WATCH THE 2025 AIR AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS REEL HERE
The 2025 AIR Awards were held on Thursday July 31st, at the Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide, thanks to continued support from the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office.
The awards celebrated the success of Australia’s independent music sector and featured live performances from nominees Parvyn, Queenie, Alice Ivy, and Emily Wurramara.
Dylan Lewis and Jessica Braithwaite returned as our entertaining MCs.
Amyl and the Sniffers received a whopping 3 awards for Independent Album of the Year, Best Independent Rock Album or EP for Cartoon Darkness, and Independent Song of the Year for U Should Not Be Doing That.
Alice Ivy also took out 3 awards for Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album or EP and Independent Producer Team of the Year for Do What Makes You Happy, and Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single with Do I Need To Know What Love Is? Feat. Josh Teskey.
The 2025 Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by Merlin went to David Bridie, nominated by AIR members in recognition of his work through Wantok Musik Foundation. Thanks to the global independent rights agency Merlin, David will receive a $5,000 cash prize to be used for business and professional development.
Miss Kaninna received the award for Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP for Kaninna and was also named this year’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year - Presented by PPCA.
The highly coveted award for Best Independent Label recognised the efforts of ABC Music and saw them take home a digital marketing campaign valued at $3,000, thanks to supporting partner Moshtix, providing access to their vast audience reach.
Best Independent Heavy Album or EP went to The Amity Affliction for their album Let The Ocean Take Me (Redux), while Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP went to Emma Donovan for Til My Song Is Done. Kasey Chambers took home the award for Best Independent Country Album or EP with Backbone and Best Independent Jazz Album or EP went to Parvyn for Maujuda.
Gut Health took home the award for Best Independent Punk Album or EP with Stiletto, with Ella Thompson picking up Best Independent Soul/RnB Album or EP for Ripple on the Wing, and Best Independent Pop Album or EP was awarded to Good Morning for Good Morning Seven.
The Best Independent Children’s Album or EP was awarded to Teeny Tiny Stevies for The Green Album, while Best Independent Classical Album or EP went to Electric Fields and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Live in Concert.
This year, AIR announced a new industry award category – the Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year. This award recognises the efforts of an Australian-based Mix, Studio or Mastering engineer who worked on a member's Single, EP or Album released during the eligibility period (1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024). The inaugural winner was Nick Herrera for their work on Miss Kaninna’s Kaninna. This award is the latest to join the industry categories of the AIR Awards.
The award for Independent Publicity Team of the Year went to Thinking Loud for their work on Royel Otis’s Pratts & Pain, while The Annex and Ourness received the award for Independent Marketing Team of the Year for their work on Royel Otis’s Pratts & Pain. The Independent Music Video of the Year was awarded to Nick Rae and Jordan Ruyi Blanch for their work on 3%’s Won't Stop feat. Jessica Mauboy.
AIR CEO, Maria Amato, commented – “Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients! It was a great night of celebration and recognition for our hard working sector.. We thank all our sponsors and are especially grateful to the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office for their continued support.”
Minister for Arts, the Hon. Andrea Michaels, said – “The Malinauskas Government is proud to host the wonderful artists and music businesses that make up the independent music sector on their night of nights. We would like to congratulate tonight’s winners and nominees for excellence in their categories and look forward to seeing their continued success.”
