Country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley made history at tonight's Queensland Music Awards (QMAs), winning his first publicly voted Album of the Year award for his album "Between The Fires."
Read Also...:
Brisbane City Council pulls funding for Queensland Music Awards over jazz award winner
03-30, 2025
The Last Anniversary, starring Danielle Macdonald, is the latest Liane Moriarty adaptation
03-30, 2025
Hard Quiz: In the mood to embarrass yourself? It's trivia time
03-30, 2025
Dua Lipa beats lawsuit claiming she copied the song Levitating from a 70s disco song
03-29, 2025This deeply personal album, which delves into themes of grief and loss, triumphed over strong competition from Amy Shark, Sycco, and The Dreggs to win the popular vote. Cassar-Daley stated that the album was inspired by the heartbreaking passing of his mother and the very real fear of almost losing his marriage.
The Cassar-Daley family had double cause for celebration at the 2025 QMAs, with his daughter Jem winning the Indigenous Award for her song "Big Container." DJ and electronic musician Young Franco almost swept the major awards, winning the Export Achievement Award as well as Song of the Year and the Electronic Award for his song "Wake Up ft Master Peace."
Torres Strait Islander musician Christine Anu received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Anu rose to prominence in 1995 with her cover of The Warumpi Band's song "My Island Home." Echoing the family theme of the evening, Anu's daughter Zipporah Corser-Anu paid tribute to her mother with a moving rendition of the same song.
The Queensland Music Awards, the state's annual search for Queensland's best new music, has previously spotlighted and celebrated music giants such as Kate Miller-Heidke, Bernard Fanning, Amy Shark, Violent Soho, and Sheppard. QMusic CEO Kris Stewart said this year's awards gave music lovers the chance to have their say alongside the expert judging panel. He stated, "Our industry is full of talent and camaraderie, no matter where you are in your career."
Stewart continued, "From international superstar Amy Shark being recognised for her best-selling album and single, to last year's Billy Thorpe Scholarship recipient and past Youth Award winner Lottie McLeod [now] being named 2025's Emerging Artist of the Year. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and winners and are proud of the incredible depth and breadth of music created by Queensland artists this past year."
Following a public vote, Big Pineapple Festival was named Festival of the Year, Sandstone Point Hotel won Regional Venue of the Year, and Fortitude Music Hall, the venue hosting the Queensland Music Awards, was named Metropolitan Venue of the Year.
