YOUNG FRANCO, CHRISTINE ANU, TROY CASSAR-DALEY AND SYCCO LEAD STATE’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THE 2025 QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS

Queensland’s music industry came out in force for the annual Queensland Music Awards at The Fortitude Music Hall to honour the state’s brightest emerging talent, industry leaders and iconic artists and to be entertained by knockout live performances. 

History was made with Troy Cassar-Daley winning the first publicly voted Album of the Year award for ‘Between The Fires’, taking out the honour over strong competition by fellow powerhouse nominees Amy Shark, Thelma Plum and The Dreggs. 

Success was a family affair with Jem Cassar-Daley joining her father on the QMAs winners list, receiving the Indigenous Award for ‘Big Container’. 

Also keeping it in the family was Zipporah Corser-Anu, the young vocalist performing an extraordinary rendition of ‘My Island Home’ in tribute to her mother, Christine Anu, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

In the hotly contested People’s Choice Awards, presented by Oztix and 4ZZZ, Big Pineapple Festival was named Festival of the Year, Sandstone Point Hotel won Regional Venue of the Year and the QMA’s host venue, The Fortitude Music Hall, was voted Metro Venue of the Year  

$60,000 in scholarships were also awarded throughout the night, via four annual legacy awards, presented by QMusic and proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. 

First Nations multi-instrumentalist Rudy Matoy was honoured with the third annual Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon Scholarship, receiving $15,000 to support and develop their ongoing career in the music industry. 

Frontman of psych rock act Golden Age of Ballooning, Wolfe Peterson, secured the Grant McLennan Fellowship for which he will receive $15,000 to travel to New York, London, or Berlin and be immersed in their vibrant music culture. 

Hip-hop standout Miles Nautu received the Billy Thorpe Scholarship earning $15,000 to the emerging artist record their next release with an established producer alongside career planning from industry juggernaut Chugg Entertainment. 

The Carol Lloyd Award to support emerging female identifying or non-binary to record a full-length album or touran EP was awarded to nostalgia-soaked Brisbane artist, Dana Gehrman. 

QMusic CEO Kris Stewart said the QMAs celebrated the best in blues, folk, pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, country, electronic and more, and in 2025, gave music lovers the chance to have their say alongside an expert judging panel of over 100 Australian and international music industry professionals. 

“The QMAs recognise the passion, dedication and diversity of the people and places that make music such an integral and invaluable part of our state’s cultural heritage,” Stewart said.  

“Ours is an industry brimming with talent and camaraderie, no matter where you are in your career: from international superstar Amy Shark recognised for her Highest Selling Album and Highest Selling Single to last year’s Billy Thorpe Scholarship recipient and past Youth Award winner, Lottie McLeod, named the 2025 Emerging Artist of the Year. 

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all finalists and winners and are so proud of the incredible depth and breadth of music produced by Queensland artists last year.”