The MusicACT Music Awards celebrate and elevate the achievements of the ACT music industry. The nomination and award voting process set out to be a grass-roots music industry recognition.

The MAMAs acknowledge the ACT’s uniquely independent and highly collaborative music scene, the importance of encouraging emerging new music and celebrating the incredible contributions of individual artists and music industry workers who drive the ACT’s contemporary music industry.

NOMINEES 2024

Artist of the Year 

Sponsored by Better Music

ARCHIE

Apricot Ink

Jett Blyton

st.sinner

Sonic Reducer (WINNER)

Best Release of the Year 

Flik -Stormchaser (WINNER)

Jett Blyton - 44:44

HYG - Tunnel Vision

Micah Heathwood - Bottle

Sam Sly - Be With You

Steve Read - Close to Me

Event of the Year

Church presents: THE BELCO BOWL JAM WELCOME PARTY

Department of Rock

DIGI™ CULTURE & MUSIC 2024

Itsjustus

Stonefest

sideway - THE FINAL SHOW + CLOSING PARTY (WINNER)

DJ of the Year

Sponsored by Moray & Agnew

Biscuit Bytes

genie

mia sørlie (WINNER)

tsotsi

Sweethard

Zach Knows

Live Act of the Year

ARCHIE

Gia Ransome

Micah Heathwood

st.sinner

Sonic Reducer (WINNER)

Independent Debut Record of the Year

Sponsored by Landspeed Records

Ava Martina - Admit it to Myself

Anna Ransom - Tides EP (WINNER)

Born 2 Lose - Firing Squad

Emilia Grace - Heartbreak Hotel

Grim Tilla & JEP - Cosmic Odyssey

SAMATAR - ANTIHERO EP

Industry Legend of the Year

Ben Amando - Decibel Creative

Bevan Noble - Smiths Alternative

Grim Tilla

Joel Cabban - The Baso, CBR Noise Floor

Sam, Max and Riley Conway - Gang Gang Cafe (WINNER)

Sophie Edwards

Listen here.

Songs from the nominees in the 2024 MAMAs.

Voting and nominations for the 2024 MAMAs are now closed. See you on Tuesday December 3rd at The Vault.

THE NITTY GRITTY

Artist of the Year

Artist of the Year recognises an ACT-based artist that has achieved significant success in the past year. Quality of creative work, touring/live-show achievements and other industry achievements to be considered as well as contribution to the wider ACT music industry.

Best Release of the Year

Best Release of the Year is awarded to an ACT-based artist who released an outstanding recording in the past year (during the eligibility period).

Independent Debut Record of the Year

Independent Debut of the Year is awarded to an emerging artist who released their debut recording or EP/album in the eligibility period; established to recognise the astounding quality of debut recording releases that occur every year throughout the Canberra region.

Industry Legend of the Year

The Industry Legend of the Year award has been established to recognise the significant contribution of an ACT-based industry worker to the development, diversity, and growth of the ACT Music Industry in the past year.

DJ of the Year

DJ of the Year honours the ACT’s strong electronic scene, and is awarded to an outstanding DJ act that is based in the ACT as voted on by the community.

Live Act of the Year

Live Act of the Year is awarded to celebrate an outstanding ACT-based act who has performed outstanding shows and achieved success in the live music space.

Event of the Year

Event of the Year is awarded to celebrate the myriad of incredible music events and festivals held in the ACT, spanning a diverse range of genres. The event must have taken place within the ACT in the eligibility period and have a primary music focus.

MusicACT Hall of Fame Awards

MusicACT Hall of Fame inductees are determined by the MusicACT Committee. These inductees are ACT-based artists or industry workers who have made a significant and continued contribution to the culture and environment of the ACT music industry.

All nominees must be ACT-based. Eligible songs and events must have been released/occurred during the eligibility period; between 1 November 2023 and 17 October 2024 when nominations close.

Artist of the Year, Best Release of the Year and Independent Debut of the Year will be determined by an independent judging panel, and all remaining categories will be public-voted with the exception of MusicACT’s Hall of Fame inductions.

The MusicACT Music Awards 2023

Artist of the Year

Apricot Ink

ARCHIE

Fred Smith

Jack Biilmann & The Black Tide

Sesame Girl

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers (WINNER)

Independent Debut of the Year

Gia Ransome - Boots

Jett Blyton - JUN3

Jason Myles - Freaking Out Loud

Sonic Reducer - ONE OF THE LADS

The Decideds - So Long

Tivien - EGO

Wallabindi - Wallabindi Dreaming (WINNER)

Best Release of the Year

Apricot Ink - Summa Glo

ARCHIE - Lowtide (WINNER)

Artist Running Club - Japan

Lara Buchanan - You Know I Like Red

SAFIA - A Lover’s Guide to a Lucid Dream

st.sinner - HEADCASE

Industry Legend of the Year

Gutwrench Records

Joel Cabban (The Noisefloor, The Basement)

Meg Houghton (WINNER)

Nuance Media

Tim Brown (sideway)

The MusicACT Music Awards 2022

2022 Independent Debut of the Year

WINNER: MUESLI - Hello Out There

Rental Snake - Snake Down

Raggard Blossom - In My Mess

Micah Heathwood - Club Oof

Bad Lunar - See Ya Never

2022 Artist of the Year

WINNER: Genesis Owusu

ARCHIE

Jack Biilmann

Kim Yang

Box Dye

St.Sinner

2022 Industry Legend of the Year

WINNER: Sarah O'Malley

Nigel McRae & Beth Tully

Louis Montgomery

Jannah Fahiz

Mitch Lamb