Pictured: Betty Taylor (supplied). Get your tickets to the Sunshine Coast Music Awards on June 1 at The Station: www.moshtix.com.au.

Ziggy Alberts, Betty Taylor and High Tropics are some of the huge names to be celebrated at the first-ever Sunshine Coast Music Awards (SCMAs).

The Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (creators of the SCMAs) has today announced the finalists in this year’s 11 categories.

From the highly-anticipated Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, to some more colourful awards – such as Punter of the Year and Artwork of the Year – the SMCAs celebrates the entire spectrum of the local music industry.

The Coast is one of the first (maybe even only!) awards to recognise its ever-loyal Punter – putting the spotlight on our region’s biggest music-loving champion, and giving a nod to the good people who the industry would not survive without.

All-female, indie-pop darlings Betty Taylor are finalists in four categories, showing an incredible representation across the board.

Photo (supplied): High Tropics are a finalist in the SCMAs Artist of the Year category.

Folk and indie stars shine in SCMAs

Emerging singer-songwriter duo, Frank and Louis, have been nominated in three categories: Rising Star, Song of the Year and Young Artist of the Year.

And it seems the Coast is synonymous with indie-folk flavours, with the genre making up for majority of this year’s finalists. 

There are four finalists in the Song of the Year category: Betty Taylor, Buttermello, Ziggy Alberts and Frank and Louis.

Ziggy Alberts – one of the Coast’s biggest musical exports – is also up for Artist of the Year, alongside indie-rock band High Tropics, and dance/EDM favourites Raw Ordio.

The SCMAs will be hosted by TV’s celebrity producer  Ian “Dicko” Dickson and ABC Radio’s Sarah Howells at The Station, in Birtinya.

It’s the first time the region’s newest and brightest crop of musicians will be celebrated in an awards format. 

The SCMAs also endeavours to promote the Coast as a premier destination for touring acts. 

Please note: dress code for the SCMAs is Sunny Coast Formal: interpret that how you will! 

SCMAs 2025 finalists

Artist of the Year 

• High Tropics
• Ziggy Alberts
• Raw Ordio

Artwork of the Year

• builtfromboxes
• jeunae elita
• lahni

First Nations 

• Daddy Frank
• Kevin Starkey

Live Act of the Year

• Betty Taylor
• Raw Ordio
• Sunny Coast Rude Boys

Musician of the Year

• Minnie Marks
• Pat Tierney
• Josiah Niven

Punter of the Year

• Leigh Kuryj
• Letricia Delaney

Recording Studio of the Year

• Big Rock Studio
• Glasshouse Studios
• Yama Nui

Rising Star 

• Frank and Louis
• Betty Taylor
• Wave Raiders

Song of The Year

• Betty Taylor, “Young, Dumb and Immature”
• Buttermello, “Let Me Down Easy”
• Ziggy Alberts – “I’m With You“
• Frank and Louis – “FAT MAN”

Venue of the Year

• Norton Music Factory
• Solbar
• The Station

Young Artist of the Year

• Ampersand
• Frank and Louis
• Wave Raiders

SCMAs to be hosted by Sarah Howells and Ian “Dicko” Dickson

Hosted by Sarah Howells of Sunshine Coast ABC radio and Maleny’s celebrity TV producer Ian “Dicko” Dickson, don’t miss this rare networking opportunity, rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of Sunshine Coast music.

The Sunshine Coast Music Awards is produced by Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective (SCMIC) and proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council.

FUN FACT: One in 41 people on the Sunshine Coast identify as being involved in the music industry. These awards are the first formal acknowledgement of the people who work so hard to make it a reality.

• The Sunshine Coast Music Awards 2025 has 11 categories (see full T&Cs on website).

• These include: Artist of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Musician of the Year, Young Artist of the Year, Live Act of the Year, Song of the Year, First Nations Award, Punter of the Year, Venue of the Year, Artwork of the Year and Recording Studio of the Year.

• The awards have been created by SCMIC (Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective), which is an independent not-for-profit industry body committed to advocating for the region’s thriving music scene. 

• The Sunshine Coast Music Awards celebrates the artistic skills of musicians, creatives, and the broader talents of the Sunshine Coast music industry. 

• SCMIC encourages all facets of the industry to be involved in the awards including; musicians, venues, producers, creative artists, and industry members.

• The judging of the awards is being undertaken by a diverse range of independent music industry professionals. Please note no members of the SCMIC Committee are on the judging panels for the Awards.

• Dress code is ‘Sunny Coast formal’.

Get your tickets to the Sunshine Coast Music Awards on June 1 at The Station here: www.moshtix.com.au.