Betty Taylor, Ziggy Alberts Take Home Inaugural Sunshine Coast Music Awards

Betty Taylor were the big winners at the inaugural Sunshine Coast Music Awards on Sunday (1 June), the alt rockers taking home three awards.

The awards were held at The Station in Birtinya. They were headed by the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (SCMIC)—an independent industry body dedicated to supporting and championing local musicians—and supported by the Sunshine Coast Council.

Eleven awards were handed out on the night, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Venue of the Year, and the award we hope to see more of: Punter of the Year. Out of the eleven categories, Betty Taylor, Ziggy Alberts, Frank And Louis, and Raw Ordio received multiple nominations.

Betty Taylor took home the coveted awards of Live Act of the Year, Song of the Year and Rising Star of the Year, while Ziggy Alberts was crowned Artist of the Year, Minnie Marks named Musician of the Year, and Frank And Louis received the Young Artist of the Year award. You can find all the winners below.

The Sunshine Coast Music Awards were hosted by Australian music industry royalty: cheeky TV personality Ian “Dicko” Dickson and triple j’s Sarah Howells.

Announcing the Sunshine Coast Music Awards in late November 2024, SCMIC chairperson Melissa O’Bryan spoke on her excitement. “I’ve been working with local music for nearly a decade. The talent the Sunshine Coast boasts couldn’t be more worthy of their own awards night,” she said.

2025 Sunshine Coast Music Awards Winners 

Artist of the Year

Winner: Ziggy Alberts

Finalists: Betty Taylor, High Tropics and Raw Ordio

Artwork of the Year

Winner: Lahni Thorogood

Finalists: builtfromboxes and jeunae elita

First Nations

Winner: Kevin Starkey

Finalist: Daddy Frank

Live Act of the Year

Winner: Betty Taylor

Finalists: Raw Ordio and Sunny Coast Rude Boys

Musician of the Year

Winner: Minnie Marks

Finalists: Josiah Niven and Pat Tierney

Punter of the Year

Winner: Leigh Kuryj

Finalist: Letricia (Letty) Delaney

Recording Studio of the Year

Winner: Yama Nui Studios

Finalists: Big Rock Studio and Glasshouse Studios 

Rising Star of the Year

Winner: Betty Taylor

Finalists: Frank And Louis and Wave Raiders

Song of the Year

Winner: Betty Taylor - Young, Dumb, Immature

Finalists: Buttermello - Let Me Down Easy, Ziggy Alberts - I'm With You and Frank And Louis - FAT MAN

Venue of the Year

Winner: Solbar

Finalists: Norton Music Factory and The Station

Young Artist of the Year

Winner: Frank And Louis

Finalists: Ampersand and Wave Raiders