ARIA Awards return to Ten

The ARIA Awards are this year returning to Network Ten, after three years at Nine. They will be held in late November or early December.

Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President, Asia, said: “We are delighted to bring the ARIAs back to Ten. The network has hosted many of the ARIA Awards’ most memorable moments and we look forward to working together to produce a great event.”

ARIA Chief Executive Dan Rosen, added: “ARIA is excited to partner with Channel Ten. Together we will create great event TV, with the ARIA stage set to showcase our incredible Australian artists who are topping charts here and around the world with special international guests. We invite music fans all around Australia to join us in celebrating the biggest night in Australian music.”

At its peak, the ARIAs used to draw up to 1.8 million viewers, with many brands using the event to launch new products to the young demographic.

But the move to Nine’s digital channel Go! saw figures slide. Last year it drew 337,000.

ARIA and Ten believe that the success of Australian acts both here and overseas this year will bring the viewers back.

Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the ARIA Awards back to Ten. Australians have had incredible success on the world music stage this year and we cannot think of a better time to join with ARIA in celebrating that success. We are looking forward to bringing this exciting event to all Australians, exclusively on Ten.”

Sia, Iggy Azalea and 5 Seconds of Summer have all topped albums and singles charts abroad this year. Justice Crew, Sheppard, Jessica Mauboy, INXS, Taylor Henderson and, this week, Angus and Julia Stone are among the Australian acts that hit #1 spot on the charts. Australian acts were at #1 on the ARIA singles chart for 13 of 32 weeks this year.