Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (AMP) is an annual award of $25,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award made by Australian Music Prize Ltd, a sole-purpose entity sponsored by a variety of music industry figures and record companies. The AMP was established in 2005. Unlike the more mainstream ARIA music awards, the AMP aims to encourage independent music - the prize's stated aim is to "financially reward and increase exposure for an Australian artist (or group of artists) who have produced and commercially released what specially appointed judges vote is the best contemporary music album in any one calendar year". In this sense, the AMP is broadly comparable to the UK's Mercury Music Prize.

2006 Australian Music Prize

The 2006 shortlist comprised of nine entrants. It was won by Augie March for Moo, You Bloody Choir.

• Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir
• Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook
• Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
• Howling Bells - Howling Bells
• Jackie Marshall - Fight n'Flight
• Lisa Gerrard - The Silver Tree
• Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
• The Drones - Gala Mill
• The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High

The inaugural Award in recognition of Outstanding Potential was awarded to Gotye.

Inaugural prize

The inaugural AMP was awarded in 2005. It was won by The Drones for their album Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. The winner was chosen from a shortlist of eight:

• Ben Lee - Awake Is the New Sleep
• The Devastations - Coal
• The Drones - Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By
• The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart
• The Mess Hall - Notes From A Ceiling
• Tex, Don and Charlie - All is Forgiven
• TZU - Smiling at Strangers
• Wolfmother - Wolfmother

External links

• 2006 Website
• 2005 Official website