For women it's a longer way to the top of rock'n'roll

SINCE it began four years ago, the Australian Music Prize has been been dominated by Melbourne male indie rock acts.

In the past four years only five women and two predominantly female groups have made it to the shortlist, compared with 29 men or predominantly male bands.

Victory for the Drones, Augie March, the Mess Hall, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring has cemented Melbourne's reputation for quality rock'n'roll. But the lack of female artists (the exception being Drones bassist Fiona Kitschin) and hip-hop acts has alarmed some who think that the judging panel, comprised of a few dozen musicians, specialist retailers and media, may not be biased, but a bit closed-minded.

"Who is afraid of pop music? Of hip-hop, electronica and the avant-garde? And, most particularly, of women?" raged Sydney Morning Herald critic and AMP judge Bernard Zuel after another Melbourne rock band won the most lucrative contemporary music award in the country.

The Daily Telegraph critic and judge Kathy McCabe, wrote. "We can only hope that there are plenty of original and excellent offerings from the non-male indie rockers of Australia to make the grade in 2009."

Well, their wishes have come true.

The 2009 shortlist, announced yesterday, features diverse albums by four female artists: Sarah Blasko (pictured), Lucie Thorne, Bertie Blackman and Lisa Mitchell, as well as the latest album by Sydney hip-hopper Urthboy.

And that is pleasing to AMP director Scott Murphy. But he also warned against people grouping the female artists together based on gender. "Anyone who dares to group Bertie, Lucie, Sarah and Lisa together because they are girls, because they sing and write their own material, or simply because they all use their first and last names - simply hasn't taken the time to listen to these albums. "

Mr Murphy said he was also thrilled that Urthboy had made the shortlist. "Tim Levinson and his Urthboy collaborators consistently produce music that shows Australians can compete with the best in hip-hop."

The AMP winner and $15,000 Red Bull Award In Recognition of Outstanding Potential will be announced in Sydney on March 12.

Patrick Donovan is an AMP judge.