Judges

The SOUNDMERCH Australian Music Prize has one of the most rigorous judging processes of any music prize in the world. Through each calendar year, our judges across media, retail and the artist community work together to identify outstanding albums, judged solely on artistic merit with no reference to commercial success. Each judge chooses albums they believe should be nominated, with agreement between multiple judges leading to a nomination being granted.

Starting in October, the judges start to listen to all albums Nominated by the judges. In January, the judges engage in an intensive two days of discussion, dissection and occasional argument, to create the SOUNDMERCH Australian Music Prize Shortlist - of nine albums. The unique discussion allows the debating or artistic points, the consideration of other views and on occasion the changing of minds, creating a unique and robust process of judging which reflects and respects the artistry of the album format.

The judges then have a further six weeks to listen intently to the nine shortlisted albums before coming together where they deliberate in an intense four-hour session to select the winner of the SOUNDMERCH Australian Music Prize. The winner is then announced on the same day at a gala industry event which honours the shortlisted artists, the artistry of the previous year in Australian music, the album as an important artistic expression and of course, the SOUNDMERCH Australian Music Prize winner.

Judges can only be established artists, music media or music retailers and must be recommended to The AMP by one or more Australian music industry executives who can vouch for their ‘great ears’. The judges agree to only judge on what they hear and to advise The AMP of any possible commercial and/or personal connections to artists who have made the albums they judge.