The 20th SoundMerch Australian Music Prize Launches
This year’s edition features an increase in prize money from $30,000 to a whopping $50,000!
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SoundMerch has launched the 20th edition of the Australian Music Prize today with several big announcements.
Along with revealing the first three albums nominated for this year’s prize – Faith Crisis Pt 1 by Middle Kids, Sweet Justice by Tkay Maidza, and ’Til My Song Is Done by Emma Donovan – SoundMerch has also demonstrated its loyalty to the AMP by upping the prize money from $30,000 to $50,000.
"We're proving our commitment and support of Australian artists and THE AMP,” says SoundMerch CEO Tim Everist.
All three of the artists whose albums have been announced are extremely excited to be part of the AMP 2024.
On her nomination, Adelaide’s own Tkay Maidza says: “Thank you to the people for nominating Sweet Justice! This album coming out was a big moment for me in my journey and career and it holds a special place in my heart – this is just a bonus, thank you!”
“We are well pleased to have Faith Crisis Pt 1 longlisted for the Australian Music Prize this year. It is a special album to us and it sits alongside other albums we deeply adore,” Middle Kids share.
“So humbled to receive this nomination for my new solo album. I feel really lucky to be alongside great musicians – and huge thanks to AMP for continuing to support & listen,” says Donovan.
READ MORE: Why We All Need Live Music
Over 500 albums are expected to be eligible for this year’s AMP, with albums released commercially between October 28, 2023 and October 25, 2024 able to be put forward. There are a few boxes that must be ticked, with albums submitted needing to have a minimum length of either nine tracks or, any number of tracks but at least 33 1/3 minutes of music. The albums selected will be judged by an eclectic panel of judges that includes artists, music retailers, and journalists.
Nominations will continue to be unveiled right up until November when the judging panel must narrow the selection down to a shortlist of nine albums. The judges will then choose the eventual winner from these nine albums, revealing the results in December.
Last year’s nine shortlisted albums included Angie McMahon’s Light, Dark, Light Again, Troye Sivan’s Something To Give Each Other and Genesis Owusu’s Struggler, with the eventual AMP claimed by Melbourne post-punk act RVG for their album Brain Worms.
In a statement reflecting on the win, RVG’s frontwoman Romy Vager says: “There’s a marked difference in my belief in my songwriting abilities before and after winning the AMP. To have our album chosen by a group of judges that spend many weeks carefully critiquing and debating so many excellent records - there’s something Incredibly meaningful in that. For me it stands far apart from most other accolades a musician can receive in this country.”
Keep up to date with the AMP nominations by following their Instagram. You can submit your own band’s album via australianmusicprize.com.au.
