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News April 16, 2019

Rob Potts to posthumously receive APRA’s prestigious Ted Albert Award

Rob Potts to posthumously receive APRA’s prestigious Ted Albert Award
Martine Cotton

Almost 18 months on from his untimely passing, APRA have revealed they are set to posthumously award country music champion Rob Potts with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Back in October of 2017, the world of Aussie music was undoubtedly shocked to learn of the sudden and untimely passing of Rob Potts.

One of the most prominent figures in Australian country music, Rob Potts was known to most thanks to his role as the co-founder of the CMC Rocks brand of festivals.

With Chugg Entertainment, the CMC Rock brand spawned a huge number of successful festivals, including CMC Rocks The Snowys, CMC Rocks The Hunter, and CMC Rocks QLD, the latter of which becoming Australia’s first sold-out country music festival.

Rob Potts had also been credited with establishing a newfound popularity of country music in Australia.

Through his Rob Potts Entertainment Edge company, and having spent years in Nashville as a promoter, manager, and festival director, Potts had been responsible for bringing some of the genre’s most prominent musicians out to Australia.

Now, with the 2019 APRA Music Awards set to take place in just two weeks, organisers have revealed Potts as the recipient of this year’s Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Check out a 2012 interview with late industry icon Rob Potts:

Citing his passion and belief in country music and its potential in Australia, APRA noted the pivotal role that Rob Potts played in the career of artists such as Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel, Lee Kernaghan, and James Blundell.

Notably, Potts also helped foster the career of Newcastle native and bona fide Nashville star Morgan Evans, who has scored two nominations for Country Work of the Year at this year’s awards.

“I am so proud and very pleased that APRA is honouring my late and great mate and partner, Rob Potts with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to the music industry,” explained Michael Chugg of the news. “Rob Potts is a shining example of everything that is wonderful about our industry.”

“For many, many years he led the battle to break Australian country music in Nashville and became a Board member of the CMA, Country Music Association of America.”

“Many of us are saddened every day that Rob is not with us to see all his hard work come to fruition; Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel and Morgan Evans are just 3 of the acts he championed,” Chugg continued.

“And of course, the greatest country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere now 13 years old, CMC Rocks Queensland. God Bless you Rob.”

“The Australian Music Vault is extremely privileged to be working with APRA AMCOS in honouring this year’s recipient of the Ted Albert Award, the late Rob Potts,” echoed Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Claire Spencer.

“He was a true pioneer working against the tide of ‘90’s rock music to develop and raise the profile of country music in Australia. His illustrious career means we can share in the stories of some of the world-class artists he helped create.”

The Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music is set to be officially awarded on April 30th, at the 2019 APRA Music Awards ceremony in Melbourne.

2019 APRA Music Awards

Tuesday, April 30th
Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, VIC

Hosted by Brian Nankervis
Musical Director Kate Miller-Heidke

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.

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