Missy Higgins used the platform of her ARIA Hall of Fame induction speech to throw her support behind homegrown artists, many of whom are being drowned out by the noise of 100 million-plus competing songs on streaming platforms.
As she collected the coveted award Wednesday, November 20th at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Higgins told the audience that protecting local content should be one of the music industry’s top priorities.
“The young singer-songwriter just starting out won’t be as fortunate as me,” she explained. “We have to keep demanding local content here. We can’t lose Australian stories. We lose that, we lose who we are.”
Higgins dropped the A-bomb in her speech – “algorithms,” a word rarely mentioned from the stage of the national recording industry’s annual ceremony.
And the ARIA goes to @missyhiggins for her induction into the Hall of Fame! 🏆 A true icon of Australian music. 🌟
Catch the 2024 #ARIAAwards live and on demand, only on Stan#ARIA #ARIAAwards #MissyHiggins #HallOfFame pic.twitter.com/u6y3CAN0dV
— ARIA (@ARIA_Official) November 21, 2024
During her emotional speech, Higgins paid tribute to the artists and industry professionals who lent their support over the years.
With tears streaming down her face, she remarked, “I really have to gather myself. What an incredible honour it is to accept this award and to stand up here tonight in front of all you guys, my music pals my music industry family. Some of you I’ve been touring alongside for over 23 years. And I feel so bloody fortunate to have shared this journey with you all.”
Higgins doubled up at the 2024 ARIAs. Earlier, she collected the best Australian live act award, recognition for her The Second Act tour, which has shifted more than 100,000 tickets and continues with a round of encore dates.
“I was in tears at the beginning of this tour because I didn’t know how I was going to sing these songs every night.” She did, and it was the “best bloody therapy.”
Higgins completed the ceremony by way of a medley of songs, with a starry lineup of guests including Amy Shark, Angie McMahon, Gretta Ray and G Flip filling their familiar spot behind the drumkit.
The beloved artist’s sixth and most recent album The Second Act debuted at the summit of the ARIA Chart, for her fourth No. 1, a tally that includes On A Clear Night (from 2007) and third LP The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle (2012).
Written in the shadows of a painful breakup with her ex, The Second Act (via Eleven/EMI) has been described as the sequel to The Sound Of White, which dropped 20 years ago and which logged seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 — en route to 12-times platinum certification.
