POWER 50 2025: Nina Las Vegas (NLV Records)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

The chances are good that just about everyone in the Australian music scene has had their life affected by Nina Las Vegas in some way. Having launched her career at triple j, Nina's presence was cemented thanks to the likes of the launch of the Heaps Decent organisation, and later, a ubiquitous role as the host of triple j's House Party. Bringing her eclectic music taste and music production skills to the masses, Nina's House Party compilations became a rite of passage for any electronic music fan, while her own musical career has seen her become an in-demand figure on the live stage.

Since 2015, she’s also headed NLV Records, her own label, which is not only a vehicle for releasing her own tunes but also for helping forge the careers of countless other individuals in Australia's rich musical ecosystem.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

While it's easy to name-check the exceptional Aussie artists on the NLV Records roster – ranging from Kota Banks, 1300, Anna Lunoe, Gold Fang, and more – the biggest headline for NLV's 2025 can be summed up with the name Ninajirachi. While the label celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2025, it also brought with it some of its biggest successes to date.

Ninajirachi’s I Love My Computer album is already set to be remembered as one of the year’s biggest releases, thanks to the likes of its Australian Music Prize win, its J Award for Album Of The Year, and its eight ARIA nominations – of which it took out Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist, and Best Independent Release.

With such massive wins coming its way to coincide with its tenth year of existence (including its first-ever ARIA wins), it’s clear that NLV Records and Nina Las Vegas are only just getting started when it comes to revolutionising the world of local music.

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

Without doubt, the year in Australian music has gone to the two Ninas: Ninajirachi for creating a killer album and for Nina Las Vegas, who pushes harder for her artists than almost anyone else we know. The Ninajirachi success was far from overnight, with Las Vegas championing, planning, funding and mentoring for years to achieve success. 

The campaign for I Love My Computer was as smart as it was effective, hitting the right levels at the correct times, and while luck always plays a part in this industry, you make your own luck, and Las Vegas has proven that the skills to break an Australian record in Australia are no longer the domain of major labels. In fact, this year they’ve been frantically scribbling notes while watching the success from the sidelines. 

The only question left is, what is Nina Las Vegas capable of driving next?