The APRA Song of the Year shortlist has dropped, with fresh faces BARKAA, Dom Dolla and Middle Kids joining heavyweights Amy Shark and Missy Higgins among the top 20.
In a landmark year for genre diversity, the peer-voted nominations span electronic bangers, hip-hop anthems and alt-rock masterpieces. Highlighting the depth of Australian talent, breakthrough artists like Grace Cummings and Queenie share the spotlight with established acts including Nick Cave and Bernard Fanning.
Notable international connections appear through Dua Lipa’s Houdini, co-written with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, while electronic producer Dom Dolla makes his first APRA appearance with club hit Saving Up.
APRA Music Awards 2025
- Shortlist announcement: Wednesday 2 April
- Awards ceremony: Wednesday 30 April
- Venue: Melbourne Town Hall
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The final nominees represent the best of contemporary Australian songwriting, with previous nominees King Stingray and Angie McMahon returning alongside newcomers TISM, whose sardonic Death to Art demonstrates the awards’ embrace of alternative sounds.
First-time finalist BARKAA teams up with Jacob Turier on We Up, while Middle Kids’ Hannah Cameron and Timothy Fitzmaurice earn recognition for their indie rock opus Dramamine. The electronic scene gets additional representation through Dom Dolla’s crossover success.
Amy Shark’s Beautiful Eyes and Missy Higgins’ The Second Act maintain the strong showing from Australia’s pop contingent, proving the enduring appeal of masterful songwriting across genres.
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