The Music 2016 Writers' Poll: Karen Lowe

album of the year

1. Sugar Army - Beast
2. Metallica - Hardwired... To Self Destruct
3. Jordie Lane - Glassellland
4. The Dandy Warhols - Distortland
5. Violent Soho - WACO

song of the year

1. Sugar Army - Gold Touch
2. Sugar Army - Battles
3. Metallica - Hardwired
4. Jordie Lane - Frederick Steele McNeil Ferguson
5. Jake Stone - Trick Of The Light

artist of the year

1. Sugar Army
2. Metallica
3. Jordie Lane
4. Frenzal Rhomb
5. Living End

international artist performance

1. The Cure
2. Eagles Of Death Metal
3. L7
4. Garbage
5. Bullet For My Valentine

australian artist performance

1. Sugar Army
2. Spiderbait
3. Living End
4. Regurgitator
5. You Am I

live comedy act

1. Wil Anderson
2. Julian Clary
3. Tommy Little

top tv show

1. Black Mirror
2. Eyewitness
3. Channel Zero

2016 highlight of the year

Getting to meet Robert Smith of The Cure and then being able to photograph them the next night. I have never been so nervous, yet so happy before. I couldn't speak for an hour after meeting him (only thing that could actually shut me up!). Also getting to photograph many of my favourite bands this year :)

prediction for 2017

More bands from the '90s will tour - hopefully bringing back good old rock and roll (well - '90s style rock/grunge!) Hopefully as well, there will be a new band that will turn everything on its head - just like Nirvana did all those years ago.