Congratulations to the 2026 AAM Award Winners
At lunchtime on Wednesday 29th April on Gadigal land at Crowbar, we celebrated our fifth annual AAM Awards. Awards were presented in 6 categories, and the 2026 APRA AMCOS Lighthouse Award winner was also revealed.
This year's winners represent an outstanding array of talent, from GRAMMY-nominees and ARIA winners, to Hall of Fame inductees and global breakthrough acts, including Kasey Chambers, Amyl & The Sniffers, Miss Kaninna, SPEED, Inkabee, Ngaiire and more.
These awards celebrate the wide-ranging and far-reaching achievements of the Australian artist management community over the past 12 months. The AAM is immensely proud of the work of our community, and wish to extend our congratulations not only to the 2026 winners and nominees, but to all those working tirelessly behind the scenes to get Australian artists, music and stories into the world.
“The AAM Awards recognise the managers at the centre of artist careers; the ones driving strategy, navigating complexity, and making the work happen behind the scenes. This year’s nominees reflect the strength, diversity and ambition of our community. Our winners set the benchmark for modern management: forward-thinking, resilient, and deeply invested in their artists’ success. But they’re also part of a broader ecosystem of managers who are all shaping the future of Australian music. These awards are about celebrating that impact, and making sure the people behind the progress are seen. A huge congratulations to all of our nominees and winners today.” – Maggie Collins, AAM Executive Director
This years winners and nominees were voted for by an esteemed panel of industry experts, with the Patron's Gift Award curated by the AAM Patrons and the Legacy Award curated by the AAM Board.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us in celebration including our host Matt Okine, special guest presenters including the Hon. John Graham, MLC, all sponsors, the team at Crowbar, all AAM Awards team and production crew, Dani and Gloria from Auslan Stage Left, and very special guest performers Kasey Chambers and Bella Mackenzie.
Learn more about the incredible winners below!
2026 MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Presented by White Sky
Simone Ubaldi & Andrew Parisi, Sundowner Artists
Roster: Amyl and The Sniffers, Grace Cummings, The Gnomes, Girl and Girl, Nice Biscuit (Consultant Managers), Baby Cool (Consultant Managers)
Simone Ubaldi and Andrew Parisi are the founders of Sundowner Artists, a management company behind some of Australia’s most groundbreaking contemporary acts. Working across artist development, global touring strategy and long-term career sustainability, they strive to help their artists to bridge underground credibility with major-stage impact.
Under their management, Amyl and The Sniffers have become one of Australia’s most successful global rock exports — earning a GRAMMY nomination in 2025 and 7 ARIA Award wins, multiple UK and US late-night television appearances, major international festival slots, and sustained touring across North America, the UK and Europe.
Twice nominated for the Australian Music Prize and a 2025 finalist for Emerging Songwriter of the Year at the 2025 APRA Awards, Grace Cummings has received widespread critical acclaim at home and overseas, while building a devoted audience through US and European headline touring.
Signed globally to Sub Pop Records, Girl and Girl have rapidly emerged onto the UK and US radar, securing key showcase slots, BBC support and international touring momentum.
Meanwhile The Gnomes, Sundowner’s latest signing, have garnered early praise from the likes of Mojo and Classic Rock, placing them in the next wave of export-ready talent.
Ubaldi and Parisi are fiercely committed to the health, wellbeing and creative integrity of their artists, and they strive to only work with good people.
2026 BREAKTHROUGH MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Presented by DMT Law Firm
Christopher Kevin Au, 24 Karat Enterprises
Roster: POSSESHOT, SPEED (Co-Manager), Shady Nasty (Co-Manager), FUKHED (Co-Manager)
Christopher Kevin Au is an artist manager based in Sydney, Australia. Beginning his career as a music blogger in the 2010s, he went on to write for publications like The Guardian and Complex; interviewing global stars like Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone. He eventually hosted programs on MTV, triple j and a Spotify Originals series; and is currently part of Australia’s biggest hip-hop platform, Take Flight.
Christopher branched out into management in 2018 and currently works with SPEED, overseeing their ARIA Award winning debut album ‘ONLY ONE MODE’ and inaugural NSW Music Prize in 2025. He also manages genre-bending group Shady Nasty, dance producer FUKHED and Melbourne hip-hop traditionalists POSSESHOT. Previously, he managed Sydney group Triple One, earning one Platinum single 'Butter' and three Gold singles.
Christopher also worked as an A&R at Warner Music Australia / ADA Music. He was a key interviewee in the Netflix documentary ‘OneFour: Against All Odds’ and has been profiled by GQ, The Australian Financial Review and NME. He has acted as an advisor for ARIA, SoundNSW and Creative Australia; and spoken on panels for Apple Music, FBi Radio, triple j and The Betoota Advocate.
2026 EMERGING MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Presented by PPCA
Ali Tomoana, Soul Has No Tempo
Roster: Miss Kaninna
Ali Tomoana is the Managing Director of Soul Has No Tempo, a Brisbane-based music company, managing artists and releasing independent records.
Ali is a passionate advocate for First Nations and culturally diverse musicians, creating avenues for them to share their stories in authentic and meaningful ways. She currently manages breakthrough artist Miss Kaninna, guiding her through early development to being a 6-time ARIA award nominee in three short years.
A proud Māori/Samoan woman, with over 15 years in music, she has led international independent release campaigns through Soul Has No Tempo and is a freelance Tour Manager in her spare time. Ali is a member of the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Assoc) Hip Hop & RnB Advisory Group, supporting and celebrating opportunities for growth and development across both genres in Australia.
2026 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD WINNER
Presented by The Orchard
Tani Webb, First Nations Focus (FNFocus)
Roster: FLEWNT, Inkabee, Taija
Tani Webb is a music manager, creative producer, and cultural leader of First Nations Papua New Guinean heritage based in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. She is the Director and co-founder of FN Focus, a First Nations–led record label and artist development agency dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices and building sustainable pathways for emerging artists across contemporary music.
Tani manages Noongar hip-hop artist Joshua 'FLEWNT' Eggington and rising young artist INKABEE, supporting their growth across national tours, international showcases, and major cultural stages. Under her guidance, both artists have performed at events and venues including SXSW Sydney, SXSW Austin and the Sydney Opera House while continuing to connect deeply with community.
A strong advocate for grassroots cultural platforms, Tani has played a key role in developing initiatives such as Flewnt’s Boorloo Block Party, a community-driven hip-hop event that celebrates First Nations culture, music, and youth creativity while creating opportunities for emerging artists to perform and connect. She is also the Western Australian Program Manager for the GRID Series national artist development program, mentoring emerging artists and helping bridge the gap between community talent and the wider music industry.
Through her work, Tani is committed to strengthening community, creating opportunity, and elevating First Nations voices locally and globally.
2026 LEGACY AWARD WINNER
Presented by Frontier Touring
Melita Hodge, Six Boroughs Management
Roster: Kasey Chambers, Andy Golledge, Denvah, Ball Park Music (Co-Manager), Ruby Jackson (Co-Manager)
Melita Hodge is the founder and co-owner of artist management company Six Boroughs Management, who guides the careers of Kasey Chambers, Andy Golledge, Denvah, and, in partnership with Andy Bryan’s SBM roster of Ball Park Music, Boy Soda, North East Party House and Ruby Jackson. She also manages chefs-authors-television personalities Adam Liaw and Analiese Gregory.
A cornerstone of Melita’s career has been her 25 years managing Kasey Chambers, helping shape the career of one of Australia’s most enduring and influential music artists. Alongside Nash Chambers, Melita has quarterbacked the release of 13 Kasey albums, achieving 5 ARIA number 1's, 15 ARIA Awards, including ARIA Hall of Fame induction in 2018, 27 CMAA Golden Guitars and the Roll of Reknown honour, 10 APRA songwriting Awards, steering the career of an artist who has been credited with bringing Australian country music into the mainstream. Having managed Kasey through the halcyon days of CD sales, they secured 7 x platinum on 'Barricades & Brickwalls', simultaneously holding No.1 positions for the album and single 'Not Pretty Enough', while establishing her in the American market resulting in numerous North American Tours, including key TV moments on David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien shows, alongside managing tours and collaborations with her peers, including Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Keith Urban, Paul Kelly and Bernard Fanning to name a few.
2026 PATRON'S GIFT AWARD WINNER
Presented by the AAM Patrons
Ben Pierpoint, Ben Pierpoint Management
Roster: Dino Dimitriadis, DOBBY, GODTET, Jamaica Moana (Co-Manager), Milan Ring, Ngaiire (Co-Manager), Rose Riebl, Wallace
Ben Pierpoint is a music manager, creative producer, and quiet force behind some of Australia’s most compelling artists. Before stepping into management, Ben was an award-winning theatre composer and sound designer, and his background as an artist continues to shape his intuitive, collaborative approach to creative careers.
He founded BEN PIERPOINT MGMT to create a home for thoughtful, sustainable artistry where care, ambition, and creative freedom coexist. His work spans genres and disciplines, managing musicians, composers, and multidisciplinary artists including Ngaiire, Rose Riebl, GODTET, Jamaica Moana, Dino Dimitriadis, and Wallace.
Ben’s practice blends strategic vision with artistic understanding. Whether he’s building teams, navigating touring logistics, or quietly midwifing someone’s next creative leap, his work is grounded in trust, timing, and a deep respect for the people he represents. In recent years, Ben has expanded BPMgmt into new territory, including the launch of new label [ B E N T : a shape ] and the ELEVATE artist development program. At the core of it all: an unwavering belief in the long game.
Photos by Jess Gleeson
2026 Award Categories
Manager of the Year- Presented by White Sky
The past 12 months have been a defining chapter in this senior manager's career after consistent work over many years. They’ve successfully employed innovative, creative and/or non-traditional strategies in their management approach, which has led to significant career developments and unparalleled growth for their artist(s) and/or themselves. In instances where they have managed multiple acts, they have maintained balance across their roster, focusing equally on long-term career development and immediate opportunities, all while growing or contributing to a top-tier, profitable artist management business.
Breakthrough Manager of the Year- Presented by DMT Law Firm
This award is for the “moment maker” of the year. The profile of this manager’s artist(s) exploded in the past year resulting in significant and accelerated growth. Their moment in the media and/or fan spotlight has been a result of the artists’ talent met with this manager’s savvy understanding of the global market, precision judgement of timing, wider team management, and overall hustle to make the most out of every opportunity.
This manager has displayed innovative, creative and/or non-traditional strategies to capture this momentum, all while working to support long-term, career sustainability for their artist(s). This is a clear breakthrough moment in this person’s career, laying the foundation for their position as a globally recognised manager.
Emerging Manager of the Year- Presented by PPCA
This award recognises an emerging manager who has embodied the 'X' factor in their skills and approach to modern artist management. At the coalface of audience development, they have leveraged their hunger to learn, which has resulted in genuine impactful growth for their artist(s). They have navigated obstacles in career growth with ingenuity and creativity. They have overcome challenges with integrity, transparency and consultation. They have demonstrated unwavering dedication during a critical building phase, guiding their artist(s) with exceptional progress, resulting in achievements significantly beyond previous milestones.
Legacy Award - Presented by Frontier Touring
The Legacy Award honors an individual whose enduring contributions have shaped the Australian music industry and artist management landscape. This award recognizes a trailblazer whose vision, dedication, and influence have left an indelible mark on the careers of artists and the broader creative community. Through their pioneering achievements, this recipient has set a standard of excellence and inspired generations of managers to follow. Their legacy is a testament to the power of passion, innovation, and commitment in building a thriving and sustainable music industry.
Community Engagement Award - Presented by The Orchard
This Award is given to a manager who has shown great leadership and initiative within their music community, and whose contribution to the wider industry has gone above and beyond their duties as an artist manager. It is awarded to a manager who has developed respect amongst their peers, despite what commercial successes their act has or has not achieved. This manager has shown strength, leadership and kindness in their traits as a person and has made an indelible impact on the community which they serve.
Patron’s Gift Award- Curated by the AAM Patrons
The Patron’s Gift was conceived by the late, great Michael McMartin OAM, together with a group of dedicated industry peers during an AAM Executive Dinner held in the midst of the pandemic. At a time when many artist managers were struggling to stay connected, Michael and the group wanted to find a way to support those who couldn’t afford membership — to make sure no one was left behind. That simple, generous idea grew into what is now the Patron’s Gift Award: an official award and bursary, presented each year by the AAM Patrons, as Michael himself wished.
This award sits slightly outside the traditional categories. It recognises a manager whose work is exceptional, original, and impactful — someone who embodies the spirit of service, creativity, and community that Michael championed, regardless of commercial metrics. The Patron’s Gift Award stands as a tribute to his legacy — a reminder that mentorship, generosity, and belief in others are at the heart of what makes this industry thrive.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making the 2026 AAM Awards possible! Your generosity and support allows us to honour and celebrate the outstanding achievements in Australian artist management, and make this annual event a true celebration of talent, dedication, and excellence in our industry.
Major Sponsor:
White Sky - Major Sponsor and Manager of the Year Sponsor
White Sky are Australia’s leading music business managers. We provide specialised accounting and financial services that help artists, managers, record labels, festivals, and creative businesses thrive. We’re not just passionate about the money side of music. Our team includes musicians, artists, DJs and die-hard music fans, who also happen to be expert number crunchers and business advisors.
Key Sponsors:
DMT Law Firm - Breakthrough Manager of the Year Sponsor
Based in Los Angeles, DMT Law is one of the premiere music immigration boutiques in the US filing hundreds of O-1B and O-2 petitions annually for thousands of artists, crew, management, and others. Collaborating closely with most of the major agencies and management companies from across the globe, DMT Law Firm brings a unique approach that is tailored to the needs and challenges specific to the music industry, streamlining the process and eliminating much of the client’s normal visa workload for quick and cost-effective immigration outcomes.
Frontier Touring - Legacy Award Sponsor
Frontier Touring is one of the most respected, long-standing, and proactive concert promoters in Australasia. Formed in 1979, Frontier has had a fundamental role in entertaining Australians and New Zealanders across four decades. Founded by the late Michael Gudinski, Frontier Touring fast developed into one of the most highly respected touring companies in the Southern Hemisphere and continues to produce some of the most memorable tours to ever visit “down under”. Frontier Touring has toured some of the world’s most established and up and coming artists. Many of the most successful tours were the result of years of planning and the gradual (or sometimes meteoric) increase in venue size from tour to tour over the span of an artist’s career.
PPCA - Emerging Manager of the Year Sponsor
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) is a non-profit copyright collecting society that provides blanket licences for the use of recorded music and video clips in Australia. Revenue generated from licensing is distributed to registered record labels and artists so they can continue to make music for all of us to enjoy. If your artists control the copyright in their recordings, or feature on recordings, make sure you have your PPCA details up to date! www.ppca.com.au
The Orchard - Community Engagement Award Sponsor
A revolutionary music distribution company that continues to evolve but never loses sight of its main purpose: to empower creators to grow and adapt in the dynamic, global industry.
Friends of the AAM Sponsors:
AP Touring: AP Touring is an Australian-owned entertainer bus company, providing bands and solo artists with their own personal home-away-from-home since 2014.
Destroy All Lines: Destroy All Lines is an independent Australian owned concert and event promoter.
Established in 2003, Destroy All Lines is Australia’s largest and most trusted independent concert and event promoter. From its origins in club tours, Destroy All Lines has evolved into a powerhouse of the Australian touring landscape, promoting global icons such as Limp Bizkit, James Blunt, Megadeth & Kesha alongside a deep commitment to homegrown Aussie talent. As the force behind Good Things Festival - Australia’s premier annual rock and metal event - and partners in the debut of Knotfest Australia, Destroy All Lines continues to shape the modern festival experience for a new generation of fans. Beyond music, Destroy All Lines delivers a diverse portfolio of boutique events, professional wrestling, and comedy and podcast tours. From humble roots, over the course of two decades, Destroy All Lines has firmly established itself as Australia’s largest and most trusted independent promoter.
GYRO.Group: GYRO.Group is a connected ecosystem of distribution and artist services brands committed to empowering artists from debut to superstar. The GYRO.Group family represents music distribution and artist services brands including G.Y.R.O., DistroDirect, GROUP SPEED, Soothe Sounds, and more. Headquartered in Brisbane with operations in Australia, the USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, and the Philippines, the group combines local knowledge with international scale to deliver services in distribution, marketing and label infrastructure. Artists using GYRO.Group services have won ARIA Awards, earned Grammy nominations, achieved #1 albums, and secured global chart success. G.Y.R.O. = GET YOUR RECORD OUT
Media Arts Lawyers: For over 20 years, Media Arts Lawyers has given practical and commercial legal advice to clients throughout the entertainment, media, and creative industries. Acting for high-profile talent and multinational companies alongside emerging and fledgling projects, we set the benchmark for creative strategic legal solutions – no matter the deal size. Our combined experience means that we have the skill, deep networks, lateral thinking, and foresight to achieve the best commercial outcomes for our clients.
Sony Music Entertainment: At Sony Music Entertainment, we honour the creative journey. Our creators shape movements, culture, communities, even history. And we’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from establishing the first-ever music label to inventing the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 100 countries, supporting a diverse and distinctive roster of talented creators at every level and on every stage. Situated at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to emerging products and platforms, embrace new business models, and employ breakthrough tools—all to support the creative community’s experimentation, risk-taking, and growth.
Universal Music Australia: At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Universal Music Australia (UMA) is a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), we are a community of entrepreneurs committed to artistry, creativity and innovation, UMA fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Our work extends beyond signing and developing domestic Australian artists, we also provide global promotion, distribution and a full suite of artist services and support. We have enjoyed great success over the last decade with our domestic artists. For more information visit Universal Music Australia website.
We also wish to thank Coopers and Heaps Normal for their generous contribution towards our 2026 AAM Awards ceremony celebrations.
Previous Winners
2025
Manager of the Year: Andrew Klippel, Ourness
Breakthrough Manager of the Year: James Fava, Intergalactic Fantastic Worldwide
Emerging Manager of the Year: Elise Naismith, Lemon Tree Music
Legacy Award: John Watson, John Watson Management / Eleven; A Music Company
Community Engagement Award: Louise Sawilejskij, Nala Music
Patron’s Gift Award: Summer King, Topic Artists
2024
Manager of the Year: Jeremy Furze, Applejack Music
Breakthrough Manager of the Year: Harry White and Megan Rasmussen, Future Classic
Legacy Award: Jodie Regan, Spinning Top Music
Community Engagement Award: Kerry Kennell, Kennell & Co
Patron’s Gift Award: Lorrae McKenna, Our Golden Friend
2023
Manager of the Year: Andrew Stone, Chugg Music
Breakthrough Manager of the Year: Charlotte Ried, Powerhouse Management
Legacy Award: Michael McMartin OAM, Melody Management
Community Engagement Award: Jane Slingo, Young Strangers
Patron’s Gift Award: Ricky Simandjuntak, When Worlds Collide
2022
Manager of the Year: Simone Ubaldi and Andrew Parisi, Sundowner Artists
Breakthrough Manager of the Year: Ellen Kirk, Look Out Kid
Legacy Award: Correne Wilkie, Maven and Muse
Community Engagement Award: Cath Haridy, Catherine Haridy Management