The 2025 AIR Awards transformed Adelaide Town Hall into a dazzling hub of celebration on Thursday night, showcasing Australia’s vibrant independent music scene.
Supported by the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office, the evening celebrated remarkable achievements across various genres and industry roles, featuring unforgettable live performances from nominees such as Parvyn, Queenie, Alice Ivy, and Emily Wurramara.
Returning as hosts were media figures Dylan Lewis and Jessica Braithwaite, who kept the atmosphere lively as the awards were presented.
Melbourne punk-rock favorites Amyl and the Sniffers emerged as big winners of the night, securing three prestigious awards, including Independent Album of the Year and Best Independent Rock Album or EP for their work, Cartoon Darkness, as well as Independent Song of the Year for their vibrant track U Should Not Be Doing That.
Producer and electronic artist Alice Ivy also triumphed with three awards, taking home Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album or EP and Independent Producer of the Year for Do What Makes You Happy, in addition to Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single for Do I Need To Know What Love Is? featuring Josh Teskey.
Miss Kaninna made a standout impression, winning Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP for Kaninna and earning the title of Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year, presented by PPCA.
Additionally, David Bridie received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award, supported by Merlin, in recognition of his contributions through the Wantok Musik Foundation. Along with this honor, he was awarded a $5,000 cash prize to aid his ongoing professional development.
Other notable winners included:
- Good Morning – Best Independent Pop Album or EP for Good Morning Seven
- Emma Donovan – Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP for Til My Song Is Done
- Kasey Chambers – Best Independent Country Album or EP for Backbone (Mount Gambier, SA)
- Parvyn – Best Independent Jazz Album or EP for Maujuda
- Gut Health – Best Independent Punk Album or EP for Stiletto
- The Amity Affliction – Best Independent Heavy Album or EP for Let The Ocean Take Me (Redux)
- Electric Fields x Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Best Independent Classical Album or EP for Live in Concert
- Teeny Tiny Stevies – Best Independent Children’s Album or EP for The Green Album
This year also saw the launch of a new industry category: Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year, awarded to Nick Herrera for his work on Kaninna by Miss Kaninna.
Behind-the-scenes honors recognized key industry players, with Thinking Loud named Independent Publicity Team of the Year, while The Annex and Ourness received Independent Marketing Team of the Year for their efforts promoting Royel Otis’s Pratts & Pain. The Independent Music Video of the Year award went to Nick Rae and Jordan Ruyi Blanch for 3%’s Won’t Stop, featuring Jessica Mauboy.
ABC Music was named Independent Label of the Year and received a digital marketing campaign valued at $3,000, courtesy of Moshtix.
AIR CEO Maria Amato commended the accomplishments of the independent music community, stating, “Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients! It was a fantastic night celebrating the hard work of our sector. We appreciate all our sponsors, with special thanks to the South Australian Government through the Music Development Office for their ongoing support.”
Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels, also highlighted the significance of the event, saying, “The Malinauskas Government is proud to host the amazing artists and music businesses that constitute the independent music sector on their special night. We congratulate tonight’s winners and nominees for their excellence in their respective categories and anticipate their continued success.”
Congratulations to all the winners!
