ArtistDirect News
Australia Launches Next Up Music Awards to Boost Youth Music Education and Industry Pathways
The Next Up Music Awards (NUMAs), a national initiative aimed at supporting school‑aged music creators and teachers, opened nominations on 20 May 2026 and will launch on 28 January 2027 at Carriageworks in Sydney. The awards will recognise 13 categories and include a paid Youth Intern Program for 20 students aged 15‑18.
Research shows that quality music education improves student wellbeing and academic outcomes, yet teacher training hours have halved since 2009 and 75 % of Australian schools lack a specialist music teacher, leaving 1.7 million children without quality music education (source [1]).
Millic Petriella OAM, founder and CEO of the National University Music Association (NUMAs), said the awards address the gap by giving young artists a national platform, recognising teachers, and creating industry pathways through the intern program. She added that “NUMAs responds to that gap by giving young artists, songwriters and producers a national platform to be seen and supported, recognising the teachers who make that work possible through the Music Teacher of the Year awards, and creating real pathways into the industry through the paid Youth Intern Program.”
The awards will cover Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer/Engineer of the Year, School of the Year and Music Teacher of the Year for primary and secondary schools. The Youth Intern Program will pay 20 participants to work behind the scenes, learning event production, communication and promotion.
Sia, Troye Sivan, Ruel, Marcia Hines and Kirk Pengilly are among the first industry patrons. Mahalia Barnes has been appointed Artistic Director, while DOBBY serves as First Nations Artistic Director and Ruby Rodgers and Myka Champion are the first Youth Patrons.
Petriella highlighted that music teachers are often the first to notice a student’s potential. She said that putting teachers on the same stage as artists signals that their work is central to student engagement and wellbeing. “Music teachers are often the first people to notice a student’s potential, give them confidence and create the space for them to write, perform, produce and collaborate,” she said.
Nominations are open to students, teachers, schools and communities nationwide and close on 15 September. Petriella urged anyone involved in music creation or education to submit, noting that self‑doubt is the only real barrier. “If you are recording songs in your bedroom, writing lyrics after school, producing beats, rehearsing with friends or helping music happen in your school or community, this platform was built for you,” she said.
With the inaugural awards set for January 2027, NUMAs aims to provide a national platform for young Australian musicians, recognise the educators who nurture them, and create tangible industry pathways. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that music education is a key driver of cultural and economic growth in Australia.
Research shows that quality music education improves student wellbeing and academic outcomes, yet teacher training hours have halved since 2009 and 75 % of Australian schools lack a specialist music teacher, leaving 1.7 million children without quality music education (source [1]).
Millic Petriella OAM, founder and CEO of the National University Music Association (NUMAs), said the awards address the gap by giving young artists a national platform, recognising teachers, and creating industry pathways through the intern program. She added that “NUMAs responds to that gap by giving young artists, songwriters and producers a national platform to be seen and supported, recognising the teachers who make that work possible through the Music Teacher of the Year awards, and creating real pathways into the industry through the paid Youth Intern Program.”
The awards will cover Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer/Engineer of the Year, School of the Year and Music Teacher of the Year for primary and secondary schools. The Youth Intern Program will pay 20 participants to work behind the scenes, learning event production, communication and promotion.
Sia, Troye Sivan, Ruel, Marcia Hines and Kirk Pengilly are among the first industry patrons. Mahalia Barnes has been appointed Artistic Director, while DOBBY serves as First Nations Artistic Director and Ruby Rodgers and Myka Champion are the first Youth Patrons.
Petriella highlighted that music teachers are often the first to notice a student’s potential. She said that putting teachers on the same stage as artists signals that their work is central to student engagement and wellbeing. “Music teachers are often the first people to notice a student’s potential, give them confidence and create the space for them to write, perform, produce and collaborate,” she said.
Nominations are open to students, teachers, schools and communities nationwide and close on 15 September. Petriella urged anyone involved in music creation or education to submit, noting that self‑doubt is the only real barrier. “If you are recording songs in your bedroom, writing lyrics after school, producing beats, rehearsing with friends or helping music happen in your school or community, this platform was built for you,” she said.
With the inaugural awards set for January 2027, NUMAs aims to provide a national platform for young Australian musicians, recognise the educators who nurture them, and create tangible industry pathways. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that music education is a key driver of cultural and economic growth in Australia.