Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners

Victoria's music industry gathered tonight (9 December) at the Melbourne Recital Centre to celebrate the achievements of the state's best acts, albums, songs and musicians at the 17th annual Music Victoria Awards.

The big winner of the evening was soul-blues-funk juggernaut Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, who picked up three awards: Best Album, Best Soul, and Best Group and Best Funk, R&B or Gospel Act.

The band were also one of the night's captivating live performers, sharing the stage with fellow award winner Maple Glider (who won the public voted Best Breakthrough Act) as well as Kerryn Fields and Mindy Meng Wang with Tim Shiel – with Mindy taking out the public-voted award for Best Musician.

Showcasing the diverse range of winners, no other act won more than a single award with more than half of 2021 industry-judged awards going to first time nominees: Female Wizard (Best Electronic Act); The Weeping Willows (Best Country Act); Candlesnuffer (Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act); Dr. Colossus (Best Heavy Act); JahWise Productions (Best Reggae and Dancehall Act); CIVIC (Best Punk/Rock Act), Ajak Kwai (Best Intercultural Act); and Eliza Hull who took home the inaugural Arts Access Victoria Amplify Award (for deaf and disabled acts).

Other first-time wins in the industry categories included seven-time Awards nominee DRMNGNOW, who was crowned the year's Best Hip Hop Act, Best Blues Act winners Dan Dinnen & Shorty, Best Folk Act winners Charm Of Finches and the inaugural Best Pop Act winner Alice Skye.



Solo artist Allara was awarded the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, while 2019 winner Andrea Keller added 2021 Best Jazz Act to her winnings, while former multi-award winner Baker Boy took out Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act.

In the public-voted categories, Hiatus Kaiyote claimed the year's Best Song for their 2021 single 'Red Room', Sampa The Great took home Best Solo Artist and Amyl and The Sniffers were awarded ​ Best Live Act.

The ceremony was hosted by Australian music industry veteran Myf Warhurst, with special guest presenters Mikey Cahill (Hit Different Podcast), Milo Eastwood (PBS), Sosefina Fuamoli (RRR), Triana Butler (JOY 94.9), Chris Holland (Triple M) and more.

2021 Music Victoria Hall Of Fame inductee, Kylie Minogue accepted her induction via video message, while fellow 2021 inductee Pierre Baroni was presented his posthumous induction by close friend Ginger Light, PBS 106.7FM presenter Vince Peach and Australian Music Vault's Olivia Jackson, with close friends Jimmy Barnes and Archie Roach sending in video messages in honour of his induction.

Music Victoria Awards Winners 2021

Industry-voted awards

Archie Roach Foundation Award For Emerging Talent (First Nations Acts)
Allara Arts

Access Victoria Amplify Award (Deaf And Disabled Acts)
Eliza Hull

Best Regional/Outer Suburban Act
Baker Boy

Best Blues Act
Dan Dinnen & Shorty

Best Country Act
The Weeping Willows


Best Electronic Act
Female Wizard

Best Experimental or Avant-Garde Act
Candlesnuffer

Best Folk Act
Charm Of Finches

Best Heavy Act
Dr. Colossus

Best Hip Hop Act
DRMNGNOW

Best Intercultural Act
Ajak Kwai

Best Jazz Act
Andrea Kellar

Best Pop Act
Alice Skye

Best Reggae And Dancehall Act
Jahwise Productions

Best Punk/Rock Act
Civic

Best Soul, Funk, R&B Or Gospel Act
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks

Public-voted Awards

Best Album
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - 'Crossover'

Best Group
Emma Donovan And The Putbacks

Best Song
Hiatus Kaiyote - 'Red Room'

Best Solo Artist
Sampa The Great

Best Musician
Mindy Meng Wang

Best Live Act
Amyl And The Sniffers

Hall Of Fame Inductees
Kylie Minogue
Pierre Baroni (posthumously)