road shortlist to a recent change in the judging process. We’d argue it’s been shit for years.
Title Image by Rachel Tinney
