J Award
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 a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill. 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 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. In 2014 it was announced that a fourth category, "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.
2005 J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
2006 J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
2007 awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
Unearthed J Award
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.
Nominations
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.
Winner
2008 awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
Australian Music Video of the Year
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.
Nominations
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"
Winner
- The Herd - "2020" (Director: Mike Daly)
Unearthed J Award
Nominations
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.
Winner
2009 awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
Australian Music Video of the Year
Nominations
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)
Winner
- Art vs. Science - "Parlez vous Francais?" (Director: Alex Roberts)
Unearthed J Award
Nominations
- 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
Winner
- The Middle East
2010 awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
- Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
Australian Music Video of the Year
Nominations
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)
Winner
- Washington - "Sunday Best" (Co-Directors: Mairi Cameron and Stephen Lance)
Unearthed J Award
Nominations
- 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.
Winner
- Boy and Bear
2011 Awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
Australian Music Video Of The Year
Nominations
- 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)
Winner
- Hermitude - Speak Of The Devil (Director: Emma Tomelty)
Unearthed J Award
Nominations
Winner
- Ball Park Music
2012 Awards
J Award
Nominations
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
Winner
Music Video
Nominations
- 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"
Winner
- Kris Moyes for Kirin J Callinan's "Way II War" music video
Unearthed Artist
Nominations
- Flume
- The Rubens
- Chance Waters
- Kingswood
- Thelma Plum
Winner
- The Rubens
2013 Awards
J Award
Nominations
- 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'
Winner
Music Video
Nominations
- Clubfeet - "Everything You Wanted"
- Bluejuice - "SOS"
- The Paper Kites - "Young"
- Thundamentals - "Smiles Don't Lie"
- Vance Joy - "Riptide"
Winner
Clubfeet - "Everything You Wanted" (Director: Josh Thomas)
Unearthed Artist
Nominations
- Tigertown
- SAFIA
- Jeremy Neale
- Wave Racer
- Dustin Tebutt
- Jackie Onassis
- Remi
Winner
Remi
2014 Awards
J Award
Nominations
- 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
Winner
Music Video
Nominations
- 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)
Winner
- Sia - "Chandelier" (Directed by Sia Furler and Daniel Askill)
Unearthed Artist
Nominations
- Ceres
- Coin Banks
- Japanese Wallpaper
- Airling
- Meg Mac
- UV Boi
Winner
Double J Artist
Nominations
- Kate Miller-Heidke
- Mia Dyson
- Augie March
- Blank Realm
- Steve Smyth
- Caitlin Park