NOMINATIONS EXTENDED + JUDGES AND DATE ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS
The 14th annual Queensland Music Awards will return to The Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday 25 March 2025. Queensland artists, venues and festivals have also gained a one-week extension to submit, the new deadline for submissions is midnight, Thursday 14 November.
QMusic has also revealed the exciting and diverse range of music and media identities enlisted to judge submissions. Over 100 music industry executives have been recruited to uncover Queensland’s best new music, including programmers and tastemakers from across Australia.The judges on board for 2025 include; Vanessa Picken (Sony Music), Christina Elliott (BMG Australia), Alliyah Fareo (Sony Music Publishing Australia), Eliza Heath (The Tivoli Group), Fergus Jenkins (Dew Process), Heather O'Brien (EMI), Ian Haug (Airlock Studios) and Marly Luske (Alchemix Studios), among an extensive host of prominent media, labels, A&R, managers, booking agents, publishers and sync agents.
QMusic Director of Programming, Mandi McIntyre is excited about the caliber of judges and possibilities for Queensland songwriters;
“One of the things that’s so special about the QMAs is that just by entering, artists have their music heard by some of the most influential music industry members from across Australia and the world.
“From completely unknown talent to some of the biggest names in Australian music, each year the mix of finalists showcased at the awards is diverse and full of surprises.”
Also now open for nominations, The People’s Choice Awards celebrate Queensland's favourite Festival, Metropolitan and Regional venue, currently held by Gympie Music Muster, The Fortitude Music Hall and King’s Beach Tavern, respectively. Venues and Festivals are invited to self-nominate, before the power is then handed to the public to vote.
The QMAs have a long history of not only celebrating the worldwide achievements of household names like Amy Shark, Keith Urban, The Veronicas and Sheppard, but also acknowledging emerging songwriters from the far corners of our region. Jem Cassar-Daley, Cub Sport, Fisher & Kita Alexander, FELONY., Tori Forsyth, Busby Marou, Tia Gostelow and Joff Bush were amongst the winners for 2024 alone.
Tickets for the 2025 QMAs will be available to the general public early next year.
Award nominations for artists, filmmakers, festivals and venues now close Thursday 14 November.
2025 QLD Music Award Judges:
Aimee Davies, Hey Mate
Aleisha McLaren, Muscles
Alliyah Fareo, Sony Music Publishing Australia
Ally Cole, Island Records Australia
Alyson Joyce, BIPOC Arts Australia
Andrew Bassingthwaighte, ALMBC
Andrew Butt, Brisbane International Jazz Festival
Andrew Orvis, Tanks Arts Centre - Cairns Regional Council
Anje West, The View From Madeleine's Couch
Berish Bilander, Green Music Australia
Brad Hinds, Oztix
Braydon Ritson, Social State Entertainment
Brett Wood, Music Industry College
Briana Ives, Aubrielle Music
Bridget Garay, Journey Ahead
Brigid Langford, Amplifire Music
Casey O'Shaughnessy, SELECT MUSIC
Chloe Popa, Gold Coast Music Network
Chris Palmer, That Aussie Music Guy
Christina Elliott, BMG Australia
Cindy Jensen, Silent Riot Collective
Cooper-Lily Nikora, Support Act, AUM PR + MGMT
Dan Stork, Dan Stork Production
Daniel Spirovski, JMC Academy
Deline Briscoe, Gaba Musik
Dom Miller, Sunroom
Dominic Kingsford-Ross, QUT
Eddie Gazani, Voice and Music Studio
Eliza Heath, The Tivoli Group
Elliott Lauren-Ryan, Australian Festival Association
Emily Reid, Toni Janke Productions
Emma Millers, Brisbane Powerhouse
Eyal Chipkiewicz, BEMAC
Fergus Jenkins, Dew Process
Fiona Duncan, Live Music Office & Loog Management
Francesca de Valence, I Heart Songwriting Club
Gemma Truong, Utopia Entertainment
Graham Ashton, ABC Music
Grant Wallis, GMV Industries - Killed By Drone - Event Governance and Innovation Manager (City Parklands)
Greg Dodge, Oxygen 42
Greta Kelly, MZAZA
Heather O'Brien, EMI
Ian Haug, Airlock Studios
James Costello, JAM Property Group
Jayde Roxborough, SGC Media
Jaz Yates, RELEASR
Jeff Chandler, Chandler Special Events
Joe Nemer, MG Live
Joel Devereux, OzInDi Radio Australia
Johnny Mullen, Dew Process
Jonathan Jackson, Comiskey Group
Jordanne Chant, Dinosaur City
Joshua Taylor-Anderson, Call & Response
Justin Hoareau, Freelance Consultant
Justin Tresidder, Yama-Nui Records
Katie Noonan, KIN Music
Kaysei Krzewina, APRA AMCOS
Kirsty Abrahams, Konnection Artist Assistance
Kit Atkinson, Social State Entertainment
Kristina Kelman, Queensland University of Technology
Kriza Canzon, GYROstream
Kylie Thompson, Sorrento Strategic Music
Lachlan Goold, University of the Sunshine Coast
Mackenzie Moor, Select Music
Madison Stevenson, The Tivoli Group
Marcus Walkom, Media Arts Lawyers
Mark Gibbons, Secret Sounds - Venues
Mark Pico, Big Pineapple Festival
Marly Luske, Alchemix Studios
Matthew lymbury, Nightlife Music
Melissa O'Bryan, Solbar
Menaka Thomas, Orygen Digital
Merindi Schrieber, Bulkaway Muruku
Molly Jackson, GYROstream
Monique Matthews, APRA AMCOS
Nicholas Jones, Nightlife Music
Nicholas Mills, The 5Five Presents
Nick Quigley, Jazz Music Institute Pty Ltd
Oj Newcomb, Yama-Nui Records Pty Ltd
Oz Bayldon, Events4GreaterGood - previously Gympie Muster
Patience Hodgson, Musician / ex-The Grates
Rachael Johnston, Rachael Johnston
Rebecca Anderson, Gympie Muster Ltd
Rob Carroll, Good Intent
Russell Thorpe, Rusty Nails
Ruth Gardner, The Cave Inn / 4zzz
Samantha Morris, Gold Coast Music Awards
Si Gould, Wondercore Island
Stephane Elmosnino, se.audio
Stu McCullough, Amplifire Music
Tom Inglis, HSF
Tony Castles, Regional Arts Services Network Tropical North
Trad Nathan, Crowbar
Tyler McLoughlan, The Sound Pound
Tyne Cochran, Secret Sounds
Vanessa Cohen, With Finesse
Vanessa Picken, Sony Music
Waratah Nicholls, Regional Arts Services Network
