6 things to know about the Next Up Music Awards
Nominations are open for the inaugural Next Up Music Awards, a new national platform for school-aged music creators
APRA AMCOS presents the Songwriter of the Year award, recognising the craft and creative voice of young Australian songwriters
Nominations are free and close Friday 2 October
The Next Up Music Awards (NUMAs) are bringing students, teachers, schools and the music industry together to celebrate the next generation of Australian music creators.
Founded by former APRA AMCOS executive Milly Petriella OAM, the NUMAs include 13 award categories, live performance, paid Youth Internships and career/education opportunities (Alumni Pathways) designed to help young people take their next steps in music.
The inaugural awards will take place at Carriageworks in Sydney on Thursday 28 January 2027.
Here are six things to know before nominations close.
1. They’re for school-aged music creators across Australia
The NUMAs are a national opportunity for school-aged young people creating contemporary music, whether they’re writing songs, performing, producing, engineering or creating music for theatre.
Young creators don’t need to already have a professional profile, management, a record deal or a polished studio recording to take part. The awards are designed to recognise creativity, craft, potential and the contribution made by the young person.
2. There’s much more than one way to be a music creator
Not every young music creator wants to be the person standing at the front of the stage.
Across the 13 NUMAs categories are awards recognising original songs, songwriting, producing and engineering, music theatre, artists, teachers, schools and communities supporting young people to make music.
That means a young person creating beats on a laptop, writing songs in their bedroom, engineering recordings for their friends or composing for a school production may have a place at the NUMAs alongside performers and recording artists.
3. APRA AMCOS presents Songwriter of the Year
For young people who love the craft of writing songs, the Songwriter of the Year category puts the focus on the creator behind the music.
Presented by APRA AMCOS, the award recognises outstanding original songwriting by a school-aged student or group of students.
Unlike Song of the Year, which considers an individual song as a complete work, Songwriter of the Year looks more closely at the songwriter or songwriting team and their developing creative voice.
Entrants can submit one or more original songs. Judges will consider elements including originality, lyrics, melody and composition, consistency, creative identity, potential and the significance of the student’s own contribution.
And importantly, expensive production isn’t the point. The strength of the songwriting is what matters!
4. Teachers, schools, and community projects get their moment too
Behind many young music creators is a teacher, school or community that gave them the space and encouragement to start.
The NUMAs include dedicated Music Teacher of the Year awards for primary and secondary teachers, alongside awards recognising primary schools, secondary schools and performing arts schools.
There is also a Community Award recognising the people, organisations and programs helping young people participate in music beyond the traditional awards categories.
5. The opportunities continue beyond awards night
Alongside the awards, the NUMAs are offering 20 paid Youth Internships, giving students the chance to gain real experience helping deliver the event across different behind-the-scenes roles.
NUMAs Alumni Pathways also connect nominees and participants with professional development opportunities and tertiary education scholarships across the music industry.
Opportunities include mentoring and development opportunities with artists and industry organisations across songwriting, music theatre, artist development, production and engineering, management and other areas of the business.
6. Nominations are free
You can nominate yourself, or you can nominate someone you know, a teacher, or even a school or community project.
Nominations are free and close Friday 2 October 2026.
Find the right category and nominate at nextupmusicawards.com.
