Courtney Barnett gets a ticket to the APRA awards Melbourne singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett. Picture: Nicole Cleary Source: National Features EMERGING Melbourne singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett couldn't get a ticket to the APRA Awards last year, so she stayed in her hotel and watched television instead. She won't have that problem this year. The 25-year-old singer has been nominated for song of the year at the annual awards ceremony, hosted by the Australasian Performing Right Association. Barnett's song History Eraser, released last year, will be up against Elephant and Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala, Guy Sebastian's Get Along and When the Moment Comes by Mia Dyson for the top award. "It's totally overwhelming," said Barnett, who has released just one EP so far in her career. I'm really proud of it as a song, but it's pretty humbling that so many people have found appreciation of it, especially considering who the other nominees are. Leading the nominees for the awards, to be held in Melbourne on June 17, is rapper 360 (Matthew Colwell), who with his co-writer Kaelyn Behr is in contention for four trophies, including breakthrough artist of the year and urban work of the year. Veteran singer Russell Morris, whose recent album Shark Mouth has put him back in the spotlight, has been nominated for his first APRA for the song Black Dog Blues, written with another Oz rock veteran, Jim Keays. The APRAs recognise the talents of Australian and Kiwi songwriters and composers. SONG OF THE YEAR Elephant, Tame Impala Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, Tame Impala Get Along, Guy Sebastian History Eraser, Courtney Barnett When the Moment Comes, Mia Dyson BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci (DNA) Matthew Colwell (360) and Kaelyn Behr (Styalz Fuego) Phoebe Baker / Louisa James / Ryan Lamb / Christian O'Brien / Timothy Royall / Phillip Tucker* (Alpine) Seth Marton (Seth Sentry) and Stephen Mowat Tjimba Possum-Burns and Danny Ramzan (Yung Warriors) Gossling Don't Worry Be Happy, Guy Sebastian I Love It, Hilltop Hoods feat. Sia Set it Off, Timomatic Sitting on Top of the World, Delta Goodrem COUNTRY WORK OF THE YEAR Charlestown Road, Catherine Britt Country Is, Troy Cassar-Daley Country Proud, McAlister Kemp Piece of Me, The McClymonts Waitress, Beccy Cole BLUES AND ROOTS WORK OF THE YEAR Black Dog Blues, Russell Morris The Devil's Sake, Lanie Lane Like Me Meaner, Lanie Lane Longtime, Ash Grunwald Love Letter, Clairy Browne & the Bangin" Rackettes DANCE WORK OF THE YEAR Coming Alive, Vandalism & Ikid Feed Off Me, The Potbelleez In My Mind, Feenixpawl & Ivan Gough feat. Georgi Kay Like A Girl In Love, Elen Levon Really Want To See You Again, Sneaky Sound System ROCK WORK OF THE YEAR Follow The Sun, Evermore For Another Day, The Living End My Gun, The Rubens Passerby, Grinspoon This Fire, Birds of Tokyo POP WORK OF THE YEAR Diamonds, Rihanna Don't Worry Be Happy, Guy Sebastian If Looks Could Kill, Timomatic Set it Off, Timomatic Sitting on Top of the World, Delta Goodrem Gossling Child, 360 I Love It, Hilltop Hoods feat. Sia In My Mind (Part 2), Flo Rida Speaking in Tongues, Hilltop Hoods feat. Chali 2NA INTERNATIONAL WORK OF THE YEAR Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen Lego House, Ed Sheeran Lonely Boy, The Black Keys Paradise, Artist: Coldplay We Are Young, Fun feat. Janelle Monáe