NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE INAUGURAL NEXT UP MUSIC AWARDS

Award-winning singer-songwriter Ruel, emerging alt-rock artist RAGEFLOWER and rising star Oliver De Los Santos back a national search for Australia’s next generation of music talent

Australia’s next generation of artists and music creators are being encouraged to step into the spotlight, with nominations officially opening today for the inaugural Next Up Music Awards (NUMAs), alongside applications for the national NUMAs Youth Intern Program.

To mark the opening of nominations, award-winning singer-songwriter Ruel, emerging alt-rock artist RAGEFLOWER and rising performer Oliver De Los Santos are encouraging young Australians to back themselves, share their creativity and take the next step in their music journey. 

Released today, a new campaign video featuring Ruel, RAGEFLOWER and Oliver De Los Santos calls on school-aged creators across the country to nominate and seize the opportunity to become part of the next wave of successful Australian artists.

“We didn’t have anything like this when I was starting out, this is going to be such a great way for the  next gen of young artists to be discovered” – Ruel

“The concept of the NUMAs is epic. As a young person the opportunities can be really limited but this gives us a chance to be part of something incredible before we even leave school. As scary as it can be sometimes to put yourself out there, all young artists and musos should grab this opportunity and submit themselves for this!” – Oliver De Los Santos

“When young people come out onto the music scene, there is virtually no path. We as young artists have to walk in the dark until we hopefully (often rarely) find a sliver of light or a hand reaching out to help guide the way. Initiatives like NUMAs will provide early-career opportunities for young people to step into the spotlight and find paths towards sustainable music careers, as well as educate youth on industry standards and norms which will ultimately protect young artists.” – RAGEFLOWER (Madeleine Powers)

The announcement also marks another milestone for the initiative, with Youth Patrons representing every state and territory across Australia. Led by Ruby Rodgers, the group will help champion the platform and encourage more young people to pursue opportunities in music.

Open to students aged 6–18 and music teachers throughout Australia, the awards celebrate excellence across a diverse range of thirteen categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer/Engineer of the Year, School of the Year and Music Teacher of the Year.

Applications have also opened for the NUMAs Youth Intern Program, providing young people with paid opportunities to gain hands-on experience alongside industry professionals across event production, artist liaison, content creation, marketing and event operations.

By recognising emerging talent, celebrating educators and creating real-world industry opportunities, the NUMAs provides a trusted national platform for young creators to be seen, supported and connected to future opportunities in music.

Nominations & Youth Intern Program applications are free and open now via nextupmusicawards.com. Students, teachers, schools and young music producers and songwriters can nominate themselves or be nominated by others. Entries can be submitted online, with finalists receiving national recognition and access to unique industry development opportunities designed to support their creative and professional growth. Nominations will close September 15, 2026. 

Founded by music executive Milly Petriella OAM, the initiative will culminate in a national awards event at Carriageworks in Sydney on 28 January 2027.

Backed by Revive Live, an Australian Government initiative, the NUMAs continues to build momentum across the music and education sectors, with support from partners including Music Australia, The Song Room, Carriageworks and Eardrum.

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Creator Awards

• Song of the Year
• Songwriter of the Year | presented by APRA AMCOS
• Producer/Engineer of the Year | presented by MPEG
• Artist of the Year (Primary) | presented by PPCA
• Artist of the Year (Secondary) | presented by ARIA
• Music Theatre (Best Music & Lyrics) | presented by Excited Animal Records

Education Awards

• Music Teacher of the Year (Primary) | presented by Music Australia
• Music Teacher of the Year (Secondary) | presented by Music Australia
• School of the Year (Primary) | presented by The Song Room
• School of the Year (Secondary)
• Performing Arts School of the Year

Special Awards

• Community Award
• Future Outlook Award

About the NUMAs: Next Up Music Awards are supported by organisations across government, music, education and the creative industries that share our commitment to championing young people, recognising music teachers and creating stronger pathways into Australian music. 

LEARN MORE HERE