ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album

Country| Australia
Presented by| Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)
First award| 1987
Currently held by| Emily Wurramara, Nara (2024)
Website| ariaawards.com.au

The ARIA Music Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres",[1] since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), an organisation whose aim is "to advance the interests of the Australian record industry."[2]

Solo artists and groups are eligible if they are an Australian citizen, have resided in Australia for six months for two consecutive years prior to the awards, or signed to an Australian record label (if they have met the aforementioned criteria). Only album recordings in the adult contemporary genre are eligible. The nominees and winners are chosen by a judging academy which comprises 1000 members from different areas of the music industry.[3]

John Farnham is the most successful artist in this category with four wins from ten nominations (including collaborations) for Whispering Jack (1987), "Touch of Paradise" (1988), Romeo's Heart (1996) and The Last Time (2003).

## Winners and nominees

[edit]

In the following table, the winner is highlighted in a separate colour, and in boldface; the nominees are those that are not highlighted or in boldface.[4][5][6]

Winner marked in a separate colour

Year  | Winner(s)  | Album Title

|
|

1987
(1st)
John Farnham | Whispering Jack
Dragon | Dreams of Ordinary Men
Mondo Rock | Boom Baby Boom
The Reels | "Bad Moon Rising"
Vince Jones | Tell Me a Secret
1988
(2nd) | John Farnham | "Touch of Paradise"
1989
(3rd)
Crowded House | Temple of Low Men
The Black Sorrows | Hold On To Me
Kate Ceberano & Wendy Matthews | You've Always Got the Blues
John Farnham | Age of Reason
Little River Band | Monsoon
1990
(4th)
Stephen Cummings | A New Kind of Blue
Dragon | Bondi Road
Not Drowning, Waving | Claim
Paul Kelly & The Messengers | So Much Water So Close To Home
John Williamson | Warragul
1991
(5th)
Vince Jones and Grace Knight | Come In Spinner
Andrew Pendlebury | Zing Went the Strings
Marc Hunter | Night & Day
Original Cast Recording  | Paris
Tommy Emmanuel | Dare to Be Different
1992
(6th)
Tommy Emmanuel | Determination
Debbie Byrne | Caught in the Act
Grace Knight | Stormy Weather
Monica & the Moochers  | Cotton on the Breeze
John Williamson | Waratah St
1993
(7th)
Andrew Pendlebury | Don't Hold Back That Feeling
Marina Prior | Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Various Artists  | Stairways to Heaven
Strictly Ballroom
Anthony Warlow | On the Boards
1994
(8th)
Tommy Emmanuel | The Journey
James Blundell | Touch of Water
Grace Knight | Gracious
Rick Price and Margaret Urlich | "Where Is the Love?"
The Seekers | 25 Year Reunion Celebration
1995
(9th)
My Friend the Chocolate Cake | Brood[nb 1]
The Black Sorrows | Lucky Charm
Phil Emmanuel and Tommy Emmanuel | Terra Firma
Dave Hole | Steel on Steel
Wendy Matthews | The Witness Tree
1996
(10th)
John Farnham | Romeo's Heart
Kate Ceberano | Change
Stephen Cummings | Escapist
Tommy Emmanuel | Classical Gas
Mick Harvey | Intoxicated Man
1997
(11th)
My Friend The Chocolate Cake | Good Luck
Annie Crummer | Seventh Wave
Tommy Emmanuel | Can't Get Enough
Ed Kuepper | Starstruck
Vika and Linda | Princess Tabu
1998
(12th)
Archie Roach | Looking for Butter Boy
David Campbell | Taking the Wheel
Colin Hay | Transcendental Highway
The Killjoys | Sun Bright Deep
Wendy Matthews | Ghosts
1999
(13th)
Jimmy Little | Messenger
Frank Bennett | Cash Landing
The Black Sorrows | Beat Club
John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow | Highlights from The Main Event
Renée Geyer | Sweet Life
2000
(14th)
Karma County | Into the Land of Promise
Marcia Hines | The Time of Our Lives
Icecream Hands | Sweeter Than the Radio
Michael Spiby | Ho's Kitchen
Vika and Linda | Two Wings
2001
(15th)
Mark Seymour | One Eyed Man
Jodi Phillis | In Dreams I Live
John Farnham | 33+1⁄3
Stella One Eleven | In Your Hands
Wendy Matthews | Beautiful View
2002
(16th)
Paul Kelly | Nothing But a Dream
Archie Roach | Sensual Being
Jimmy Little | Resonate
Lisa Miller | Car Tape
Vika and Linda | Love is Mighty Close
2003
(17th)
John Farnham | The Last Time
Blackeyed Susans | Shangri-La
David Bridie | Hotel Radio
The Go-Betweens | Bright Yellow Bright Orange
Renée Geyer | Tenderland
2004
(18th)
Paul Kelly | Ways & Means
Diesel | Singled Out
Jimmy Little | Life's What You Make It
george | Unity
Lisa Miller | Version Originale
2005
(19th)
The Go-Betweens | Oceans Apart
Architecture in Helsinki | In Case We Die
John Farnham and Tom Jones | Together in Concert
Renée Geyer | Tonight
The Church | El Momento Descuidado
2006
(20th)
Bob Evans | Suburban Songbook
Human Nature | Reach Out: The Motown Record
Tex, Don and Charlie | All Is Forgiven
The Whitlams | Little Cloud
Various Artists  | She Will Have Her Way: The Songs of Tim & Neil Finn
2007
(21st)
Josh Pyke | Memories & Dust
Art of Fighting | Runaways
Lisa Miller | Morning in the Bowl of Night
New Buffalo | Somewhere, Anywhere
Paul Kelly | Stolen Apples
2008
(22nd)
The Panics | Cruel Guards
Clare Bowditch | The Moon Looked On
Jimmy Barnes | Out in the Blue
Katie Noonan | Skin
Robert Forster | The Evangelist
2009
(23rd)
Josh Pyke | Chimney's Afire
Bob Evans | Goodnight, Bull Creek!
David Campbell | Good Lovin!
Little Birdy | Confetti
Paul Dempsey | Everything Is True
2010
(24th)
Crowded House | Intriguer
Angie Hart | Eat My Shadow
Jimmy Barnes | The Rhythm and the Blues
Lisa Miller | Car Tape 2
Perry Keyes | Johnny Ray's Downtown
2011
(25th)
Billy Thorpe | Tangier
Colin Hay | Gathering Mercury
Damien Leith | Roy
John Farnham | Jack
Mark Seymour & the Undertow | Undertow
2012
(26th)
Missy Higgins | The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
Darren Hayes | Secret Codes and Battleships
Husky | Forever So
Josh Pyke | Only Sparrows
Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp | Songs of the Southern Skies
2013
(27th)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | Push the Sky Away
Bob Evans | Familiar Stranger
Clare Bowditch | The Winter I Chose Happiness
Josh Pyke | The Beginning and the End of Everything
Sarah Blasko | I Awake
2014
(28th)
Neil Finn & Paul Kelly | Goin' Your Way
Gossling | Harvest of Gold
Kate Miller-Heidke | O Vertigo!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | Live from KCRW
Tina Arena | Reset
2015
(29th)
Oh Mercy | When We Talk About Love
John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John | Two Strong Hearts Live
Megan Washington | There There
Paul Kelly | The Merri Soul Sessions
Szymon | Tigersapp
2016
(30th)
Bernard Fanning | Civil Dusk
Bob Evans | Car Boot Sale
Paul Kelly | Seven Sonnets & a Song
Robert Forster | Songs to Play
Tina Arena | Eleven
2017
(31st)
Paul Kelly | Life Is Fine
Bernard Fanning | Brutal Dawn
D.D Dumbo | Utopia Defeated
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds | Skeleton Tree
Pete Murray | Camacho
2018
(32nd)
Vance Joy | Nation of Two
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile | Lotta Sea Lice
Dan Sultan | Killer Under a Blood Moon
Missy Higgins | Solastalgia
Odette | To a Stranger
2019
(33rd)
Paul Kelly | Nature
Julia Jacklin | Crushing
Samantha Jade | The Magic of Christmas
Seeker Lover Keeper | Wild Seeds
The Paper Kites | On the Corner Where You Live
2020
(34th)
Archie Roach | Tell Me Why
Donny Benét | Mr Experience
Gordi | Our Two Skins
Josh Pyke | Rome
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | Ghosteen
2021
(35th)
Crowded House | Dreamers Are Waiting
Big Scary | Daisy
Kylie Minogue | Disco
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis | Carnage
Odette | Herald
2022
(36th)
Julia Jacklin | Pre Pleasure
Alex the Astronaut | How to Grow a Sunflower Underwater
Missy Higgins | Total Control
Vance Joy | In Our Own Sweet Time
Vika and Linda | The Wait
2023
(37th)
Dan Sultan | Dan Sultan
Alex Lahey | The Answer Is Always Yes
Kate Ceberano | My Life Is a Symphony
Mo'Ju | Oro, Plata, Mata
Tina Arena | Love Saves
2024
(38th)
Emily Wurramara | Nara
Angus & Julia Stone | Cape Forestier
Crowded House | Gravity Stairs
Emma Donovan | Til My Song Is Done
Fanning Dempsey National Park | The Deluge

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ ARIA lists "I've Got a Plan" as the winner of 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' category.[7] "I've Got a Plan" is an album track on Brood.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ARIA Awards 2011 overview". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 February 2012.
2. ^ "What We Do". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
3. ^ "ARIA 2011 - Eligibility Criteria and Category Definitions" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
4. ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners By Award". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 27 September 2014.
5. ^ "ARIA Awards 1987.mov". YouTube. ARIA Official YouTube Account. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
6. ^ "1991 Australian ARIA Award Nominations". Australian Recording Industry Association. 1991. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
7. ^ "Winners by Year 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
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ARIA Music Awards

General awards|

* Album of the Year
* Best Solo Artist
* Best Adult Contemporary Album
* Best Blues and Roots Album
* Best Children's Album
* Best Country Album
* Best Dance Release
* Best Group
* Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album
* Best Hip Hop Release
* Best Independent Release
* Best Pop Release
* Best Rock Album
* Best Soul/R&B Release
* Breakthrough Artist – Release
* Single of the Year/Song of the Year

Artisan awards|

* Best Cover Art
* Engineer of the Year
* Producer of the Year

Fine Arts awards|

* Best Classical Album
* Best Jazz Album
* Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album
* Best World Music Album

Public voted awards|

* Best Australian Live Act
* Best International Artist
* Best Video
* Music Teacher of the Year

Achievement awards|

* Icon Award
* Lifetime Achievement Award
* Outstanding Achievement Award
* Special Achievement Award

Retired awards|

* Best Indigenous Release
* Best Music DVD
* Best New Talent
* Best Urban Album
* Breakthrough Artist - Album
* Breakthrough Artist - Single
* Highest Selling Album
* Highest Selling Single
* Most Popular Australian Album
* Most Popular Australian Artist
* Most Popular Australian Single
* Song of the Year (Songwriter)
* Best Adult Alternative Album
* Best Comedy Release
* Best Female Artist
* Best Male Artist

Ceremonies|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* ARIA Hall of Fame
* Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)

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