The Australian Music Prize announces SoundMerch as 2021 major sponsor increasing prize
money to $30K + first nominated albums revealed + judging panel with international judge, Billy
Bragg announced
Australia’s most prestigious music award, The Australian Music Prize (AMP), returns for its 17th installment in 2021
revealing its nominated albums to date up for a huge $30,000 cash prize thanks to major sponsor SoundMerch.
Open to all Australian artists who have released an eligible album during the 2021 calendar year, the SoundMerch
AMP will award one lucky act with the $30K cash prize for the best album of the year as decided by an expert panel
of industry judges. In a SoundMerch AMP first, this year will also feature a special international guest judge,
welcoming renowned artist Billy Bragg to the diverse judging panel. Judges are currently listening to over 300
eligible 2021 albums, with more still to come as albums will continue to be added weekly right up to the end of the
year, estimating to amount to upwards of 415 releases judged for the 16th annual prize.
"The AMP is such a wonderful reflection of the calibre of music that was released in one year and I truly love
that it’s judged on the music itself and the album as a whole, no matter who you are or who you are
‘represented by’. I have always had such a high regard for it and having our album make the shortlist last
year truly was mind blowing. Now to be on the other side and listening to all the incredible works that have
been released so far, it is a heartening sigh that regardless of what’s happening in the world, the quality of
music and art being created is forging ahead."
– Fanny Lumsden, AMP 2020 Shortlisted Artist & AMP 2021 Judge
For the first time in its 17 year history, The SoundMerch AMP has a guest international judge, Billy Bragg. Set to
tour Australia for three unique shows on consecutive nights in five major cities from January 14 to February 10 2022
as a part of his One Step Forward, Two Steps Back tour, Billy Bragg joins an all encompassing lineup of
Australian music industry professionals including artists, radio broadcasters, record store owners, music writers and
editors currently compiling the immense longlist of SoundMerch AMP nominated albums. Bragg says he is
honoured to be included as The SoundMerch AMP’s inaugural international judge, "Australia has given me so
much encouragement and support over the years, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to return some of that
sentiment to up and coming Australian artists"
As for the prize itself, 2021 major sponsor SoundMerch is thrilled to be presenting the winner of the 2021
SoundMerch AMP with an increase in prize money following one of the toughest years the music industry has ever
faced. SoundMerch owner, Tim Everist says he is proud to initiate the change and further support Australian artists
in 2021,​​ "Our partnership with The AMP last year worked exactly as I had hoped – SOUNDMERCH was able to
give back to the artists that we do business with whilst promoting new business, so this year I’m pleased to
be able to increase the cash prize by $10,000 to $30,000."
The nominated artists and albums up for the 2021 Australian Music Prize announced so far can be found at The
SoundMerch AMP website, with more eligible entrants still to be deliberated as new releases come to light, so be
sure to follow The SoundMerch AMP’s socials to stay up to date with any new inclusions. The final 9 nominees will
be announced in early 2022, with the winner revealed Thursday 3 March 2022. The judges are still listening to
albums, so if you know of an eligible album,