‘The Rebuild Is Working — Brick By Brick’: Read ARIA’s Chair and CEO Speech In Full

SYDNEY, Australia — The 2025 ARIA Awards are in the books, and, for hundreds of guests at Hordern Pavilion and the various afterparties across Sydney, hangovers and urgent sleep.

Many in the room said the show was one of the best in recent memory, led by honest speeches, strong performances and worthy winners.

Australia’s recorded music industry has enjoyed some wins of late, none greater than the federal government’s decision to shut-down any talk of a text and data mining (TDM) exemption in the nation’s Copyright Act, a “significant” win that was achieved through a unified lobbying effort. Via Big Music, if you will.

There have been losses, too. Wednesday night’s 39^th annual ARIA Awards in Sydney, however, was a celebration of the good times.

Amyl and The Sniffers led the way, with four spiky trophies. Ninajirachi (three), Dom Dolla (two) and Kevin Parker (two) also had nights to remember.

At the top of the show, before the free-to-air broadcast went out on Network 10, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd and chair Natalie Waller reflected on the struggles, the journey, and the wins in 2025.

See the speech in full below and read more on the 2025 ARIA Awards here.

Annabelle Herd: Hello and welcome to the 2025 ARIA Awards at the iconic Hordern Pavilion on beautiful Gadigal country! We might not be the most exciting duo you’ll see tonight, but we are definitely the most consistent.

It’s a privilege to celebrate on this land. We pay our respects to First Nations people, elders, leaders, and especially the incredible First Nations nominees, artists, and colleagues here tonight. Always was, always will be.

Natalie Waller: A huge congratulations and welcome to all the nominated artists — we hope you have a wonderful night.

A very warm welcome to NSW Arts and Music Minister John Graham; Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke; Minister for Disability Jenny McAllister; Shadow Attorney-General and Arts Minister Julian Leeser; Senator Sarah Hanson-Young; and Dr Sophie Scamps. Thank you all for always standing with our industry.

Welcome also to Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones, and to two amazing women who, like us, spend every waking hour thinking about how to lift Aussie music: Sound NSW’s Emily Collins and Music Australia’s Millie Millgate.

So what has ARIA been up to since we were last on this stage? Quite a lot.

AH: This year we launched ARIA Innovator, kicked off ARIA Collab with two world-leading producers working with Australian talent, delivered another Great Southern Nights in NSW, and modernized the ARIA Charts by removing singles and albums over two years old, changes already delivering incredible results for new Aussie music.

AH: And then there was the big one.

When big tech tried to strip us of our copyright for AI training, after they’d already stolen all the music, we said: yeah, nah.

They didn’t expect the response they got. As an industry we hit back with a loud, unified, sophisticated, artist-led campaign delivered with heart and serious impact.

NW: The entire creative sector moved as one. And the result? Australia became the first country in the world where government ruled out a text-and-data-mining exception for AI training.

AH: A critical step, but only half the battle. We still need to ensure it is artists and rightsholders who decide whether their music can be used for AI and on what terms. This isn’t just about payment — it’s about agency. AI is exciting, but the benefits and opportunities must reach everyone in the chain, not just the tech bros.

When we were in Canberra after the announcement, a political heavy hitter started introducing us not as reps from the Australian music industry but as “Big Music.” And honestly? They’re right.

We should be known as Big Music — and this year we proved why. Canberra knows it, and so does the public who backed Australian music and culture. Let’s keep going.

NW: Thank you to every artist who spoke up including Briggs, Paul Dempsey, Kate Ceberano, Missy Higgins, Peter Garrett and of course Jack River/Holly Rankin. Nothing is more powerful, with the public or with Canberra, than artists speaking from the heart.

AH: And thank you to all our political supporters including the PM, Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, and those here tonight — we know you’re standing with us on this critical issue.

NW: On this special night I also want to acknowledge someone whose contribution to this industry is immeasurable. This year Lynne Small is leaving ARIA and PPCA for a well deserved retirement. For nearly three decades, Lynne’s knowledge, sharp mind, heart and dedication shaped everything we did. Lynne, from all of us: thank you.

AH: And I want to acknowledge Van Picken, who recently stepped down as Chair and CEO of Sony Music Australia. As an ARIA Board member, Van contributed to evolving the ARIAs into what they are tonight, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.

NW: Now, back to tonight: Fifty-five percent of this year’s nominees are women. The indie scene is thriving. Hip-hop and R&B artists are finally getting their due. A new generation is reshaping what Australian music sounds and looks like.

Australian artists are streaming globally at record levels, selling out tours overseas, and appearing on festival lineups next to the world’s biggest names. The rebuild is working — brick by brick.

AH: And the momentum is real. Audiences are engaging not just with the music but the stories behind it.

Venues are packed again. Artists who’ve spent years grinding are breaking through here and internationally at the same time.

None of this happened by accident, it happened because people in this room showed up for each other and refused to accept that Australian music should be anything less than world-class.

NW: It’s been a huge year, we’re exhausted but we’re energized, because everything we’ve been building is working. The industry is unified. The music is undeniable. The audience is there.

And tonight is about celebrating what we’ve achieved — and recognizing that we’re just getting started.

NW: So let’s make it a night to remember. Dance and cheer loudly, support each other and remind everyone watching why Australian music matters.

AH: Before we kick off, I want to shout out our new presenting partner Spotify. Mikaela and the local team have seriously put everything and more into the 2025 ARIAs and the nominated artists and the engagement has already been incredible with public voting records absolutely smashed.

Thank you to Destination NSW, Paramount+ and Ten, and all our sponsors.

Huge love to our Exec Producer Craig Campbell and the Roving team, event producer Brendan Maher and the Second Sunday crew, and the whole ARIAs team — this is not an easy event to pull together but they do it with style! To the ARIA Board, Chart and Marketing Committee, performers, presenters, and everyone who poured everything into making tonight happen, thank you.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone in this room: artists, managers, label teams — special shout-out to the reps with ever-creative ways of asking me whether their artists have won — plus publicists, radio programmers, venue operators and crew. You’re all the reason Australian music is Big Music now.

NW: So raise your glasses — and let’s do this. To AusMusic!