Nominees for 2025 APRA Music Awards announced
Published: 2 April 2025
The nominees for the 2025 APRA Music Awards have been announced, with Missy Higgins and Tones And I featuring amongst the most nominated artists, and female artists dominating the Emerging Songwriter of the Year category.
First held in 1982, the APRA Music Awards celebrates excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.
Higgins and Tones And I have both scored two nominations. The title track from Higgins’s sixth studio album ‘The Second Act’ has been nominated for Most Performed Alternative Work and Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year, and Tones And I’s single ‘Dreaming” receives a nod in the Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work categories.
One of the most exciting categories this year is Emerging Songwriter of the Year, with female artists taking four of the five nominations, showcasing the fact females are amongst the most talented and promising young artists in Australia right now. Emily Wurramara and Miss Kaninna receive their first ever APRA Music Award nominations and are joined by Grace Cummings and Jem Cassar-Daley.
Other notable nominees include Jessica Mauboy’s ‘Give You Love’ single earning its writers two nominations, for Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work, and Kita Alexander, Kaiit, Dallas Frasca and Joan & The Giants all receiving their first ever nomination.
Female artists also make up the lion’s share of the nominees for Most Performed Pop Song, with ‘Dreaming’ by Tones And I, ‘Gimme Love’ by Sia, ‘Give You Love’ by Jessica Mauboy feat. Jason Derulo and ‘Houdini’ by Dua Lipa (written by Australian Kevin Parker) all receiving nods.
While the APRA Music Awards rewards Australian songwriters, hit songs written by non-Australians are recognised in the Most Performed International Work category, with Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ and Tate McRae’s ‘Greedy’ amongst the category’s five nominees.
This year’s APRA Music Awards will be held on 30 April at Melbourne Town Hall, hosted by Zan Rowe with guest presenters Hau Lātūkefu and Ngaiire. For more information, visit the APRA Music Awards website.
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The 2025 APRA Music Award nominees are:
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Title: One of Your Girls
Artist: Troye Sivan
Writers: Troye Sivan / Oscar Gorres / Brett McLaughlin
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing
Title: The Second Act
Artist: Missy Higgins
Writer: Missy Higgins
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Title: Through The Trees
Artist: King Stingray
Writers: Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga / Roy Kellaway / Campbell Messer / Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu / Yimila Gurruwiwi / Lewis Stiles
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: U Should Not Be Doing That
Artist: Amyl and The Sniffers
Writers: Declan Mehrtens / Fergus Romer / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson
Title: Won’t Stop
Artist: 3% feat. Jessica Mauboy
Writers: Danzal Baker / Andrew Burford / Madeline Crabtree / Corey Webster / Dallas
Woods
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
Emerging Songwriter of the Year
Writer: Emily Wurramara
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Writer: Grace Cummings
Writer: Jem Cassar-Daley
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Writer: Miss Kaninna
Writers: Otis Pavlovic & Royel Maddell (Royel Otis)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Ourness Songs
Most Performed Australian Work
Title: Dreaming
Artist: Tones And I
Writers: Toni Watson / Samuel Harris
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music
Title: Give You Love
Artist: Jessica Mauboy ft. Jason Derulo
Writers: Shannon Busch / Stephen Mowat / Blessing Offor / Styalz Fuego / Rudy Sandapa
Publishers: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Mushroom Music Publishing / SHOUT! Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Title: Got Me Started
Artist: Troye Sivan
Writers: Troye Sivan / Styalz Fuego / Jack Glass / Christopher Stracey / Ian Kirkpatrick / Brett McLaughlin / Taylor Parks
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing
Title: Houdini
Artist: Dua Lipa
Writers: Kevin Parker / Dua Lipa / Caroline Ailin / Daniel Harle / Tobias Jesso Jr.
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Title: Saving Up
Artist: Dom Dolla
Writers: Dominic Matheson / Clementine Douglas / Toby Scott / Caitlin Stubbs
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
Most Performed Alternative Work
Title: Born In The Wrong Time
Artist: Joan & The Giants
Writers: Aaron Birch / Grace Newton-Wordsworth / Dylan Ollivierre
Publisher: BMG
Title: Good Mood
Artist: The Rubens
Writers: Scott Baldwin / Elliott Margin / Sam Margin / Zaac Margin / William Zeglis / Sarah Aarons
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing obo Ivy League / Sony Music Publishing
Title: Paradise
Artist: Coterie
Writers: Brandford Fisher / Conrad Fisher / Joshua Fisher / Tyler Fisher / Robby De Sa
Publishers: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Sony Music Publishing
Title: Pedestal
Artist: Lime Cordiale
Writers: Louis Leimbach / Oli Leimbach / Felix Bornholdt / Dave Hammer / Thomas McDonald / Nick Sarazen
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing obo Chugg Music / Kobalt Music Publishing / ST Music / Warner Chappell Music
Title: The Second Act
Artist: Missy Higgins
Writer: Missy Higgins
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
Title: Givin’ it Up
Artist: South Summit
Writers: Nathan Osborne / Isaiah Reuben / Nehemiah Reuben / Fynn Samorali / Joshua Trindall
Title: High Times
Artist: Xavier Rudd
Writer: Xavier Rudd
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: New Love
Artist: Ziggy Alberts
Writer: Ziggy Alberts
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Stand On My Shoulders
Artist: Dallas Frasca
Writers: Dallas Frasca / Andrew Baldwin
Title: Warm Love
Artist: Sweet Talk
Writers: David Turner / Soren Walker
Most Performed Country Work
Title: Call It A Day
Artist: Zac & George
Writers: George Goodfellow / Zac Roddy / Nicole Miller / Kyle Winski
Title: Good Things
Artist: Kaylee Bell
Writers: Kaylee Bell / Michael De Lorenzis / Melanie Dyer / Michael Paynter
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Title: Mayday
Artist: Casey Barnes
Writers: Casey Barnes / Danielle Blakey / Morgan Evans
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing / Round Hill Lyrics obo Must Have Flowers Always Publishing / Warner Chappell Music
Title: Some Things Never Change
Artist: James Johnston and Zac & George
Writers: James Johnston / George Goodfellow / Zac Roddy
Title: Take Forever (Hally’s Song)
Artist: Cooper Alan
Writers: Kylie Sackley / Timothy Cooper / Justin Morgan
Publishers: I Love You More Music Worldwide / BMG / SHOUT! Music Publishing
Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work
Title: AEIOU
Artist: PNAU & Empire of the Sun
Writers: Nick Littlemore / Peter Mayes / Luke Steele / Richard Boardman / Pablo Bowman
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Atmosphere
Artist: FISHER & Kita Alexander
Writers: Kita Alexander / Konstantin Kersting / Thoman Earnshaw / Dominik Felsmann / Paul Fisher
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Origin Music Publishing
Title: Changes
Artist: Empire of the Sun
Writers: Nick Littlemore / Luke Steele / Salem Al Fakir / Magnus Lidehall / Vincent Pontare / Pontus Winnberg
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Lifetime
Artist: Tobiahs
Writers: Tobiahs Fakhri / Timothy Maxey / John Scherer
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing ANZ
Title: Saving Up
Artist: Dom Dolla
Writers: Dominic Matheson / Clementine Douglas / Toby Scott / Caitlin Stubbs
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work
Title: Dante
Artist: Northlane
Writers: Marcus Bridge / Jonathon Deiley / Nic Pettersen / Joshua Smith / Maraya Vavasis
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing obo UNIFIED
Title: Epitaph
Artist: Make Them Suffer
Writers: Sean Harmanis / Nicholas McLernon / Jordan Mather / Alexandra Reade / Jeff Dunne
Publisher: Cooking Vinyl Publishing
Title: Nightmare
Artist: Polaris
Writers: Daniel Furnari / Jamie Hails / Rick Schneider / Ryan Siew / Jacob Steinhauser
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Real Life Love
Artist: Speed
Writers: Joshua Clayton / Aaron Siow / Jem Siow / Kane Vardon / Dennis Vichidvongsa
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music
Title: Sirens
Artist: Windwaker
Writers: Jesse Crofts / Liam Guinane / Christopher Lalic / Connor Robins / Indey Salvestro
Publisher: Cooking Vinyl Publishing
Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work
Title: ANXIETY
Artist: Sleepy Hallow feat. Doechii
Writers: Wally De Backer / Luiz Bonfa / Bennie Briggman / Michael Briggman / Tegan Chambers / Jaylah Hickmon/ Eric Johnson / Karel Jorge / Ernesto Shaw / Johnathan Scott / Jeremy Soto
Publishers: Origin Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Title: Bandit
Artist: Don Toliver
Writers: Kevin Parker / Edgard Herrera / Sean Reid / Cody Rounds / Danny Snodgrass / Caleb Toliver
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Boys Light Up
Artist: ChillinIT
Writers: Blake Turnell / James Reyne / Malik Sanders
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Fall Back
Artist: Lithe
Writers: Josiah Ramel / Omid Khasrawy
Publisher: Concord Music Publishing ANZ obo Boss Level
Title: Get This Money
Artist: Hooligan Hefs
Writers: Simeona Malagamaalii / Cooper Bedford / Nepomsein Irakunda / Roshanth Karunakara / Ilir Rusiti
Publishers: Mushroom Music Publishing / Killphonic Rights
Most Performed Pop Work
Title: Dreaming
Artist: Tones And I
Writers: Toni Watson / Samuel Harris
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music
Title: Gimme Love
Artist: Sia
Writers: Sia Furler / Jesse Shatkin
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Give You Love
Artist: Jessica Mauboy feat. Jason Derulo
Writers: Shannon Busch / Stephen Mowat / Blessing Offor / Styalz Fuego / Rudy Sandapa
Publishers: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Mushroom Music Publishing / SHOUT! Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Title: Got Me Started
Artist: Troye Sivan
Writers: Troye Sivan / Styalz Fuego / Jack Glass / Christopher Stracey / Ian Kirkpatrick / Brett McLaughlin / Taylor Parks
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing
Title: Houdini
Artist: Dua Lipa
Writers: Kevin Parker / Dua Lipa / Caroline Ailin / Daniel Harle / Tobias Jesso Jr.
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Universal Music Publishing
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work
Title: Ground
Artist: Khalid
Writers: Mark Landon / Khalid Robinson/ Aidan Rodriguez
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing / Aidan Rodrigeuz
Title: Kobe Beef
Artist: Forest Claudette
Writers: Kobe Hamilton-Reeves / Alexander Tirheimer
Title: Magiq
Artist: Youngn Lipz
Writers: Filipo Faaoloii / Aayan Ahmed
Title: Small Change
Artist: DON WEST
Writers: Don West / Nathan Hawes
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing
Title: Space
Artist: Kaiit
Writers: Kaiit Waup / Jake Amy / Anthony Liddell / Jaydean Miranda / Justin Smith
Most Performed Rock Work
Title: Be Like You
Artist: Dune Rats
Writers: Michael Bylund-Cloonan / Brett Jansch / Daniel Moffitt
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Lion
Artist: Birds of Tokyo
Writers: Ian Berney / Ian Kenny / Glenn Sarangapany / Adam Spark / Adam Weston
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Title: Salt
Artist: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
Writers: Scarlett McKahey / Anna Ryan / Jaida Stephenson / Neve Van Boxsel
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music
Title: The First Time
Artist: Eskimo Joe
Writers: Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain / Kav Temperley
Publisher: Mushroom Music Publishing
Title: Through The Trees
Artist: King Stingray
Writers: Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga / Roy Kellaway / Campbell Messer / Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu / Yimila Gurruwiwi / Lewis Stiles
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed International Work
Title: A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Artist: Shaboozey
Writers: Collins Chibueze / Sean Cook / Jerrell Jones / Joe Kent / Nevin Sastry / Mark Williams
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Title: Beautiful Things
Artist: Benson Boone
Writers: Benson Boone / Evan Blair / Jackson Larsen
Publishers: Warner Chappell Music / Sony Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Espresso
Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Writers: Sabrina Carpenter / Amy Allen / Julian Bunetta / Stephenie Jones
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Mushroom Music Publishing
Title: Greedy
Artist: Tate McRae
Writers: Tate McRae / Amy Allen / Jasper Harris / Ryan Tedder
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Concord Music Publishing ANZ
Title: Lovin On Me
Artist: Jack Harlow
Writers: Jack Harlow / Nik Frascona / Delbert Greer / Sean Momberger / Reginald Nelton / Nickie Pabon / Ozan Yildirim
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music / Universal Music Publishing / Kobalt Music Publishing
