Announcing the 20th SoundMerch Australian Music Prize Shortlist
The SoundMerch Australian Music Prize announced its 2024 shortlist, honoring nine exceptional Australian albums released between October 28, 2023, and October 25, 2024. Presented in partnership with SoundMerch, this prestigious award celebrates the album as a vital art form and acknowledges the incredible creativity of Australian musicians over the past year.
In this landmark 20th year, over 600 albums were meticulously reviewed by a panel of industry experts, whose diverse perspectives helped shape the final list. The result is a dynamic mix of artists representing the diverse sounds and stories that define Australian music today.
THE 20TH SOUNDMERCH AMP SHORTLISTED ARTISTS ARE:
AUDREY POWNE 'FROM THE FIRE'
AMYL & THE SNIFFERS 'CARTOON DARKNESS'
DOBBY 'WARRANGU; RIVER STORY'
GRACE CUMMINGS 'RAMONA'
HIATUS KAIYOTE 'LOVE HEART CHEAT CODE'
KANKAWA NAGARRA 'WIRLMARNI'
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS 'WILD GOD'
ROWENA WISE 'SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY'
THE DIRTY THREE 'LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING'
Scott Murphy, Founder and Prize Director of The Australian Music Prize expressed deep gratitude for the panel's commitment, saying, “Reviewing over 600 albums and narrowing them down to nine is no small task. The dedication and passion of our judges mean so much to the AMP, SoundMerch, our partners, and the Australian music industry.”
Nominees shared their gratitude for being recognised among the country’s best albums. Audrey Powne, whose album From the Fire marks her self-produced debut, said the shortlist acknowledgement is “very meaningful and validating.” Amyl & The Sniffers’ Dec Mehrtens conveyed a deep pride in creating music that resonates with Australians. Dobby highlighted the powerful connection his album Warrangu; River Story makes with listeners: “All these rivers lead back to you.”
Each shortlisted album tells its own story, celebrating the passion and authenticity of Australia's music community. Congratulations to the shortlisted artists for their remarkable achievements.
