Indie-pop artist Ama is the inaugural recipient of the Diana Torossian Emerging Songwriter Award, named after the beloved late artist manager.
Announced today, August 7th, Ama collects $5,000 cash plus songwriting and mentoring sessions worth an estimated $20,000.
With her first prize win, Ama will knuckle-down to songwriting sessions with Andrew Lowden (Thrones), David Musumeci and Anthony Egizi (DNA), Evie Irie, Gary Pinto and Michael Fatkin, and connect with mentors Lorrae McKenna (Golden Grants), Michael Parisi (management), Paul Harris (Warner Music A&R), Rachel Kelly (Unified Publishing) and Sammie Walsh (Beehive PR).
“I honestly can’t put into words how much it means to receive this award,” Ama explains. “I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to everyone involved in this project. It’s a moment of real validation that I’m on the right career path, and it gives me the chance to fully invest in myself and pursue this artist journey with everything I’ve got.”
Second prize goes to Wollongong-based alt-pop/r&b songwriter Daisy Pring, who scores a year’s career development course “Songwriter Success Masterplan” at the Australian Songwriters Conference, valued at $6,500.
“I am extremely grateful and honoured to receive recognition and support in my songwriting,” Pring comments. “To be presented this award with the name of one of the industry’s best, Diana Torossian, is a moment I will cherish forever.”
The award was set up in honour Torossian, who passed away in September 2024 following a battle with cancer.
Torossian was a passionate supporter of local songwriters, finding and nurturing some of the country’s most prolific songwriting talent including David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA), Lindsay Rimes and Sarah Aarons.
The award aims to continue that legacy, and is open to all APRA AMCOS songwriter members who aspire to make a career in the music industry and have started to establish a commercial body of work.
Musumeci established the award with Andrew Lowden and David Rosenberg in honour of their close friend and colleague. “We’ve been overwhelmed with the huge response to this award,” he explains, “which just goes to show how important recognition and support like this are for emerging songwriters. We hope that AMA and Daisy continue their incredible trajectory in the music industry and look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next.”