There are times when our resident music lawyer Jules Munro admits that he wonders what there is to celebrate in the music industry (other than, of course, the music and the songwriters themselves). So in an time of plummeting record sales, land-grab 360 deals, a saturated music festival market and a degree of caution on the part of labels in signing up and developing innovative recording artists, we're delighted that Jules' client Megan Washington has secured a double swag of ARIA awards: Best Female Artist, and Breakthrough Artist. Megan was also nominated for Album of the Year, Best Adult Alternative Album for "I Believe You Liar" and Single of the Year for "How to Tame Lions". Jules' clients BlueJuice were nominated for Best Pop Release for their “Head of the Hawk”

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Whatever the criticism of the TV coverage of the ARIA Awards, the range and quality of the winners indicates that despite the gloom, Australia has a vibrant creative industry centered on its recording artists and the record labels who invest in and promote them

For enquiries about recording agreements, song publishing agreements, distribution deals, band agreements and any other matter touching your music industry activities, call Jules Munro on 8014 5050 or email him: jmunro@simpsons.com.au