The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by the music and on-air teams at triple j, Unearthed and Double J. The award was inaugurated in 2005, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the station's establishment.
To be eligible for entry in a particular year, an album must be released (either independently or through a record label) between December the previous year to November that year. All albums sent to triple j for airplay consideration will also be automatically considered for the award. Nominations are chosen by triple j management and are released throughout the year. Nominations tend towards artists releasing breakthrough albums rather than already well-established musicians.
A second category was introduced to triple j's annual J Award in 2007, with the triple j judges now looking back over the winners of site competitions over the year and awarding the triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year J Award to the best and most promising artist. Yet another category, "Music Video of The Year," was added in 2008 with Triple j tv selecting one music video from a list of approximately five nominations to be the best Australian music video. It is now presented in collaboration with long-running ABC music video programme rage. In 2014 it was announced that a fourth category, "Double J Australian Artist Of The Year" would be added to the award list. It was awarded by Double J, triple j's sister station, to the artist that the station had seen as the greatest contributor to either recorded music, live performances or Australian music culture, or a combination of the three, during the course of the year. Mia Dyson was the inaugural winner.
The announcement of the J Award winner will come each year at the culmination of Ausmusic Month, when triple j celebrates Australian music throughout November.
Tame Impala is the only band to have won more than one J Award, they won the J Award for Australian Album of the Year in 2010 & 2012.
In order of announcement of nomination:
Lior - Autumn Flow
Downsyde - When the Dust Settles
Ben Lee - Awake is the New Sleep
Cog - The New Normal
Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
The Beautiful Girls - We're Already Gone
The Drones - Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By
Faker - Addicted Romantic
The Panics - Sleeps Like a Curse
Gyroscope - Are You Involved?
Pivot - Make Me Love You
Clare Bowditch - What Was Left
The Herd - The Sun Never Sets
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Bernard Fanning - Tea and Sympathy
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
In order of announcement of nomination:
Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir
The Living End - State of Emergency
Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High
The Sleepy Jackson - Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird
Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males - Drowning in the Fountain of Youth
Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook
Macromantics - Moments in Movement
Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
SubAudible Hum - In Time For Spring, On Came The Snow
Blue King Brown - Stand Up
Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
In order of announcement of nomination:
The John Butler Trio - Grand National
Josh Pyke - Memories & Dust
Silverchair - Young Modern
The Vasco Era - Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside
Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This
British India - Guillotine
Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia
Katalyst - What's Happening
Urthboy - The Signal
The Panics - Cruel Guards
Grinspoon - Alibis & Other Lies
Bumblebeez - Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill
Pnau - Pnau
The Panics - Cruel Guards
A second category was introduced to triple j's annual J Award in 2007, with the triple j judges now looking back over the winners of site competitions over the year and awarding the triple j Unearthed J Award to the best and most promising artist. triple j Unearthed marked its first anniversary with over 10,400 artists live on the site, 80,000 registered users, 1.6 million tracks downloaded and 3.9 million tracks streamed. The Unearthed J Award is awarded to an Unearthed artist who has demonstrated the most musical growth and shows the greatest potential to make a contribution to the Australian music industry.
Five nominees were selected from the past year of Unearthed competition winners, since the launch in August 2006 through to July 2007. The nominees were:
Cuthbert and the Nightwalkers from New South Wales who won the 2007 The Great Escape, who have subsequently supported Kate Miller-Heidke, Old Man River and The Paper Scissors. The band released their debut album Love Needs Us on the Warner Music label.
Hip Hop artists Illzilla who won the 2006 Falls Festival and then played at the Pyramid Rock Festival. They have also supported acts such as Astronomy Class and played at the finals of the DMC Championships.
Western Australia's Institut Polaire who won the Perth Big Day Out. They have since signed to Sydney's Popfrenzy Records releasing their first EP The Fauna and the Flora. They have toured twice nationally in the past year, supporting international acts The Clientele (UK), Camera Obscura (UK), and WA tour supports with New Buffalo.
Leroy Lee from New South Wales who won the support slot for NSW leg of Missy Higgins' national tour.
Young and Restless from Canberra who won the 2006 Homebake Festival. They have since toured across the country with the Erase Errata (USK), Cansei de Ser Sexy (Brazil) and Love Is All (Sweden). They have also signed with local independent label, Dot Dash Recordings, releasing their self-titled debut album in mid-July, 2007, then embarking on a successful headline tour of their own.
Young and Restless
In order of announcement of nomination:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
The Presets - Apocalypso
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Cog - Sharing Space
Birds of Tokyo - Universes
Bliss n Eso - Flying Colours
TZU - Computer Love
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
Sparkadia - Postcards
The Grates - Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
Augie March - Watch Me Disappear
The Drones - Havilah
The Presets - Apocalypso
A third category was introduced to triple j's annual J Award in 2008, with triple j tv selecting one music video from a list of approximately five nominations to be the best Australian music video. The music video of the year being determined for its outstanding achievement as an Australian musical video work of art (based on its creativity, originality and technical excellence). The music video is selected from any music video released by an Australian artist (either independently or through a record company) and that is also directed by and Australian director between November and December the preceding year.
In order of announcement of nomination:
Angus and Julia Stone - "Just a Boy"
TZU - "Computer Love"
The Herd - "2020"
The Presets - "My People"
Josh Pyke - "Make You Happy"
The Herd - "2020" (Director: Mike Daly)
Nominations announced in November during triple j's Ausmusic month.
Art vs. Science, won the Splendour in the Grass Unearthed competition and have also played at Parklife, and are scheduled to perform at the upcoming Falls Festival.
Cassette Kids, were the Unearthed winners of the 2008 Big Day Out (Sydney leg) and have completed a national tour supporting The Presets.
City Riots, from South Australia, played the 2008 Big Day Out (Adelaide leg) and Fuse Festival in Adelaide, then flew overseas to play the Great Escape Festival in the UK, playing sideshows at the Camden Barfly, and international pop festival in Liverpool. The band then played a five-week tour of the United States, taking in Milwaukee’s Summerfest with The Bravery, Wave Gathering Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Harlequin League, from Western Australia, the Unearthed winners on the 2008 Big Day Out (Perth leg) and have supported The Freestylers (UK), The Cops, Regurgitator, Expatriate, The Panda Band, Dardanelles, and The Checks.
John Steel Singers, from Queensland, winners of Unearthed's Brisbane leg of 2008 Big Day Out. The John Steel Singers have shared the stage with Polyphonic Spree (USA), Built To Spill (USA), Kelley Stoltz (USA), The Brunettes (NZ), The Panics and The Panda Band, performing at the Playground Weekender, Was I There In Your Future?, Essential Festival and Come Together Festival.
Numbers Radio, won the Valley Fiesta Unearthed Competition.
John Steel Singers
In order of announcement of nomination:
Karnivool - Sound Awake
Hilltop Hoods - State of the Art
Bertie Blackman - Secrets and Lies
Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night
Kid Sam - Kid Sam
Phrase - Clockwork
Paul Dempsey - Everything is True
Philadelphia Grand Jury - Hope is for Hopers
Oh Mercy - Privileged Woes
Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night
In order of announcement of nomination:
Firekites - "Autumn Story" (Co-Directors: Yanni Kronenberg and Lucinda Schreiber)
Bluejuice - "Broken Leg" (Director: Sam Bennetts)
Astronomy Class - "Where You At?" (Director: Pradeep Senanayake)
The Scare - "Could Be Bad" (Director: Ton Noakes)
Art vs. Science - "Parlez vous Francais?" (Director: Alex Roberts)
Karnivool - "Set Fire To The Hive" (Director: Chris Frey)
Art vs. Science - "Parlez vous Francais?" (Director: Alex Roberts)
Philadelphia Grand Jury, winners of the Sydney Big Day Out competition
The Middle East, a musical collective based in Townsville
Seth Sentry, a Melbourne hip hop artist
Washington, winner of the Melbourne Big Day Out competition
The Middle East
In order of announcement of nomination:
Cloud Control - Bliss Release
Sia - We Are Born
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Washington - I Believe You Liar
Birds of Tokyo - Birds of Tokyo
Bliss N Eso - Running on Air
Parkway Drive - Deep Blue
M-Phazes - Good Gracious
Bag Raiders - Bag Raiders
Angus & Julia Stone - Down the Way
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
In order of announcement of nomination:
Parades - "Loserspeak in a New Tongue" (Director: Sam Kristofski)
Washington - "Sunday Best" (Co-Directors: Mairi Cameron and Stephen Lance)
Grinderman - "Heathen Child" (Director: John Hillcoat)
Richard in Your Mind - "Candelraba" (Director: SPOD)
Midnight Juggernauts - "Lara Versus the Savage Pack" (Director: Lucinda Schreiber and Beatrice Pegard)
Washington - "Sunday Best" (Co-Directors: Mairi Cameron and Stephen Lance)
Stonefield, winners of the Unearthed High competition in 2010, from Gisborne, Victoria. Performed at the triple j showcase at the One Movement Festival in Perth, which resulted in them being booked for Glastonbury.
Gypsy & The Cat, played the NME weekender festival in London. They have also played at a number of Australian festivals, including Splendour in the Grass, Parklife Festival, and One Movement festivals and have supported The Strokes and Foals.
Big Scary, a two-piece band, who were the unearthed winners for the Pushover Festival in Melbourne. They have supported Editors, Florence and the Machine and toured with Birds of Tokyo.
Boy And Bear, unearthed winners for the Homebake festival in 2009. They have toured Australia with Angus and Julia Stone and Hungry Kids of Hungary. In 2010, they toured Britain with Laura Marling and supported Mumford & Sons on their Australian tour.
The Jezabels, a four-piece musical group from Sydney. Have played a number of festivals around Australia, including the Big Day Out, Pyramid Rock, Festival of the Sun, Playground Weekender, Come Together, Peats Ridge Festival, and Soundwave. They also supported Canada’s Tegan & Sara on their Australian tour, as well as touring with Regurgitator, Bluejuice, Dukes of Windsor, Van She, Sparkadia and Josh Pyke.
Boy and Bear
In order of announcement of nomination:
Drapht - The Life of Riley
Architecture in Helsinki - Moment Bends
Art vs. Science - The Experiment
Gotye - Making Mirrors
Kimbra - Vows
Papa Vs Pretty - United in Isolation
The Jezabels - Prisoner
Big Scary - Vacation
Ball Park Music - Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs
The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy
Gotye - Making Mirrors
Children Collide - Loveless (Director: David Michod)
Gotye - Somebody The I Used To Know (Director: Natasha Pinkus)
Bluejuice - Act Yr Age (Director: Samuel Bennetts)
Hermitude - Speak Of The Devil (Director: Emma Tomelty)
Art vs Science - A.I.M. Fire (Director: SPOD)
Hermitude - Speak Of The Devil (Director: Emma Tomelty)
Ball Park Music
Emma Louise
Husky
Lanie Lane
San Cisco
Ball Park Music
In order of announcement of nomination:
Tame Impala - Lonerism
Alpine - A Is For Alpine
Hermitude - HyperParadise
Ball Park Music - Museum
The Rubens - The Rubens
Bertie Blackman - Pope Innocent X
Regular John - Strange Flowers
Oh Mercy - Deep Heat
Urthboy - Smokey's Haunt
The Presets - Pacifica
Sarah Blasko - I Awake
Parkway Drive - Atlas
Tame Impala - Lonerism
Alpine - "Hands"
Gotye - "Easy Way Out"
Flight Facilities - "Foreign Language"
Kirin J Callinan - "Way II War"
Bertie Blackman - "Boy"
Hilltop Hoods - "Rattling the Keys To the Kingdom"
Kris Moyes for Kirin J Callinan's "Way II War" music video
Flume
The Rubens
Chance Waters
Kingswood
Thelma Plum
The Rubens
Northlane - Singularity
Karnivool - Asymmetry
Horrorshow - King Amongst Many (album)
Abbe May - Kiss My Apocalypse
Boy & Bear - Harlequin Dream
Flume - Flume
RÜFÜS - Atlas
The Drones - I See Seaweed
Cloud Control - Dream Cave
Jagwar Ma - Howlin'
Flume - Flume
Clubfeet - "Everything You Wanted"
Bluejuice - "SOS"
The Paper Kites - "Young"
Thundamentals - "Smiles Don't Lie"
Vance Joy - "Riptide"
Clubfeet - "Everything You Wanted" (Director: Josh Thomas)
Tigertown
SAFIA
Jeremy Neale
Wave Racer
Dustin Tebutt
Jackie Onassis
Remi
Remi
sleepmakeswaves - love of cartography
Seekae - The Worry
Hilltop Hoods - Walking Under Stars
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - I'm In Your Mind Fuzz
Thundamentals - So We Can Remember
Flight Facilities - Down To Earth
Ball Park Music - Puddinghead
#1 Dads - About Face
Total Control - Typical System
Remi - Raw X Infinity
Chet Faker - Built on Glass
The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes
Chet Faker -Built on Glass
Chet Faker - "Talk Is Cheap" (Directed by Toby & Pete)
Hudson and Troop - "Frameless" (Directed by Darcy Prendergast and Andrew Goldsmith)
Illy - "One For the City" (Directed by Mark Alston)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - "Hot Wax" (Directed by Jason Galea)
Sia - "Chandelier" (Directed by Sia Furler and Daniel Askill)
Client Liaison - "Free of Fear" (Directed by Jack Peddey)
Sia - "Chandelier" (Directed by Sia Furler and Daniel Askill)
Ceres
Coin Banks
Japanese Wallpaper
Airling
Meg Mac
UV Boi
Meg Mac
Kate Miller-Heidke
Mia Dyson
Augie March
Blank Realm
Steve Smyth
Caitlin Park
Mia Dyson
Alison Wonderland - "Run"
Alpine - "Yuck"
Courtney Barnett - "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit"
Gang of Youths - "The Positions"
Hermitude - "Dark Night Sweet Light"
Jarryd James - "Thirty One"
Parkway Drive - "Ire"
Seth Sentry - "Strange New Past"
Tame Impala - "Currents"
The Rubens - "Hoops"
Courtney Barnett - "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit"
Boy and Bear - "Walk The Wire" (Directed by Darcy Prendergast and Josh Thomas)
Briggs - "Children Came Back" (Directed by Heath Kerr and Josh Davis)
Courtney Barnett - "Pedestrian At Best" (Directed by Charlie Ford)
Flume (feat. Andrew Wyatt) - "Some Minds" (Directed by Clemens Habicht)
Life Is Better Blonde - "Mine" (Directed by Natalie Erika James)
Life Is Better Blonde - "Mine" (Directed by Natalie Erika James)
Boo Seeka
Feki
Gordi
Tired Lion
Vallis Alps
Tired Lion
Blank Realm]]
Emma Donovan & the PutBacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
Tim Rogers
Paul Kelly
Tim Rogers
The Avalanches - "Wildflower"
Big Scary - "Animal"
Camp Cope - "Camp Cope"
D.D Dumbo - "Utopia Defeated"
Flume - "Skin"
Julia Jacklin - "Don't Let the Kids Win"
Montaigne - "Glorious Heights"
SAFIA - "Internal"
Sticky Fingers - "Westway (The Glitter & The Slums)"
Violent Soho - "WACO"
D.D Dumbo - "Utopia Defeated"
Courtney Barnett - "Elevator Operator" (Directed by Sunny Leunig)
D.D Dumbo - "Satan" (Directed by Jim Elson)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - "People-Vultures" (Directed by Danny Cohen and Jason Galea)
Tigerilla Ft. Gill Bates - "Tulips" (Directed by Tom Noakes)
Olympia - "Smoke Signals" (Directed by Alex Smith)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - "People-Vultures" (Directed by Danny Cohen and Jason Galea)
Alex Lahey
Gretta Ray
Julia Jacklin
Kuren
Tash Sultana
Tash Sultana
The Drones
Jordan Rakei
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Ngaiire
Teeth & Tongue
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
