NT Indigenous Music Awards are part of the Darwin Festival and are run by MusicNT in association with the Northern Territory Government’s Indigenous Arts Development Unit. Since 2009, they have been known as the National Indigenous Music Awards.
The NT Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the NT music industry. The Awards are presented at a special showcase event in August as part of Darwin Festival, and feature the best indigenous music talent in the NT.
The Awards are industry based and focus with nominations coming from industry, pre-selection by a local industry committee and final judging of Award winners by an independent panel of NT and interstate music industry professionals
The Inaugural Indigenous Music Awards were held on 28 August 2004 at the Darwin Festival Club. The winners were:
Male Musician of the Year: Warren H. WilliamsFemale Musician of the Year: Shellie MorrisBand of the Year: Yothu YindiPeople's Choice award: Saltwater BandBest Field Recording for a Traditional Album: the Rak Badjalarr albumBest Emerging Band award: YililaHall of Fame inductees: George Rrurrambu, the Mills Sisters and Mandawuy YunupinguThe second annual NT Indigenous Music Awards were held at Marrara Oval on 27 August 2005. The Awards attracted the likes of Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil), now Shadow Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts, who was a guest presenter with NT Chief Minister Clare Martin and with his old mate George Rrurrambu of Warumpi Band. The Awards ceremony and concert, which was headlined by the Letterstick Band and Lajamanu Teenage Band, was broadcast live by local station TEABBA (Top End Bush Broadcasting Assoc.) and picked up by Indigenous radio stations across the country.
The winners were:
Best Music Release: Yilila – "Manila, Manila"Song of the Year: Yilila - "Mijiyanga"Best CD/DVD Artwork & Design: David Lancashire - Jurtbirrk, Love Songs from Western Arnhem LandMale Musician of the Year: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Galiwin’ku (formerly Yothu Yindi, Saltwater Band)Female Musician of the Year: Shellie MorrisBand of the Year: NabarlekNew & Emerging Act: Mandy GarlingMinister’s Award for School Band of the Year: Maningrida Brass EnsembleTraditional Music Award: Jurtbirrk, Love Songs from Western Arnhem LandMost Popular Song Award: "Dreamtime Baby" – Warren H. WilliamsOutstanding contribution to the music industry: CAAMA Music & LetterstickHall of Fame Inductees: Kathy & David Mills, The Mystics, Dick Mununggu, Gus Williams, Auriel Andrew, Mr. Yamma Snr and Herbie Laughton.The third annual NT Indigenous Music Awards were held on 25 August 2006. The audience was treated to live performances by a line-up of NT acts including Yilila, Saltwater Band, NoKTuRNL, Warren H Williams, June Mills and Tom E Lewis.
The winners were:
Best Music Release: Tom E. Lewis – "Sunshine After Rain"Song of the Year: Warren H. Williams – "Learn My Song"Best Artwork & Design: Dunnart - Warren H. Williams - "Be Like Home"Best DVD Release: Nabarlek – Nabarlek on TourMale Musician of the Year: Grant NundhirribalaFemale Musician of the Year: June MillsAct of the Year: YililaNew & Emerging Act: TaskTraditional Music Award: White Cockatoo – ManingridaSchool Band of the Year: Djambang Band – MilingimbiJudges Encouragement Award: Henley White (Warren H. William's 9 year old drummer)Hall of Fame Inductees: Warumpi Band and Soft SandsOutstanding Contribution: Sammy Butcher and Keith LapalungThe fourth annual NT Indigenous Wards were held on 25 August 2007 at the Gardens Amphitheatre, Botanic Gardens, Darwin. On the night there were live performances featuring Kenbi Dancers, Ngarakuruwala, Jessica Mauboy and Nabarlek.
The winners were:
Act of the Year: Jessica MauboyAlbum of the Year: Manmoyi Radio - NabarlekSong of the Year: "Little Journey to Manmoyi" - Terrah GuymalaEmerging Act of the Year: Leah FlanaganSchool Band of the Year (1): The Crazy Boyz, Maningrida Community Education CentreSchool Band of the Year (2): The Frontstreet Girls, Maningrida Community Education CentreDVD/Film Clip of the Year: "Brown Bird" - NabarlekArtwork & Design of the Year: Manmoyi Radio - NabarlekTraditional Music Award: Kenbi DancersTraditional Music Award (2): Wurrurrumi Kun-Borrk, songs from Western Arnhem Land by Kevin DjimarrPeople Choice 'Song for Country': "Bushfire" - NabarlekSpecial Contribution Award (1): Paul "Djolpa" McKenzieSpecial Contribution Award (2): Steven TranterHall of Fame - Top End Artist: Betty FisherHall of Fame – Central Artist: Barry BenningThe winners were:
Act of the Year: Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguAlbum of the Year: Gurrumul - Geoffrey Gurrumul YunipinguEmerging Act of the Year and Touring Award: B2MSchool Band of the Year: Rocky Creek BandGospel Album of the Year: Harold Dalywaters and the Elliot Gospel BandSong of the Year: Wiyathul - Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguDVD/Filmclip of the Year: Saltwater Band LiveArtwork and design of the Year: Gurrumul - album, designed by Carlo SantoneTraditional Music Award of the Year: 1) Muyngarnbi - Songs from Walking with Spirits. 2) Ngarukuruwala - We Sing Songs.People's Choice Award, Most popular song of the year: Wild Wild Water - WildWaterHall of Fame: 1) Peter Miller and Blek Bala Mujik. 2) Mark Raymond and the Kulumindini Band.Special Contribution Award: 1) Galarrwuy Yunupingu. 2) Mr Nundhirribala.2009 Winners:
ACT OF THE YEAR: Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguALBUM OF THE YEAR: Been Waiting by Jessica MauboyEMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR: Pott StreetSONG OF THE YEAR: Running Back from the album Been Waiting by Jessica Mauboy, written by Jessica Mauboy, Audius Mtawarira and Sean Ray MullinsDVD/FILMCLIP OF THE YEAR: Senor / Dunganda Street SoundsARTWORK AND DESIGN OF THE YEAR: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / DDA release Gurrumul AlbumTRADITIONAL MUSIC AWARD: Dunganda Street Sounds Ramingining ArtistsPEOPLES CHOICE AWARD – ‘SONG OF THE YEAR’ (Voted nationally on DIG Music) The Turn Around, MC HORAHALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: Sammy Butcher, Tableland Drifters, David AseraArtist of the Year: Gurrumul YunupinguAlbum of the Year: Ratja Yaliyali (Gawurra)Song of the Year: The Children Came Back (Briggs)Written by Gurrumul Yunupingu, Archie Roach, Corey McGregor and Adam BriggsPerformed by Briggs, Dewayne Everettsmith and Gurrumul YunupinguNew Talent of the Year: GawurraCover Art: Ratja Yaliyali (Gawurra) designed by Jalyay JAJA ThompsonFilm Clip: Ratja Yaliyali (Gawurra) directed and produced by Pippa SamayaCommunity Music Clip: Break The Silence by Ngukurr Community, Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, White RibbonTraditional Song of the Year: Two Sisters Journey (Ishmael Marika)Hall of Fame: Kutcha EdwardsSupported by Radio Larrakia, CAAMA and TEABBA.
