
The Queensland Music Award’s (QMAs) Song Of The Year has made it into the hands of Queensland icons such as Amy Shark, Violent Soho, Cub Sport, Ball Park Music, and Clea.
The Award offers more than just namesake, with the immortalisation of the artist with a plaque on the Fortitude Valley’s Walk of Fame on Brunswick Street Mall outside The Fortitude Music Hall. The artist joins the mixed bag of megastars and indie legends such as Savage Garden, The Saints, The Go-Betweens and Powderfinger.
The QMA’s Song of the Year also attracts a significant promotional prize from The Music and Hit Network increasing to the value $24,000 in 2020 and providing commercial radio online and print media support to the recipient in addition to live performances for key decision makers at Hit Network.
Of the promotional prize, Megan Harvey, Sport and Partnerships Manager at Hit Network, says “The QMAs celebrate the best music from Queensland and it’s imperative that our support of the QMAs is accurately represented across all of Queensland, not just in Brisbane. With 11 Hit stations across Queensland, it means more support, more exposure, and more opportunities for the Song Of The Year prize winner than ever before”
Whilst many of the finalists may not have had exposure to commercial radio before, it offers the artist the chance to “connect the song to a new audience that may never have heard it before. It gives an artist the opportunity to tell their story, connect their song to an audience on a level that you don’t get from just hitting playing and listening to it in your headphones.”



Green Beacon Brewing Co.
Presenting the award is Green Beacon Brewing Co., a brewery which has long held its roots in Queensland, particularly Moreton Bay. Named after an actual green beacon visible off the Little Sandhills on Moreton Island.
This is far from the first time Green Beacon has delved into the world of music. “We’ve always had great relationships with local music venues in Brisbane such as the Triffid and the Tivoli, and have collaborated on beers with several Brissy bands and venues”, says Ed Slaughter, Partnerships Manager. Notably the Ball Park Music themed Pale Ale “Sad Rude Future Brew” and Amplified Ale in collaboration with Brisbane band The Butterfly Effect.

2019 Song Of The Year winner Clea with her Walk of Fame plaque. Photo by Lachlan Douglas.

2018 Song Of The Year winner Jeremy Neale with his Walk of Fame plaque.
2019 QMA Song Of The Year recipient Clea regards the win as “a slice of recognition that means a great deal, especially from my own state.” Her mesmerizing track ‘Dreaming’ won the hearts of fans and judges alike. Having utilized the commercial radio prize pack, she felt she was able to “reach a whole new audience.”
Jeremy Neale’s track 'Dancin’ and Romancin’' was the 2018 Song Of The Year, and says the award was “a very welcome motivation to keep moving forward with my songwriting.” Pictured above next to his artist plaque in Brunswick Mall, the Brisbane local power-pop favourite is grateful for the commemoration. “The accompanying physical star in the Fortitude Valley mall really meant a lot to me. So much of music is experiential and digital but to have something solid and tangible to commemorate that moment was a huge deal to me at the time and still today.
So who is going to take out the Song Of The Year for 2020? All of this year’s finalists are in the running to be crowned Queensland’s best, you can see the full list of finalists here. And why not listen to the previous winners in the Spotify Playlist?
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