Teen Spirit Takes Out Emerging Publication of the Year At Mumbrella Publish Awards 2026

We aren't ones to toot our own horn, but toot toot! We're pretty stoked to announce that The Note's national youth-focused edition, Teen Spirit, took home Emerging Publication of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards 2026.

This is awesome recognition for the team behind The Note and Teen Spirit, with both publications produced by South Australian, family-owned and operated publisher HWR Media.

Voted on by some of the biggest and most respected names in the Aussie publishing industry, the win not only puts the spotlight on the great work being done at HWR Media and Australia's music scene, but also gives hope to the dream that print media is not dying but thriving, with consumers keen to get their hands on physical media in a world dominated by AI and algorithms.

A 44-page deep dive on the local music scene for Aussie teens, the first national issue of Teen Spirit features interviews with popstar Ruel, Heartbreak High actress Ayesha Madon and indie rockers Lime Cordiale. There are also more than 30 conversations with young Aussie artists, including teen rapper Inkabee and emerging heavy act Maple's Pet Dinosaur, along with a national gig guide, glossy pull-out poster and heaps of fun stuff such as quizzes and horoscopes.

Speaking after Teen Spirit's win, Oliver Raggatt, one of  HWR's Directors, expressed how proud he was of those involved in the creation of the mag.

"The whole project was a massive feat for all involved. I want to say thanks to the eight freelance writers promoting their state, the three additional freelance writers, 36 teen reviewers and the 40-plus up-and-coming artists we had the pleasure to promote. And of course, the HWR Team working tirelessly on our first national issue," Raggatt said.

"It was a bold move and, as far as we know, a first for Australia. Creating a print-first publication for Gen Z seemed strange, but there's a growing appetite for physical media and tangible experiences with the so-called 'iGen'. It's fantastic to have a nod from some of the best in the industry to reinforce we're on the right track.

"We loved working on the project and are proud of the final product. Our goal is to encourage the next generation of gig-goers, listeners and industry tastemakers. If we can deliver on that, everything else is secondary."

READ MORE: SA Music Awards 2026 Nominations Now Open

Mumbrella is Australia's leading media and marketing industry publication, with its annual awards ceremony held to celebrate the great storytellers of the Australian publishing field.

This year's event was dominated by architecture mag The Local Project, which took home seven gongs, including the coveted title of Publication of the Year, and men's lifestyle publication Man of Many, which claimed three awards, including Publishing Company of the Year.

Find out more about Teen Spirit and give the first issue a read here.

Issue 1 was assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding body.