4. The unfair sex remains king

Female and non-binary acts increased their share of ARIA nominations this year – up one point to 36 per cent. Last month, overlooked Brisbane pop artist Mallrat (aka Grace Shaw) led the righteous backlash against an industry “dominated by men … who don’t think an artist is credible unless it’s a nonchalant dude playing guitar/ rock music”. ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd shared her frustration, while pointing to the increased diversity of a judging academy that still has some work to do. Case in point: the clever new mixed-gender best solo artist category pits Thelma Plum, Julia Jacklin and Courtney Barnett against seven blokes.

5. No chart, no start

Gumbaynggirr rapper Tasman Keith was clear in his Insta post of September that his “validation doesn’t come from an outdated award platform held up by privileged white record executives”. But he used the oversight of his album, A Colour Undone, to make a point about the awards’ selection criteria, in which a song or album needs to make a showing in the ARIA charts in order to be eligible for the awards. It’s … complicated, but this means selling old-school product – physical formats and downloads – counts more than streams. “Judge the art, not the chart,” Keith helpfully suggested.

6. There’s no prize for comeback of the year

There is a chance Daniel Johns could add a 22nd ARIA to his estimable silverchair collection tonight, but it’s strange that his only nomination is in the uber-crowded best solo artist category. Elsewhere, there’s not a dickie bird for his celebrated FutureNever album, which hit number one twice and became the highest-selling Australian album of the year. Considering his award-winning podcast, YouTube mini-series, memorabilia exhibition and the less-fortunate publicity surrounding his drink-driving conviction, the snub is among this year’s more mystifying.

7. We like the old stuff better than the new stuff

Natalie Imbruglia would no doubt have loved to see her recent Firebird album, her return to the studio after six years, mentioned among the nominated works of 2022. Instead, it’s the 25th anniversary of her ARIA-smashing debut, Left of the Middle, that provides the fanfare to her role as this year’s host. Sure, there are second acts in Australian pop stars’ lives, but it seems we prefer them to come with the original soundtrack.

8. Only the songs are forever

The loss of Archie Roach, Judith Durham and Olivia Newton-John was almost too much to process within 10 shocking days last winter: lifetimes of pioneering work that broadened our horizons in ways that transcended entertainment and its earthly awards. Tonight’s musical tributes from Imbruglia, Plum, Budjura, Tones and I, Jessica Mauboy, Dami Im and Casey Donovan will have a heavy weight to lift. ARIA says regular Hall of Fame inductions, paused during the pandemic, will resume in 2023.

The ARIA Awards will be broadcast live on November 24 from 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now.