Australian pop music awards

Australian pop music awards are a series of inter-related national awards that gave recognition to popular musical artists and have included the Go-Set pop poll (1966–1972); TV Week King of Pop Awards (1967–1978);  TV Week and Countdown Music Awards (1979–1980); the Countdown Awards (1981–1982) and Countdown Music and Video Awards (1983–1987). Early awards were based on popular voting from readers of teenage pop music newspaper Go-Set and television program guide TV Week. They were followed by responses from viewers of Countdown, a TV pop music series (1974–1987) on national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Some of the later award ceremonies incorporated listed nominees and peer-voted awards. From 1987 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) instituted its own peer-voted ARIA Music Awards.

1966–1972:Go-Set pop poll results
Teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities. Readers were provided with coupons to vote for their choice, with initial categories of 'Male Vocal', 'Female Vocal' and 'Group' for both Australian and International acts – in later years new categories were introduced and old categories renamed or retired.

1966
Printed in Go-Set on 5 October 1966, pages 12 & 13.

1967
Printed in Go-Set on 9 August 1967, pages 12 & 13. Categories were renamed, e.g. Male Vocal became Top Male Singer.

1968
Printed in Go-Set on 19 June 1968, pages 12 & 13.

1969
Printed in Go-Set on 28 June 1969, pages 10 & 12. Categories back to original names, e.g. Top Male Singer returns to Male Vocal.

1970
Printed in Go-Set on 11 July 1970, pages 6 & 7. New categories introduced: Guitarist, Drummer, Composer. Ceremony for the Australian acts was held at Dallas Brooks Hall, East Melbourne, and was broadcast on 30 June by Seven Network.

1971
Printed in Go-Set on 10 July 1971, pages 2 & 3. New categories introduced: Best Album, Best Single, Best Bass Guitarist.

1972
Printed in Go-Set on 30 December 1972, pages 5 & 6. New category introduced: Newcomer (only for Australian acts); with old categories retired: Best Guitarist, Best Drummer, Best Bass Guitarist.

1967–1978: King of Pop Awards
Teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll of its readers to determine the most popular personalities. In 1967 the most popular performer was Normie Rowe and when the results were televised on the unrelated The Go!! Show there was a crowning of Rowe as 'King of Pop'. In the following years, TV Week provided coupons for readers to vote for their choice, a similar system had been in use for TV's Logie Awards since 1960. The 'King of Pop' awards ceremony was broadcast by the 0–10 Network from 1967 to 1975, and from 1976 to 1978 by the Nine Network. On the 0–10 Network, from 1972, it was run by Johnny Young's production company (Lewis-Young Productions) which also provided Young Talent Time.

1967

 * King of Pop – Normie Rowe

1968

 * King of Pop – Normie Rowe

1969

 * King of Pop – Johnny Farnham
 * Best Female Artist – Allison Durbin

Durbin is often referred to as the 'Queen of Pop', however: "I never in fact won a queen of pop award. the award was called The King of Pop awards, so that's when it was the Go Set [awards]. And it continued on to TV week."

1970

 * King of Pop – Johnny Farnham
 * Best Female Artist – Allison Durbin

1971
Ceremony details: Held on 22 October 1971 at ATV-0, Melbourne. Hosted by Johnny Young, Dal Myles, Ross D Wyllie, Jeff Phillips. Guest presenter: Liberace, Elton John

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Johnny Farnham
 * Best Female Artist – Allison Durbin
 * Best Album – Bloodstone (Russell Morris)
 * Best Bass Guitarist – Beeb Birtles (Frieze)
 * Best Dressed Female Performer – Allison Durbin
 * Best Dressed Male Performer – Johnny Farnham
 * Best Drummer – Gary Young (Daddy Cool)
 * Best Group – Daddy Cool
 * Best Lead Guitarist – Rick Springfield (Zoot)
 * Best Organist – Jenny Johnson (New Dream)
 * Best Songwriter – Russell Morris for "Mr America"
 * Outstanding Newcomer – Jamie Redfern

1972
Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Johnny Farnham
 * Queen of Pop – Colleen Hewett
 * Best Arranger – Geoff Hales
 * Best Dressed Female – Judy Stone
 * Best Dressed Male – Jeff Phillips
 * Best New Talent – Robin Jolley
 * Best Songwriter – Billy Thorpe (Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs)
 * Biggest Selling L.P. – Teaser and the Firecat (Cat Stevens)
 * Biggest Selling Single – "The Rangers Waltz" (The Moms & Dads)
 * Contribution to Teenage Television – Brian Henderson
 * Most Popular Australian Album – When You Wish Upon a Star (Jamie Redfern)
 * Most Popular Australian Musician – Rick Springfield (solo)
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Walking the Floor" (Johnny Farnham)
 * Most Popular Group – Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs
 * Most Popular Overseas Group – The Bee Gees
 * Most Popular Overseas L.P. – American Pie (Don McLean)
 * Special Gold Award for '20 years service to the Industry' – Johnny O'Keefe

1973
Guest presenter: Davy Jones (ex-The Monkees)

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Johnny Farnham
 * Queen of Pop – Colleen Hewett
 * Best New Talent – Linda George
 * Best Songwriter – Brian Cadd
 * Contribution to Australian Pop Industry – Brian Cadd
 * Most Popular Australian Album – Hits 1: Magic Rock 'N' Roll (Johnny Farnham)
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Musician – Brian Cadd
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Venus" (Jamie Redfern)

1974
Ceremony details: Held on 25 October 1974, guest presenters: David Cassidy, Gary Glitter. A compilation album titled King of Pop '74–'75 was released with tracks supplied by previous winners and guest presenters. Next to the list of various artists, the cover depicts the trophy that was presented to award winners.

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Jamie Redfern
 * Queen of Pop – Debbie Byrne
 * Best New Talent – Benjamin Hugg
 * Best Songwriter – Harry Vanda & George Young
 * Contribution to Australian Pop Industry – Brian Cadd
 * Most Popular Australian Album – My Name Means Horse (Ross Ryan)
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Musician – Brian Cadd
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Hitch a Ride" (Jamie Redfern)

1975
Ceremony details: Held October 1975, live performance: AC/DC "High Voltage"

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet)
 * Queen of Pop – Debbie Byrne
 * Australian Record of the Year – "Horror Movie" (Skyhooks)
 * Best Australian Songwriter – Greg Macainsh (Skyhooks)
 * Best New Talent – Mark Holden
 * Contribution to Australian Pop Industry – Countdown
 * Most Popular Australian Album – Ego is not a Dirty Word (Skyhooks)
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Summer Love" (Sherbet)

1976
Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet)
 * Queen of Pop – Marcia Hines
 * Best Australian International Performer – Olivia Newton-John
 * Best Australian Record Producer – Richard Lush
 * Best Australian Songwriter – Harry Vanda & George Young
 * Best Australian TV Performer – Supernaut
 * Best Cover Design – Straight in a Gay Gay World (Skyhooks)
 * Contribution to Australian Pop Industry – Johnny O'Keefe
 * Most Popular Australian Album – Howzat (Sherbet)
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Howzat" (Sherbet)
 * Most Popular New Group – Supernaut
 * Most Popular New Talent – Mark Holden

1977
Performer: Mark Holden

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet)
 * Queen of Pop – Marcia Hines
 * Australian Record of the Year – "Help Is on Its Way" (Little River Band)
 * Best Australian International Performers – Little River Band
 * Best Australian Record Producer – Peter Dawkins
 * Best Australian Songwriter – Glenn Shorrock
 * Best Australian TV Performer – The Ferrets on Countdown
 * Best Cover Design – Trees (Doug Ashdown)
 * Most Popular Australian Album – Photoplay (Sherbet)
 * Most Popular Australian Country Musician – Slim Dusty
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Magazine Madonna" (Sherbet)
 * Most Popular New Group – Dragon
 * Most Popular New Talent – John St Peeters

1978
Ceremony details: Held on 13 October 1978, hosted by Glenn Shorrock, guest presenters: Kate Bush, Leif Garrett

Award winners:
 * King of Pop – John Paul Young
 * Queen of Pop – Marcia Hines
 * Australian Record of the Year – "Reminiscing" (Little River Band)
 * Best Australian Record Producer – Harry Vanda & George Young
 * Best Australian Songwriter – Harry Vanda & George Young
 * Best Australian TV Performer – Skyhooks "Hotel Hell" on Nightmoves and Little River Band "Help Is on Its Way" on Paul Hogan Show
 * Best Cover Design – Peter Ledger for the album cover of The Angels' Face to Face
 * Most Popular Australian Album – Sleeper Catcher (Little River Band)
 * Most Popular Australian Country Musician – Slim Dusty
 * Most Popular Australian Group – Sherbet
 * Most Popular Australian Single – "Love Is in the Air" (John Paul Young)
 * Most Popular New Group – The Sports
 * Most Popular New Talent – Paul O'Gorman
 * Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music Industry – Nightmoves (Australian TV series)
 * Outstanding Local Achievement – Dragon

1979–1980: TV Week/Countdown Music Awards
Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week which had sponsored the previously existing 'King of Pop' Awards. The TV Week/Countdown Rock Music Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.

The award year below relates to the year of achievement and not the year they were presented.

1979
Ceremony details: Held on 13 April 1980, broadcast on Countdown by ABC-TV, the TV Week Rock Music Awards for 1979 presented a revamped awards ceremony with 'King of Pop' title replaced by 'Most Popular Male' and 'Queen of Pop' replaced by 'Most Popular Female'. Hosted by Glenn Shorrock of Little River Band, there were three live performances: Christie Allen "He's My Number One", Australian Crawl "Beautiful People" and Split Enz "I Got You". Various music industry personalities explained the categories, announced nominees and presented the 1979 awards. 'Most Popular' awards were voted for by readers of TV Week sending in printed coupons, with the three highest reader responses read out as nominations. Industry awards were voted for by radio programme directors, rock magazine editors and journalists. Presenters included Darryl Cotton, Richard Gower (Racey), John O'Keefe (son of Johnny O'Keefe), John Farnham, Colleen Hewett, Graeme Strachan, Ian "Molly" Meldrum, and Harry Casey (KC & the Sunshine Band).

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Australian Album
 * First Under the Wire – Little River Band
 * Breakfast at Sweethearts – Cold Chisel
 * Graffiti Crimes – Mi-Sex
 * Face to Face – The Angels
 * Best Australian Single
 * "Computer Games" – Mi-Sex
 * "Lonesome Loser" – Little River Band
 * "The Nips Are Getting Bigger" – Mental As Anything
 * Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award)
 * Mi-Sex
 * Christie Allen
 * Mental As Anything
 * Best Recorded Songwriter
 * Terry Britten – "He's My Number One" by Christie Allen
 * Beeb Birtles & Graeham Goble – "I'm Coming Home" by Birtles & Goble
 * Don Walker – "Choirgirl" by Cold Chisel
 * Countdown Producers Award (for continued co-operation, enthusiasm and professionalism)
 * The Angels
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Little River Band
 * Mike Brady
 * Jon English
 * The Sports
 * Best Australian Producer
 * Peter Dawkins – Graffiti Crimes for Mi-Sex
 * Best Australian Record Cover Design
 * Breakfast at Sweethearts – Cold Chisel
 * Most Popular Album or Single
 * "Computer Games" – Mi-Sex
 * "Goosebumps" – Christie Allen
 * "Up There Cazaly" – The Two-Man Band
 * Most Popular Female Performer
 * Christie Allen
 * Colleen Hewett
 * Marcia Hines
 * Most Popular Group
 * Little River Band
 * Mi-Sex
 * Sherbs (a.k.a. Sherbet, Highway)
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Jon English
 * Daryl Braithwaite
 * John Paul Young
 * Best Disc Jockey (winners only, by State)
 * Ian McCray 2SM Sydney, New South Wales
 * Wayne Roberts 4BK Brisbane, Queensland
 * Steve Curtis 5AD Adelaide, South Australia
 * Jim Franklin 7HT Hobart, Tasmania
 * Greg Evans 3XY Melbourne, Victoria
 * Lionel Yorke 6PM Perth, Western Australia

1980
Ceremony details: Held on 16 March 1981 at Regent Theatre Sydney, and broadcast live to air on the same night, it was hosted by Countdown host Ian "Molly" Meldrum and international guests Suzi Quatro and Jermaine Jackson. Presenters included: Lee Simon, Donnie Sutherland, Marc Hunter, James Freud, Graham Russell, Russell Hitchcock and David Tickle. Performers were: Split Enz "History Never Repeats", Flowers "Icehouse", The Swingers "Counting the Beat", Air Supply "Lost in Love", "Every Woman in the World" and "All Out of Love", Australian Crawl "The Boys Light Up". Cold Chisel performed the last live number, "My Turn to Cry", to close the show and then trashed their instruments and the set. Sponsors TV Week withdrew their support for the awards and Countdown held its own awards ceremonies thereafter. The awards were voted by music industry sectors including, record companies major and independent, publishers, booking agents, radio stations and specific 'most popular' awards voted by the public.

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Australian Album
 * East – Cold Chisel
 * Icehouse – Flowers (later called Icehouse)
 * True Colours – Split Enz
 * Best Single Record
 * "I Got You" – Split Enz
 * "Downhearted" – Australian Crawl
 * "State of the Heart" – Mondo Rock
 * Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award)
 * Flowers (later called Icehouse)
 * The Dugites
 * INXS
 * Karen Knowles
 * Most Outstanding Achievement (for excellence in the presentation or production of Australian rock music by an individual performer, group or group member)
 * Cold Chisel
 * Air Supply
 * Split Enz
 * Best Recorded Song Writer
 * Don Walker – Cold Chisel
 * Iva Davies – Flowers/Icehouse
 * Neil Finn – Split Enz
 * Best Australian Producer
 * Mark Opitz – East by Cold Chisel
 * Cameron Allan
 * Peter Dawkins
 * Best Australian Record Cover Design
 * East – Cold Chisel
 * The Boys Light Up – Australian Crawl
 * Icehouse – Flowers
 * True Colours – Split Enz
 * Most Popular Female
 * Christie Allen
 * Annalise Morrow (The Numbers)
 * Lynda Nutter (The Dugites)
 * Most Popular Group
 * Cold Chisel
 * Australian Crawl
 * Split Enz
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * James Reyne (Australian Crawl)
 * Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel)
 * Jon English
 * Most Popular Record
 * East – Cold Chisel
 * The Boys Light Up – Australian Crawl
 * True Colours – Split Enz
 * Best Disc Jockey (winners only, by State)
 * Ian McCray 2SM Sydney, New South Wales
 * Wayne Roberts 4BK Brisbane, Queensland
 * Steve Curtis 5AD Adelaide, South Australia
 * Jim Franklin 7HT Hobart, Tasmania
 * Greg Evans 3XY Melbourne, Victoria
 * Garry Shannon 6 pm Perth, West Australia

1981–1986: Countdown Australian Music Awards
Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week which had sponsored the previously existing 'King of Pop' Awards. After Cold Chisel performed at the 1980 awards ceremony, and then trashed their instruments and the set, sponsors TV Week withdrew their support and Countdown held its own awards ceremonies until the 1986 awards which were broadcast in 1987. The awards ceremony was co-produced by Carolyn James (a.k.a. Carolyn Bailey) during 1981–1984 in collaboration with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which provided peer/industry voting for all awards except for "most popular" awards voted by the public Countdown provided coupons in the related Countdown Magazine for viewers to vote for some awards including 'Most Popular Male Performer', 'Most Popular Female Performer', 'Most Popular Group' and 'Most Popular International Act'. From 1987 ARIA instituted its own entirely peer-voted ARIA Music Awards.

The award year below relates to the year of achievement and not the year they were presented.

1981
Ceremony details: Broadcast on 18 April 1982, hosted by Ian "Molly" Meldrum with presenters: Greedy Smith, Ross Wilson, Michael Hutchence, Duran Duran, Sharon O'Neill, Renée Geyer, John Swan, John Paul Young, Daryl Braithwaite, Alex Smith and Angry Anderson. Performers were: Men at Work, Sharon O'Neill, Renée Geyer, Mental As Anything, Billy Field, Mondo Rock and the Divinyls.

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Australian Album
 * Chemistry – Mondo Rock
 * Cats & Dogs – Mental As Anything
 * Sirocco – Australian Crawl
 * Best Australian Single
 * "If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?" – Mental As Anything
 * "Boys in Town" – The Divinyls
 * "Cool World" – Mondo Rock
 * "Down Under" – Men at Work
 * Best Australian Songwriter
 * Eric McCusker – Mondo Rock
 * Billy Field
 * Tim Finn – Split Enz
 * Best Debut Album
 * Business as Usual – Men at Work
 * Bad Habits – Billy Field
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Who Can It Be Now?" – Men at Work
 * "Boys in Town" – The Divinyls
 * Best New Talent
 * Men at Work
 * The Divinyls
 * Moving Pictures
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Air Supply
 * Best Australian Producer
 * Peter Dawkins
 * Peter McIan
 * Mark Moffatt
 * Most Popular Female
 * Sharon O'Neill
 * Renee Geyer
 * Marcia Hines
 * Most Popular Group
 * Australian Crawl
 * Men at Work
 * Split Enz
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * James Reyne (Australian Crawl)
 * Billy Field (solo)
 * Neil Finn (Split Enz)
 * Most Consistent Live Act
 * Cold Chisel
 * The Angels
 * Mental As Anything
 * Midnight Oil
 * Mondo Rock

1982
Ceremony details: Held on 19 April 1983. The program opened with Goanna performing "Solid Rock". Nomination required product to be released. As Co-producer of the event, Carolyn James programmed The Reels to perform "Quasimodo's Dream" to much objection from Ian Meldrum. Tim Finn as presenter of Best Songwriter award introduced their performance: "Countdown has done some questionable things over the years, but this redeems all..Ladies and Gentlemen Dave Mason and the Reels 'Quasimodo's Dream"

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Australian Album
 * Time and Tide – Split Enz
 * Circus Animals – Cold Chisel
 * Primitive Man – Icehouse
 * Shabooh Shoobah – INXS
 * 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Midnight Oil
 * Best Australian Producer
 * Mark Opitz
 * Iva Davies
 * Mark Moffatt
 * Vanda & Young
 * Best Debut Album
 * Spirit of Place – Goanna
 * Monkey Grip – Divinyls
 * Pink Suit Blue Day – Eurogliders
 * Hunters & Collectors – Hunters & Collectors
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Solid Rock" – Goanna
 * "Without You" – Eurogliders
 * "Talking to a Stranger" – Hunters & Collectors
 * Best Australian Single
 * "What about Me?" – Moving Pictures
 * "Great Southern Land" – Icehouse
 * "One Thing" – INXS
 * "This Guy's in Love with You" – The Reels
 * "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" – Split Enz
 * Best Song Writer (presented by Tim Finn)
 * Tim Finn
 * Iva Davis (Icehouse)
 * Colin Hay (Men at Work)
 * Best New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award)
 * Goanna
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Men at Work
 * Most Popular Female
 * Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls)
 * Renée Geyer
 * Sharon O'Neil
 * Wendy Stapleton
 * Most Popular Group
 * Split Enz
 * Australian Crawl
 * Icehouse
 * INXS
 * Men at Work
 * Moving Pictures
 * Most Popular International Act
 * Duran Duran
 * ABC
 * Madness
 * Simple Minds
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Iva Davies (Icehouse)

1983
Ceremony details: Held on 15 April 1984 at the Palais Theatre, presenters included: Ross Wilson, Glenn Shorrock, Pat Wilson, Graeme "Shirley" Strachan, Greg Ham, Ian "Molly" Meldrum, Jon Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Marc Hunter, Billy Idol. Live performers: Kids in the Kitchen "Bitter Desire", Models "I Hear Motion", Ross Wilson and Pat Wilson "Strong Love", Pseudo Echo "A Beat for You", Billy Idol "Rebel Yell", Tim Finn "In a Minor Key". The closing live performance was by an ensemble including Shorrock, Lynne Randell, Jim Keays, Darryl Cotton, Debbie Byrne, Strachan, Keith Lamb, John Paul Young, Daryl Braithwaite, and Hunter to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Johnny O'Keefe's version of "Shout!".

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Australian Album
 * Escapade – Tim Finn
 * Desperate – Divinyls
 * Cargo – Men at Work
 * Creatures of Leisure – Mental as Anything
 * The Pleasure of Your Company – Models
 * Best Single
 * "Power and the Passion" – Midnight Oil
 * "Rain" – Dragon
 * "Fraction too Much Friction" – Tim Finn
 * "Original Sin" – INXS
 * "I Hear Motion" – Models
 * "Come Said the Boy" – Mondo Rock
 * Best Debut Album
 * Heartland – Real Life
 * The Expression – The Expression
 * Live at the Wireless – JJJ
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Bop Girl" – Pat Wilson
 * "Australiana" – Austen Tayshus
 * "Change in Mood" – Kids in the Kitchen
 * "Listening" – Pseudo Echo
 * "Send Me an Angel" – Real Life
 * Best Promotional Video
 * Tim Finn's "Fraction too Much Friction" – Richard Lowenstein
 * The Expression's "With Closed Eyes"
 * Mental as Anything's "Spirit Got Lost"
 * Midnight Oil's "Power and the Passion"
 * Pat Wilson's "Bop Girl"
 * Best Record Producer of the Year
 * Mark Moffatt and Ricky Fataar for work with Tim Finn, Renée Geyer, Pat Wilson
 * Bruce Brown and Russell Dunlop for work with Machinations, Reels, and Mental as Anything
 * Charles Fisher for work with Moving Pictures, Hoodoo Gurus, The Expression
 * Mark Opitz for work with Australian Crawl, INXS, Divinyls
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Men at Work
 * Most Promising New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Award)
 * Real Life
 * Kids in the Kitchen
 * Pseudo Echo
 * Songwriter of the Year
 * Tim Finn
 * Colin Hay
 * Eric McCusker
 * Special Achievement
 * Michael Jackson for services to entertainment
 * Austen Tayshus for "Australiana"
 * Most Popular Female
 * Sharon O'Neill
 * Christina Amphlett
 * Pat Wilson
 * Most Popular Group
 * Australian Crawl
 * INXS
 * Men at Work
 * Split Enz
 * Most Popular International Act
 * Duran Duran
 * David Bowie
 * Culture Club
 * Michael Jackson
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Tim Finn (solo)
 * James Reyne

1984
Ceremony details: Held on 19 May 1985 at Sydney Entertainment Centre, and broadcast on 25 May, it was hosted by Greedy Smith, presenters included: Brian Mannix, Meat Loaf, Vicki O'Keefe, Sharon O'Neill, Ian "Molly" Meldrum, Nik Kershaw, Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch (Eurogliders), Julian Lennon, Jenny Morris, Sean Kelly and James Freud (Models), Alan Johnson and Danny Simcic (Real Life), Suzanne Dowling (Rock Arena TV show host). INXS won seven awards and closed with a live performance of "Burn for You", dressed in Akubras (hats) and Drizabones (outdoor coats/oilskin jackets).

Award winners and nominees:
 * Best Album
 * The Swing – INXS
 * Body and the Beat – Dragon
 * Red Sails in the Sunset – Midnight Oil
 * Best Debut Album
 * Stoneage Romeos – Hoodoo Gurus
 * Autumnal Park – Pseudo Echo
 * Animal Magic – QED
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Trust Me" – I'm Talking
 * "Shake This City" – Non Stop Dancers
 * "Big Girls" – Electric Pandas
 * Best Female Performance in a Video
 * "Power" – Sharon O'Neill
 * "Big Girls" – Lin Buckfield (Electric Pandas)
 * "Trust Me" – Kate Ceberano (I'm Talking)
 * "Girl on the Wall" – Jane Clifton
 * "In My Life" – Christina Amphlett (Divinyls)
 * Best Group Performance in a Video
 * "Burn for You" – INXS
 * "Heaven (Must Be There)" – Eurogliders
 * "Apocalypso" – Mental As Anything
 * "Read About It" – Midnight Oil
 * "Big on Love" – Models
 * Best Male Performance in a Video
 * "No Second Prize" – Jimmy Barnes
 * "Short Memory" – Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil)
 * "Phantom Shuffle" – Austen Tayshus
 * "Burn for You" – Michael Hutchence
 * "Gymnasium" – Stephen Cummings
 * Best Producer
 * Martin Armiger
 * Charles Fisher
 * Mark Moffatt & Ricky Fataar
 * Mark Opitz
 * Best Promotional Video (tie)
 * "Apocalypso" – Mental As Anything
 * "Burn for You" – INXS
 * "Saturday Night" – Cold Chisel
 * "Heaven (Must Be There)" – Eurogliders
 * Best Single
 * "Heaven Must Be There" – Eurogliders
 * "No Say in It" – Machinations
 * "Burn for You" – INXS
 * "I Send a Message" – INXS
 * "Soul Kind of Feeling" – Dynamic Hepnotics
 * "Bravo Bravo" – D.D. Smash
 * Best Songwriter
 * Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence (INXS)
 * Jimmy Barnes
 * Richard Clapton
 * Neil Finn
 * Bernie Lynch (Eurogliders)
 * Sharon O'Neill
 * Don Walker
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * INXS
 * Most Popular Australian Group
 * INXS
 * Midnight Oil
 * Pseudo Echo
 * Split Enz
 * Most Popular Female Performer
 * Sharon O'Neill
 * Lin Buckfield
 * Grace Knight
 * Jenny Morris
 * Most Popular International Act
 * Duran Duran
 * Culture Club
 * U2
 * Wham!
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Michael Hutchence (INXS)
 * Brian Canham (Pseudo Echo)
 * Iva Davies (Icehouse)
 * Tim Finn
 * Most Promising Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award)
 * I'm Talking
 * Electric Pandas

1985
Ceremony details: Held on 14 April 1986 at Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, and broadcast on 20 April, it was hosted by Ian "Molly" Meldrum and presenters included: Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch (Eurogliders), Rick Mayall and Ben Elton (The Young Ones), Sting, Vince Sorrenti, Brad Robinson, Zan Abeyratne, Richard Page, Iva Davies, Brian Canham, Brian Mannix, Tim Finn, Dee C Lee and Suzanne Dowling. Performers were: Pseudo Echo "Living in a Dream", Eurogliders "Absolutely", Do-Ré-Mi "Theme from Jungle Jim", Kids in the Kitchen "Current Stand", Mr. Mister "Kyrie", Models "Let's Build it Up", I'm Talking "Do You Wanna Be?". At the awards ceremony fans of INXS and Uncanny X-Men scuffled and as a result ARIA decided to hold their own awards, which were the entirely peer-voted ARIA Music Awards first held in 1987.


 * Best Album
 * Fundamentals – Mental As Anything
 * Working Class Man – Jimmy Barnes
 * What a Life! – Divinyls
 * Absolutely – Eurogliders
 * Mars Needs Guitars – Hoodoo Gurus
 * Listen Like Thieves – INXS
 * Out of Mind, Out of Sight – Models
 * Best Debut Album
 * Domestic Harmony – Do-Ré-Mi
 * Gang Gajang – Gang Gajang
 * Shine – Kids in the Kitchen
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Man Overboard" – Do-Ré-Mi
 * "Too Young for Promises" – Koo De Tah
 * Best Female Performance in a Video
 * "Pleasure and Pain" – Chrissy Amphlett
 * "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" – Kate Ceberano
 * "Man Overboard" – Deborah Conway
 * Best Group Performance in a Video
 * "Live it Up" – Mental As Anything
 * "Pleasure and Pain" – Divinyls
 * "What You Need" – INXS
 * "Barbados" – Models
 * "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" – Models
 * Best Male Performance in a Video
 * "Working Class Man" – Jimmy Barnes
 * "I'd Die to Be with You Tonight" – Jimmy Barnes
 * "World's Away" – Mark Edwards
 * "My Heart's on Fire" – Fred Lonegan
 * "Live It Up" – Greedy Smith
 * Best Producer
 * Mark Opitz for his work with Jimmy Barnes, the Venetians, Models
 * Best Video
 * INXS's "What You Need" – Richard Lowenstein and Lyn-Marie Milbourn
 * Best Single
 * "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" – Models
 * "Live it Up" – Mental As Anything
 * "Pleasure and Pain" – Divinyls
 * "What You Need" – INXS
 * Best Songwriter
 * Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything) – "Live it Up"
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Bob Geldof – Oz for Africa
 * INXS
 * Most Popular Australian Group
 * INXS
 * Kids in the Kitchen
 * Models
 * Pseudo Echo
 * Uncanny X-Men
 * Most Popular Female Performer
 * Kate Ceberano
 * Chrissy Amphlett
 * Lin Buckfield
 * Tina Cross
 * Grace Knight
 * Most Popular International Act
 * Duran Duran
 * A-ha
 * Dire Straits
 * Madonna
 * Wham!
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Michael Hutchence
 * Jimmy Barnes
 * Brian Canham
 * Scott Carne
 * Brian Mannix
 * Most Promising New Talent (Johnny O'Keefe Memorial Award)
 * Do-Ré-Mi
 * Rockmelons
 * Koo De Tah

1986
Ceremony details: Held on 19 July 1987 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre; it followed the last regular Countdown show. It was hosted by Ian "Molly" Meldrum who revealed his bald head in imitation of Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil. Performers included: Icehouse "Crazy", Angry Anderson "Suddenly", Mental As Anything "He's Just No Good", Boom Crash Opera "City Flat", John Farnham "You're the Voice" and English pop group, Swing Out Sister "Breakout".

By the time of the last Countdown award ceremony, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) had already instituted its own entirely peer-voted ARIA Music Awards, with its first ceremony held on 2 March 1987 at the Sheraton Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. Elton John was the host but the ARIAs were not televised with presenters including Basia Bonkowski, Slim Dusty and Donnie Sutherland.


 * Best Album
 * Whispering Jack – John Farnham
 * Crowded House – Crowded House
 * Gossip – Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls
 * Human Frailty – Hunters & Collectors
 * Best Debut Album
 * Crowded House – Crowded House
 * Bear Witness – I'm Talking
 * Wa Wa Nee – Wa Wa Nee
 * Best Debut Single
 * "Great Wall" – Boom Crash Opera
 * "Mean to Me" – Crowded House
 * "Hungry Town" – Big Pig
 * "Stimulation" – Wa Wa Nee
 * Best Debut Act
 * Crowded House
 * Wa Wa Nee
 * Boom Crash Opera
 * Big Pig
 * Best Female Performance in a Video
 * "You're Gonna Get Hurt" – Jenny Morris
 * "Do You Wanna Be" – Kate Ceberano
 * "Guns & Butter" – Deborah Conway
 * Best Group Performance in a Video
 * "Kiss the Dirt" by INXS
 * "Mean to Me" – Crowded House
 * "Let's Go to Paradise" – Mental As Anything
 * "Funkytown" – Pseudo Echo
 * "Don't Dream It's Over" – Crowded House
 * "Good Times" – INXS & Jimmy Barnes
 * Best Male Performance in a Video
 * "You're the Voice" – John Farnham
 * "Ride the Night Away" – Jimmy Barnes
 * "Before Too Long" Paul Kelly
 * "Bad Moon Rising" – Dave Mason
 * Best Producer
 * Mark Opitz
 * Charles Fisher
 * Ross Fraser
 * Best Video
 * "Don't Dream It's Over" – Crowded House
 * "You're the Voice" – John Farnham
 * "Kiss the Dirt" – INXS
 * "Listen Like Thieves" – INXS
 * Best Single
 * "You're the Voice" – John Farnham
 * "Before Too Long" – Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls
 * "The Dead Heart" – Midnight Oil
 * "Don't Dream It's Over" – Crowded House
 * Best Songwriter
 * Neil Finn
 * Paul Kelly
 * Most Outstanding Achievement
 * Whispering Jack – John Farnham
 * Most Popular Australian Group
 * Pseudo Echo
 * INXS
 * Uncanny X-Men
 * Wa Wa Nee
 * Most Popular Female Performer
 * Kate Ceberano
 * Grace Knight
 * Jenny Morris
 * Most Popular International Act
 * a-ha
 * Duran Duran
 * Madonna
 * Most Popular Male Performer
 * Brian Canham
 * Michael Hutchence
 * Johnny O'Keefe Award For Most Promising New Talent
 * Big Pig
 * Ups & Downs
 * Cattletruck
 * Kings of the Sun
 * Mannequins