FAQs

1. When do applications open and close? 

Self-nominating categories and People Choice Award categories opened: Thursday, 9th October 2024 

Self-nominating categories and People Choice Award categories close: 11:59 pm (AEST), Thursday, 14th November 2024.

QMusic reserve the right to extend deadline dates.  

2. Does my song/video have to be released by a certain date? 

Songs/videos for all awards except for Music For Screen must be released between 1st December 2023 and 30th November 2024. 

Music for Screen (film, television and games) release dates:  

The song/composition must have been released in the last five years between 1st December 2019 - 30th November 2024 to be eligible. The screen-based media must have been released between 1st December 2023 - 30th November 2024 to be eligible.

3. I don't live in Queensland. Can I enter the Queensland Music Awards? 

To be eligible to enter artists must either:

• Currently reside in Queensland
  • You are eligible as a resident of Queensland if you spent a minimum of 75% of the year (9 months) living in Queensland at a residential address between 1st December 2023 and 30th November 2024. 

• OR have started the development of their career in Queensland and continue to publicly identify and be promoted as a Queensland artist.
  • In this instance, publicly identifying as a Queensland artist also means not applying for peak body music awards in other states and territories of Australia.
• In the case of songwriting teams/bands or filmmaking teams, at least 50% of the team must qualify under the above criteria.

4. How many songs can I enter? 

Artists may submit a maximum of 8 individual tracks, across a maximum of 8 different categories.  

5. Can I enter the same song in different categories? 

Yes. An individual song may be entered into more than one category but it will incur an entry fee for each category (with a maximum of eight categories and/or eight songs, totalling eight entries). 

Only one song from each entrant may become a finalist in any one category. 

The same song may not appear as a finalist in multiple categories with the exception of the Regional/Remote and Emerging categories, which are drawn from other categories, and the Indigenous category. 

6. What are the categories that I can enter my songs into? 

• Blues / Roots 

• Children's Music 

• Contemporary Classical and Music For Stage

• Country 

• Electronic  

• Folk 

• Heavy 

• Hip Hop 

• Indigenous  

• Jazz 

• Music for Screens

• Pop  

• Rock 

• Youth (Ages 10-17)  

• Soul / Funk / R’n’B 

• World 

• Video (for filmmakers only) 

7. Regional / Remote Award category: 

If applicable, your song/s will be automatically entered into this category as a BONUS entry: 

• The Regional/Remote Category is open to all songwriters residing in regional and remote Queensland, as determined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Boundaries and set out in the Australian Bureau Of Statistic Remoteness Area Map as well as being over 100km away from the Brisbane CBD. All finalist regional and remote songwriters will automatically be entered into this category. 

8. I've co-written a song with a songwriter who is not based in Queensland. Can I enter this track? 

You may enter a track that is co-written by a songwriter not based in Queensland, on the condition that the songwriting can be attributed to not less than 50% to the Queensland songwriter/s OR the artist/band is publicly identified and promoted as a Queensland act and started the development of their career in Queensland. 

In the case of a Video entry, the filmmaker only must be Queensland-based. 

9. I’m a Queensland filmmaker but I work with interstate artists. Can I still enter my videos? 

Yes, you can. For this category, the filmmaker is the entrant and must be Queensland-based (see above). 

10. I don’t know which category best suits my song. Can you choose for me? 

No, unfortunately, we can’t help you make that decision so please choose your category carefully. 

11. I want to enter songs I have written into the Queensland Music Awards but I’m not a singer. Can I get someone else to sing/perform them? 

Yes, you can, however, songs must have been released between 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2024.  

12. Is there an age limit? 

No, there is no age limit except for the Youth category. For songs entered in the Youth category, the primary songwriter must have been aged 10 – 17 years old on the release date of the song.  

13. Can I enter lyrics only? 

No. We currently do not have a lyric-only category. 

14. Can I enter instrumental songs? 

Yes, you can enter instrumental songs in all categories. Please type “Instrumental” in the lyrics text box. 

15. Technical Issues and Troubleshooting 

I cannot log in to my QMusic account when finalising my self-nominating:  

Please try logging in directly on the QMusic website, resetting your password if required and then retry on your application form. If this does not work save the form as a draft and contact us at info@qmusic.com.au  

I am having issues with my application form:  

Please click the Tech Support button below the application form and detail the issue.  

16. How do I know who owns the rights to my song/s? 

If you are a songwriter and haven’t signed a deal with a music publishing company (publishing) or record label (master) you are the rights holder of your song/s. Therefore, you should enter your own name where indicated on the entry form. Otherwise, you must provide the details of the relevant rights holder (only if you grant streaming permission for your song through the QMA website). 

In the case of video entries, by entering a video hosted on a public platform such as YouTube or Vimeo into the Queensland Music Awards you acknowledge that all rights holder permissions have been granted. 

QMusic takes no responsibility for any copyright violations. 

17. Who judges the songs? 

A panel of music industry professionals will assess the entries according to categories. 

The decision of the judging panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 

QMusic management committee and staff play no role in song/songwriter nominations or the selection of winners in any category (with the exception of the QMusic Lifetime Achievement Award). 

18. How are songs/videos judged? 

The songs in the genre categories are NOT judged on production values. 

Each song is judged on: Lyricism and musicality; innovation and creativity; and commercial potential. 

In the case of video entries, judging is based on originality of concept, technical execution and visual appeal. 

19. How are the highest selling awards determined? 

The highest-selling single and highest-selling album categories are designed to celebrate the commercial success of Queenslanders in Australia and overseas. 

These are the only two categories that non-residents are eligible for, however they are based on sales and therefore nominations are not applicable. 

20. How do the People’s Choice Awards categories work? 

2025 People’s Choice Award categories include:  Metro, Regional and Accessible Venue of the Year, Festival of the Year and Album of the Year (NEW). 

Venues and Festivals can self-nominate, all eligible venues and festivals will be submitted for voting by the general public, which will open in early 2024. Self-nominations for venues and festival align with category nominations: 9 October 2024 – 14 November 2024. 

Album of the Year nominations are collected via a combination of submissions by QMAs panel of 100+ judges, album release lists (collated by established industry bodies) and additional nominations industry professionals. If you wish to nominate an album, please complete this form by 21 November 2024. A panel of industry judges will select a shortlist of finalists to be submitted for voting by the general public, which will open in early 2024. 

A combination of public votes and expert judge scoring (weighted 60/40, respectively) determines the winner of the People’s Choice Award categories. 

Four finalists per category will be selected with the winners announced at the QMA ceremony.  

21. How does the Music for Screen Award work? 

Nominations for Music for Screen are eligible for new works created specifically for screen, or existing works less than 5 years old selected for use of soundtracking a screen-based media*  

*Includes film, television, advertisements and games. 

For this category, the song/composition must have been released in the last five years between 1st Dec 2019 - 30th Nov 2024 and the screen-based media must have been released between 1st December 2023 - 30th November 2024 to be eligible. 

22. Why do I have to pay an entry fee? 

QMusic is a not-for-profit organisation and we rely on sponsorship and entry fees to allow us to run the Queensland Music Awards and grow it each year to give recognition to our best songwriters and artists. Your entry fee contributes to the whole process. 

23. How much does it cost to enter the Queensland Music Awards? 

	Each Song	Each Video
Indigenous	$20	N/A
QMusic Adult Member	$20	$20
Adult Non-Member	$30	$30
Youth | School Age Entries	$20	N/A

 

The above prices include GST. 

24. How can I join QMusic so that I pay less to enter the Queensland Music Awards? 

It's easy. You can join online through the QMusic website. 

25. When is the closing date for entries? 

The deadline for self-nominations is 11:59pm (AEST), Monday 14th November 2024. QMusic reserves the right to extend this deadline. 

26. Can I get feedback on my song/s? 

QMusic is currently not able to offer a feedback service for the Queensland Music Awards. 

27. How many finalists will be chosen in each self-nominated category? 

There are four finalists in each self-nominated category. 

28. How do I get considered for Album of the Year? 

Full-length albums released between December 2023 and November 2024 are eligible for this category.  

Nominations for this category are collated by submissions by a QMAs panel of 100+ judges, album release lists (collated by established industry bodies) and additional nominations industry professionals. If you wish to nominate an album, please complete this form.  

The Album of the Year is judged on production, songwriting and commercial success.  

29. How do I get considered for Song of the Year? 

Only the winners of the genre categories are eligible for Song of the Year. A panel of music industry professionals will decide a winner, using the same criteria used to judge the genre categories. 

30. When are the finalists notified? 

All finalists will be notified via email in February 2025. 

31. When will the finalists be publicly announced? 

Finalists will be announced in early February 2025 on the Queensland Music Awards website. 

32. When are the winners announced? 

Most of the winners will be announced at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards. Due to venue restrictions, winners of some of the categories may be announced at a pre-award ceremony. 

33. How can I attend the Queensland Music Awards? 

Tickets will be available for purchase through the QMAs website in early February 2025. 

34. How many tickets to the Queensland Music Awards can I get if my song is a finalist in the top four of its category? 

Finalists will receive 2 x complimentary tickets per finalist song to the awards night in the artists seating section. Queensland Music Awards reserves the right to withdraw this offer, pending external circumstances. 

35. What do I get if I win? 

A package of promotional activities that will be undertaken on behalf of the winning artists which will include, but not be limited to: 

• Presentation of an Award trophy at the annual Queensland Music Awards 

• Profiling on the Queensland Music Awards website and playlists 

• National media release inclusion and interview opportunities 

36. Can I edit my submission once I've already completed it?

Yes! Once you have submitted your application you will receive a confirmation email. This email has an 'Update Submission' button where you will be able to access your application and update any details before the closing date, Thursday 14 November, 11.59pm. 

37. I have another question. Who do I contact?  

Please contact QMusic at (07) 3257 0013 or at info@qmusic.com.au and a member of staff will be in contact with you as soon as possible.