Musicians and arts organisations around the country prepare for Make Music Day 2021 on 21 June, returning to public performances after last year's online celebration.

The names of the 50 finalists for the APRA Professional Development Awards have been announced, including composers Connor D'Netto and Samantha Wolf, and musical theatre performer/writer Maggie McKenna.

Ten composers will receive $5000 each from the Fund, which is presented by the APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre's Art Music Fund.

Composer Emma Greenhill will work with the winning choreographer on a new dance work set to premiere in 2022.

The termination of the JobKeeper supplement at the end of this month could be disastrous for the arts.

With live music operating at under four percent of pre-COVID levels, more than 3,500 music industry artists, workers, venues and businesses have signed an Open Letter to the Australian Government calling for JobKeeper to be extended.

Greater diversity in revamped categories sees the established go head-to-head with the up-and-coming.

$100,000 has been awarded to ten Australian composers in the Fund’s fifth year.

Artistic collaboration and music as a force for change were the themes of Australian art music’s night of nights.

Newcomers join established voices in this year’s awards, with more women than men in the running for the prestigious Orchestral Work of the Year category for the first time in the Awards’ history.

The awards have renamed the Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music in memory of the late music educator and conductor.

The $100,000 Art Music Fund for 2019 has been awarded to nine recipients for the creation of new works.