NSW Government Launches Music Competition With $80,000 First Prize

The New South Wales government is breaking the piggie bank for a new music prize which awards $160,000 across three categories, including $80,000 to the top place getter.

Announced Saturday, July 5th, the NSW Music Prize is an annual contest that’s intended to shine a light on the state’s music community and “inspire the next AC/DC, Delta Goodrem or The Kid Laroi.”

The $80,000 winner’s cheque is said to be the biggest of any annual prize for Australian musicians, dwarfing the $50,000 cash sum for the champions of the Australian Music Prize and the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition.

Prizes are judged on releases or a “major career breakthrough” from July 1st, 2024 and June 30th, 2025:

• $80,000 NSW Music Prize, to be awarded to the NSW artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact.
• $40,000 NSW First Nations Music Prize for an NSW First Nations artist or act whose release has had significant and meaningful impact.
• $40,000 NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year for an emerging NSW artist or act who has had a groundbreaking year.

Applicants don’t have to be NSW-based, but must be Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or over.

“Despite the fact NSW is the engine room of Australia’s music industry, we were one of the only states that didn’t have a music prize. I thought that was a travesty, so the arrival of the NSW Music Prize will right that wrong,” comments Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham.

“This investment will celebrate our artists, boost their careers and inspire the next generation to shoot for the stars.”

A 20-strong committee of music industry experts will nominate artists and create a longlist for the NSW Music Prize and NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and an expert panel of five will then determine the winners.

Meanwhile, a nominations committee of five First Nations industry experts will be appointed to submit nominations for the NSW First Nations Music Prize and deliver finalists for a three-strong judging panel First Nations who will select the winner.

Winners will be announced during a ceremony in November 2025 during Ausmusic Month.

From today, the Sound NSW website includes a form that enables applicants to express their interest in being on a committee or panel. Expressions of interest close Monday, July 21st.

The prize “is all about celebrating the incredible talent we have in NSW, and acknowledging those who dedicate themselves to creating the soundtracks to our lives,” comments Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins, and is the latest action from the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy. 

Further information on eligibility for the NSW Music Prize will be shared soon.

The competition, enthuses legendary concert promoter Michael Chugg, “will garner great publicity for our artists and provide much-needed funding to advance their careers -not just in Australia, but globally -by enabling artists, industry professionals, and companies to open doors worldwide to our wonderful music.”