It’s been another year of phenomenal, diverse new music from Australian artists, and the 21st SoundMerch Australian Music Prize mirrors that with its 2025 shortlist.

Previous winners of the award include Kankawa Nagarra, RVG, King Stingray, Genesis Owusu, The Avalanches, Sampa The Great, Gurrumul, Courtney Barnett, The Drones, and more. Since its launch in 2005, the AMP has discovered, rewarded, and promoted newly released excellent Australian music.

Recognised as Australia’s most prestigious music award, which exclusively honours the creative accomplishments of homegrown musicians, this year’s judges — full disclaimer, I am one of them — have listened to 465 albums since last October and have come up with an impressive shortlist of just nine albums, spanning electronic music, indie rock, folk, punk, pop, and doom metal.

This year’s shortlisted nominees are:

Ninajirachi - I Love My Computer

Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be A Good Time

Floodlights - Underneath

MUDRAT - SOCIAL COHESION

Bleak Squad - Strange Love

Tropical Fuck Storm - Fairyland Codex

Ruby Gill - Some Kind Of Control

Mia Wray - hi, it's nice to meet me

Divide And Dissolve - Insatiable

In a statement, the AMP’s Founder and Prize Director, Scott Murphy, remarked, “I thank and congratulate the judges for their efforts – it’s not easy listening to so much great music, covering all genres, then having to choose only nine to make our Shortlist!

“Fun fact 1: Gareth [Liddiard] and Fiona [Kitschin] of Tropical Fuck Storm were also members of The Drones, who won the 1st Australian Music Prize! Fun fact 2: Mick Turner of Bleak Squad was also shortlisted last year with his band, The Dirty Three.”

Across a three-stage judging system, a panel of devoted judges – musicians, music retailers, and music media across the country – listen to each album and offer their judgments in stage one. In the second stage, judges revisit the nominated albums and determine which albums will form the shortlist, working together alongside Murphy.

In Stage Three, the judges will meet face-to-face and decide on a winner, who will take home $50,000. The prize winner will be revealed on Thursday, 6 November, with the award ceremony set to be hosted by Ryan Clapham, also known as Dobby, a previous shortlisted artist and current judge.

Until then, check out this year’s nominated albums here.

“It’s really special to be acknowledged for this album. We put everything we had into ‘Underneath’ and are very proud to be in the mix for the AMP amongst so many incredible Australian artists,” said Floodlights’ Louis Parsons.

Divide And Dissolve’s Takiaya Reed added, “I am extremely grateful for this music to be nominated by the Australian Music Prize. I poured my love and intentions into this album and feel honoured to be able to share with everyone.”

Tropical Fuck Storm quipped, “What delight to be shortlisted for the illustrious 2025 Australian Music Prize, the only award worth winning!”

MUDRAT said, “We’re beyond honoured and grateful for SOCIAL COHESION to be shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. This album was forged in the pickets and protests of Naarm alongside the bravest and most generous people we've had the pleasure of meeting.

“It was our job to document & timestamp the last two years as an access point for future generations to continue the work. We are so proud that the community spirit, love and resistance we poured into this body of work is being translated and acknowledged through the music.”

Ruby Gill commented, “When I got the call to say Some Kind Of Control has been shortlisted, I had just reached some signal in remote WA on my long drive home from a year-long national regional tour, living in a rooftop tent. 

“It felt like another world calling, but I was so proud and moved to think this album has stood its ground on this beautiful land I’ve called home for nine years. I’m a migrant, I don’t have a manager or label and this record was totally independent, made and released with friends. It rocks that we were seen in that, and that people get it. Thank you.” 

Folk Bitch Trio added, “We are so grateful for this very special recognition from our home community in being shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize. These 10 songs are emblematic of our beloved collaboration, friendship and shared joy for creating meaningful music together, and we are deeply thankful to anyone who has shared in enjoying this album.”

Mia Wray said, “I am beyond honoured to be shortlisted for the AMP award. So much hard work and personal growth happened in the making of this album, so to be recognised for that is so lovely and isn’t taken lightly. All my love and gratitude to the writers and producers who contributed to being in the top 9!”

Ninajirachi shared, “Thank you so much to the Australian Music Prize for shortlisting me this year. I’m so proud to be an Aussie musician because the music that comes from country is so amazing. I can only ever hope to  contribute to it meaningfully.”

Bleak Squad’s Marty Brown concluded, “As soon as The Drones won the first Australian Music Prize way back 20 years ago, we knew The Amp was going to be something different and very much needed in Australian music. Just a quick glance over the nominees for each year, let alone the winners, proves what great company it is to be shortlisted.”