Lost 1981 Silver Scroll winner to be announced in 2015

APRA New Zealand has been since 1965 presenting the country’s premier songwriter award, the Silver Scroll, for most outstanding song of the year. Though for some unknown reason, it was never presented in 1981.

APRA NZ announced that as part of the Silver Scroll’s 50th anniversary celebrations this year, the lost 1981winner will get their dues after all

Auckland-based Divisional Head NZ Operations Anthony Healey said, “1981 was a watershed year in our history. I’m not sure why the Silver Scroll was not awarded, but as often happens in times of social and political unrest the music scene was never more vibrant and exciting.

“New Zealand was in turmoil and that created an environment ripe for some of the greatest music ever made in this country. We are going to celebrate it.”

The judging panel of the 2015 awards have selected a shortlist of five songs of all NZ singles released in 1981 for voting by APRA’s 10,000 NZ songwriter and composer members.

The five songs will be announced along with the Top 20 songs for the 2015 award on Thursday July 16. Voting for both awards opens that day and closes on Sunday August 9.

The winner will be announced alongside the 2015 Silver Scroll recipient at the gala night on September 17 at Auckland’s Vector Arena.

NZ acts which released songs released in 1981 included: Split Enz, The Swingers, The Clean, Coup D’Etat, Dave McArtney and The Pink Flamingos, The Screaming Meemees, Pop Mechanix, The Tall Dwarfs, The Newmatics, Blam Blam Blam and Mi Sex.