POWER 50 2025: Natalie Waller (ABC Music)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Natalie Waller has spent nearly three decades shaping the Australian music landscape through her long-standing leadership at ABC Music. One of the country’s most enduring independent labels, Natalie joined the team 27 years ago, with 12 of those years spent as Head of ABC Music, where she’s overseen a diverse roster, supported some of the country's biggest acts, and helped channel commercial success back into funding ABC content.

Alongside cementing the label as a vital force in local music, Natalie has also built a strong presence on both the national and international stage. Unanimously elected Chair of the ARIA board in 2021, she also serves as a Director on the US-based Country Music Association board, and remains a champion of the next generation through a volunteer mentoring role with the AIR Women In Music program.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

Having been awarded the 2024 Jo Walker Meador International CMA Award, Natalie went into 2025 quite strong, with only more wins waiting for her on the other side of the calendar. While the cumulative work at ABC Music has helped the label win 128 ARIA Awards, 128 Golden Guitar Awards, and achieve multiple ARIA Chart #1s, this year brought with it another win for ABC Music as the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Record Label Of The Year. 

Overseeing myriad new signings along the way, this year has also seen an impressive foray into country music as well, with The Wiggles’ ARIA-nominated Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! effort featuring collaborations with Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Dasha and many more

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

Is Nat Waller the busiest person in the Australian music industry? How it’s possible to hold down the top job at the Independent Record Label of the Year, chair Australia’s recorded music association, find time to be on the CMA board and also be dancing down the front at gigs is an incredible feat.

Taking over the ARIA chair position during a period of incredible cultural change, when others may have run for the hills, tells you about her leadership. With an actual day job that pays her to sell records for some of Australia’s best country, kids, and contemporary artists (seven ARIA charting albums this year, but who’s counting?), Nat isn’t content to use her vast networks to simply do her job, she uses them to open the door even wider so that all Australian music can thrive. If there was an award for the industry’s most generous connector, Nat would get it hands down. 

But her major achievement for 2025? Bringing us an album from The Tree Of Wisdom.