The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney. Host, Richard Stubbs, was assisted by presenters to distribute 26 awards.
In addition to previous categories, new categories for "Best Alternative Release" and "Best Pop Release" were presented for the first time; and a "Special Achievement Award" was presented to former Go-Set journalist and pioneer radio DJ, Stan Rofe. The ARIA Hall of Fame inducted Men at Work.
Nominees for most awards are shown, in plain, with winners in bold.
Album of the Year
The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is Over
The Badloves – Get on Board
Crowded House – Together Alone
Diesel – The Lobbyist
John Farnham – Then Again...
Single of the Year
The Cruel Sea – "The Honeymoon Is Over"
The Badloves – "Lost"
Jimmy Barnes – "Stone Cold"
Crowded House – "Distant Sun"
Diesel – "Never Miss Your Water"
Highest Selling Album
John Farnham – Then Again...
Highest Selling Single
Peter Andre – "Gimme a Little Sign"
Best Group
The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is Over
Baby Animals – Shaved and Dangerous
Crowded House – Together Alone
INXS – Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon
Best Female Artist
Wendy Matthews – "Friday's Child"
Kate Ceberano – "You've Got a Friend"
Deborah Conway – Bitch Epic
Anne Kirkpatrick – "Game of Love"
Margaret Urlich – "Burnt Sienna"
Best Male Artist
Diesel – The Lobbyist
Jimmy Barnes – Flesh and Wood
John Farnham – Then Again...
Tim Finn – Before & After
Tex Perkins – Sad But True
Best New Talent
The Badloves – Get on Board
Robertson Brothers – I Know Why
Margot Smith – "Sleeping with the Lion"
Vincent Stone – Sunshine
Swoop – Thriller
Breakthrough Artist – Album
The Badloves – Get on Board
Peter Andre – Peter Andre
Things of Stone and Wood – The Yearning
Tiddas – Sing about Life
The Sharp – This Is the Sharp
Breakthrough Artist – Single
The Badloves – "Lost"
Chocolate Starfish – "You're So Vain"
Christine Anu – "Last Train"
D.I.G. – "Re-invent Yourself"
Vincent Stone – "Sunshine"
Best Pop Release
Peter Andre – Peter Andre
Bellydance – One Blood
Girlfriend – It's Up to You
Toni Pearen – "I Want You"
Sound Unlimited – "One More from the City"
Best Country Album
Lee Kernaghan – Three Chain Road
Graeme Connors – The Return
Slim Dusty – Ringer from the Top End
Anne Kirkpatrick – Game of Love
John Williamson – Love Is a Good Woman
Best Independent Release
Ed Kuepper – Serene Machine
The Jackson Code – Dragging the River
Juice – Movin' On
Dave Steel – Cross My Palm
Brenda Webb – Little Black Girl
Best Alternative Release
You Am I – "Sound As Ever"
Clouds – Thunderhead
Crow – My Kind of Pain
The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is Over
Dave Graney & the Coral Snakes – Night of the Wolverine
Best Indigenous Release
Tiddas – Sing About Life
Kev Carmody – Bloodlines
Not Drowning, Waving – Circus
Archie Roach – Jamu Dreaming
Yothu Yindi – Freedom
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Tommy Emmanuel – The Journey
James Blundell – Touch of Water
Grace Knight – Gracious
Rick Price & Margaret Urlich – "Where Is the Love?"
The Seekers – 25 Year Reunion Celebration
Best Comedy Release
Steady Eddy – Ready Steady Go
Double Take – Hercules Returns
Rolf Harris – Rolf Rules OK
Jimeoin – Goin' Off
Doug Mulray – Nice Legs Shame About the Fez
Best Jazz Album
Mike Bukovsky – Wanderlust
Atmosphere – Flying
Judy Bailey – Sundial
The Catholics – The Catholics
Mike Nock – Touch
Best Classical Album
Dene Olding, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Challender, Porcelijn – Ross Edwards Orchestral Works
Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti – Mendelssohn: Octet in E Flat for Strings Op. 20 Sinfonia No. 9 in C. Swiss
Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti – Symphony Serenades and Suites
Nigel Butterley – John Cage
Dene Olding, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Iwaki – Violin Concertos
Best Children's Album
Mic Conway – Whoopee
Bananas in Pyjamas – Bananas in Pyjamas
Colin Buchanan – I Want My Mummy
Franciscus Henri – My Favourite Nursery Rhymes
Monica Trapaga – Monica's Tea Party
Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Recording
Original Cast Recording – Hot Shoe Shuffle
The Australian Opera, Giacomo Puccini – La Boheme
M. Easton, M. Atkins – Snowy Original Soundtrack
Carl Vine – Bedevil
John Waters, Lennon & McCartney – Looking Through a Glass Onion
Song of the Year
James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour – "The Honeymoon Is Over" (The Cruel Sea)
James Cruickshank, Tex Perkins, Dan Rumour – "Black Stick" (The Cruel Sea)
Diesel – "Never Miss Your Water" (Diesel)
Neil Finn – "Distant Sun" (Crowded House)
Tim Finn – "Persuasion" (Tim Finn)
Best Cover Art
Pierre Baroni, Mushroom Art – Deborah Conway – Bitch Epic
Kristyna Higgins, Jan Manby – The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is Over
Marcelle Lunam – Things of Stone and Wood – The Yearning
Nick Seymour – Crowded House – Together Alone
Kevin Wilkins, Midnight Oil – Midnight Oil – Earth and Sun and Moon
Best Video
Richard Lowenstein – INXS – "The Gift"
Andrew Dominik – The Cruel Sea – "The Honeymoon Is Over"
Paul Elliott – Midnight Oil – "Outbreak of Love"
Paul Elliott, Sally Bongers – Christine Anu & Paul Kelly – "Last Train"
Craig Griffin – John Farnham – "Seemed Like a Good Idea (At the Time)"
Engineer of the Year
Simon Hussey – Daryl Braithwaite – "Barren Ground", "The World As it Is"; – Company of Strangers – "Baby, You're a Rich Man", "Daddy's Gonna Make You a Star"
Mark Forrester – Peter Andre – "Funky Junky", "Let's Get it On"; – Grant McLennan – "Lighting Fires", "Surround Me"
Nick Mainsbridge, Kalju Tonuma - The Sharp - "Scratch My Back", "Yeah I Want You", "Train Of Thought"
Michael Letho – Daryl Braithwaite – "Barren Ground", "The World As it Is", "Breaking the Rules", "Look What Your Love Has Done"
Tony Cohen – The Cruel Sea – "The Honeymoon is Over"; – Tiddas – "Waiting"; – Dave Graney & the Coral Snakes – "You're Just Too Hip Baby"
Producer of the YearTony Cohen – The Cruel Sea – The Honeymoon Is OverAngelique Cooper – Christine Anu with Paul Kelly – "Last Train"; Neil Murray – "Holy Road" (Remix); Yothu Yindi – "World Turning" (Remix)
James Black – Things of Stone and Wood – "Rock this Boat", "Single Perfect Raindrop", "Heidelberg", "Barkley Street"
Joe Camilleri – The Black Sorrows – "Stir It Up", "Come on, Come On"
Johnny Diesel – Diesel – "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Never Miss Your Water", "Masterplan"
Simon Hussey – Company of Strangers – "Baby, You're a Rich Man", "Daddy's Gonna Make You a Star"; Daryl Braithwaite – "Barren Ground", "The World As it Is"
Stan Rofe
The Hall Of Fame inductee was:
Men at Work
Things of Stone and Wood
Hoodoo Gurus
Slim Dusty & Willie Nelson
