I don't really understand the APRA Awards. They reward artists for selling the most records and getting the most radio plays. Isn't that like, giving a Michelin star to the baker with the biggest oven? The guy who can eat the most hot dogs in ten minutes? Well done buddy, you fit it all in. You're still eating lips and arseholes.

Judging from the recipients of this years awards, held last night at the Sydney Convention Centre, Australia's premier songwriting chops exist between a handful of enormous radio towers bursting through the crust of an otherwise barren, featureless waste. Based on sales figures (for the most part), the winners of this years APRA Awards are understandably nearly uniformly multi-platinum commercial artists signed to major labels.

What is there in this list of winners that reflect a creative world outside of streamlined commercial radio play and major label hit-making? Ash Grunwald? Ok sure, Grunwald's a fine songwriter and guitarist, we'll give him that. But convincing Blues & Roots performers in this country can still only be counted on one hand. (Though at least it wasn't Butler for a change). And AC/DC are songwriters of the year?

Songwriters are judged on the quality of their body of work, and acclaim, during the year under review. The APRA board selects the recipient. - APRA AWARD nominations and assessment criteria

THEY'VE BEEN WRITING THE SAME SONG FOR THIRTY SEVEN YEARS. I mean, everyone knows that.

Here's the winners for 2010. And if you're thinking "hang on, some of these songs are really old", that's because they are:

The work must have been released in an 18 month period. For the Awards held in 2009, the eligible release date period will be 1st July 20078 to 31 December 2009.

Song of the Year

Title: Sweet Disposition
Performed by:  Temper Trap
Writers: Dougy Mandagi  / Lorenzo Sillitto
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd

APRA Songwriters of the Year
Writers: Angus Young / Malcolm Young
Publisher: Albert Music

APRA Breakthrough Songwriter Award
Writers: Nick Littlemore^ / Jonathan Sloan* / Luke Steele*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd^/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*

Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music
Jimmy Little

Most Played Australian Work
Title: Foreign Land
Performed by: Eskimo Joe
Writers: Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain / Steve Parkin / Kav Temperley
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd

International Work of the Year
Title: You Found Me
Performed by: The Fray
Writers: Joseph King / Isaac Slade
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

Most Played Australian Work Overseas
Title: Rock ‘N Roll Train
Performed by: AC/DC
Writers: Angus Young / Malcolm Young
Publisher: Albert Music

Country Work of the Year
Title: Big, Big Love
Performed by: Troy Cassar-Daley
Writer: Troy Cassar-Daley
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Title: Breakout
Performed by: Ashley Grunwald
Writers:  Ashley Groenewald / Pip Norman
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd

Urban Work of the Year
Title: Still Standing
Performed by: Hilltop Hoods
Writers: Barry Francis* / Matthew Lambert* / Daniel Smith* / Henry Lawes^
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*
Mushroom Music Pty Ltd^

Dance Work of the Year
Title: Walking On A Dream
Performed by: Empire of the Sun
Writers: Nick Littlemore^ / Jonathan Sloan* / Luke Steele*
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd^/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*

Rock Work of the Year
Title: Foreign Land
Performed by: Eskimo Joe
Writers: Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain / Steve Parkin / Kav Temperley
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd