With five wins, Ninajirachi was untouchable at the 2026 AIR Awards, presented Thursday evening (July 31) at Adelaide Town Hall.

The EDM producer and DJ (real name: Nina Wilson) scooped the night’s big categories, including independent album, independent producer, and best independent electronic album or EP for I Love My Computer, while her breakthrough song “iPod Touch” took out best independent electronic single and independent song of the year.

Co-written with Darcy Baylis, “iPod Touch” took shape in 2024 and was “one of the hardest songs to finish, ever,” Ninajirachi explained in a taped acceptance speech. “A lot of my album tracks just fell from the sky and they were so easy. ‘iPod Touch’ had 100,000 versions and at a point I really didn’t think it was going to make it onto the album. But I’m so happy it did. It’s a real lesson in persistence and I’m so grateful that it’s won.”

Ninajirachi has been an all-conquering force on the awards circuit since I Love My Computer dropped a year ago. In the months since, she bagged three ARIAs, the Australian Music Prize for album of the year, J Awards, the NSW Music Prize for breakthrough artist, and took out second place in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition for “iPod Touch.” Prior to Thursday evening, she had never won an AIR Award.

After attending last year’s ceremony, Ninajirachi had an excellent reason to miss the AIR Awards this time; she’s currently touring the United States, with a show a Lollapalooza in Chicago on the same day as the indie awards. “If I could teleport, I would,” she insisted in a precorded bit.

I Love My Computer also swept the industry segment of the 20^th annual AIR Awards, with the independent mix, studio or mastering engineer of the year honor (Thomas Purcell PKA Wave Racer), independent publicity team of the year (Melody Forghani’s Twnty Three) and independent marketing team of the year (NLV Records, The Orchard).

The good times didn’t end there. Nina Las Vegas (real name: Nina Agzarian) and her team at NLV Records snagged the last of 24 awards announced on the night, independent label of the year. In her victory speech, Las Vegas recounted a grumpy email sent five years ago to the team at The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), producers of the awards and the annual Indie-Con, also presented this week in the South Australian capital.

“I just work really hard to get what I wanted, and I really wanted this,” she told the full house of industry guests. Earlier in the week, Las Vegas and her team launched the latest Ninajirachi single, “WannaCry,” a collaboration with Porter Robinson.

With a trio of trophies, the ceremony was a massive success for Folk B*tch Trio. The rising act won for best independent blues and roots album or EP, breakthrough artist of the year and independent music video of the year for “Cathode Ray” (Bridgette Winten).

Other artist winners included Wilsn (best independent soul/RNB album or EP), Devaura (best independent hip hop album or EP), Ruby Gill (best independent country album or EP), Way Dynamic (best independent pop album or EP), Playlunch (best independent rock album or EP), Thornhill (best independent heavy album or EP) and These New South Whales (best independent punk album or EP).

Meanwhile, Sebastian Chase, founder of MGM Distribution, earned the outstanding achievement award. The industry veteran’s son Michael Chase was on hand to read a speech prepared by his dad.

The awards were first established in 2006 as an effort to “recognize, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia’s Independent Music sector.” AIR itself was founded 30 years ago to the month, in July 1996.

At the top of the 2026 edition, Hilton Gumbys, a Labor member of the Legislative Council in the South Australian Parliament, announced two additional years of state funding for the awards and Indie-Con, to secure the event in Adelaide until at least 2028.

Performers including The Tullamarines, Cookin’ on 3 Burners, Georgia Knight, and Elsy Wameyo, and Dylan Lewis and Jessica Braithwaite were back on hosting duties.

“Tonight we’re celebrating you,” AIR CEO Maria Amato told guests at the invite-only gathering. “The independent artists that do things that you love, on your own terms, and don’t let anyone stand in your way.”

Check out all the winners here and below. Listen to AIR’s nominee playlist on its supporting partner platforms YouTube here and Amazon Music here.

Best Independent Blues And Roots Album Or EP
John Butler – Prism
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)
Liz Stringer – The Second High
Melbourne Ska Orchestra – The Ballad Of Monte Loco
Sons Of The East – Sons

Best Independent Jazz Album Or EP

Natalie Gauci – Pictures Of Mars
Phia – When I’m Holding You, I’m Holding Me
Temporary Blessings – Sumbisori (WINNER)
The Cat Empire – Bird In Paradise
Touch Sensitive – In Paradise

Best Independent Classical Album Or EP

Andrea Lam – Piano Diary
Australian String Quartet – Vanessa Perica, String Quartet No.1 No Feeling Is Final
Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity
Rose Riebl – Dust
William Barton, Omega Ensemble – Gift – Our Breath Of Life (WINNER)

Best Independent Children’s Album Or EP

Diver City – Weekend Baby
Emma Memma – Dance Island Party
Justine Clarke – Mimi’s Symphony
Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart (WINNER)
The Wiggles, The Tree Of Wisdom – The Tree Of Wisdom

Best Independent Country Album Or EP

Emily Lubitz – Two Black Horses
Hayley Jensen – Country Soul
Imogen Clark – Choking On Fuel
Ruby Gill – Some Kind Of Control (WINNER)
Wade Forster – Gooseneck Party

Best Independent Soul/RnB Album Or EP

Bumpy – Kanana
Cookin’ On 3 Burners – Cookin’ The Books
Don West – Give Me All Your Love
Felivand – My Body’s My True North
Wilsn – Bloom (WINNER)

Best Independent Pop Album Or EP

Georgia Knight – Beanpole
Montaigne – It’s Hard To Be A Fish
Stella Donnelly – Love And Fortune
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Way Dynamic – Massive Shoe (WINNER)

Best Independent Rock Album Or EP

Playlunch – Sex Ed (WINNER)
Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – Glory
The Belair Lipbombs – Again
The Southern River Band – Easier Said Than Done

Independent Marketing Team Of The Year

Mushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Nlv Records, The Orchard – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)
Playlunch, Abc Music – Playlunch, Keith
Secretly Group – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time
The Annex – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon

Independent Music Video Of The Year

Ball Bass John – Ninajirachi, Fuck My Computer
Bridgette Winten, Folk Bitch Trio – Folk Bitch Trio, Cathode Ray (WINNER)
Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore – Miss Kaninna, Backstreets
Tas Wilson, James Adams – Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving
Jasper Van Daatselaar – Way Dynamic, People Settle Down

Independent Mix, Studio Or Mastering Engineer Of The Year

Becki Whitton, Timothy Harvey, Hannah Cameron – Ruby Gill, Some Kind Of Control
Leon Zervos – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Michael Carpenter – Imogen Clark, Choking On Fuel
Stephen Mowat – Wilsn, Bloom
Thomas Purcell Pka Wave Racer – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)
 
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Presented By PPCA

Folk Bitch Trio (WINNER)
Georgia Knight
Rageflower
Rona.
Yes Boone

Best Independent Hip Hop Album Or EP

Bliss N Eso – The Moon (The Light Side)
Devaura – Vol 1. Learning In Public (WINNER)
Elsy Wameyo – Wameyo
Jamaica Moana – Bud & Deni
Teether & Kuya Neil – Yearn Iv
 
Best Independent Electronic Album Or EP

Essendon Airport – Mor
Mel Blue – No More Jackets Please
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer (WINNER)
Rona. – It’s All Here (EP)
Shouse – Collective Ecstasy

Best Independent Dance/ Club Single
Confidence Man, Jade – Gossip
DJ Pgz And Yikes – Ouss Ouss
Fisher – Stay
Shouse  – Sunrise
Vv Pete – Wassa Feat. Utility, Formation Boyz (WINNER)

Best Independent Electronic Single

Cosmo’s Midnight – 45
Keanu Nelson – Place Where I Go / Kapi Ngalyananni
Ninajirachi – Ipod Touch (WINNER)
Robert Baxter & Sweatbaby – Icy (Take It Off)
The Superjesus & The Journey – Something Good

Best Independent Punk Album Or EP
Press Club – To All The Ones I Love
Private Function – ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Radio Free Alice – Empty Words Ep
These New South Whales – Godspeed (WINNER)
Wet Kiss – Thus Spoke The Broken Chanteuse

Best Independent Heavy Album Or EP

Battlesnake – Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd
Hands Like Houses – Atmospherics
Npcede – Npcede
The Maggie Pills  – Hearts Induring Lingering Loss
Thornhill – Bodies (WINNER)

Independent Album Of The Year

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer (WINNER)
The 046 – Legacy In Motion
The Belair Lipbombs – Again
Way Dynamic – Massive Shoe

Independent Song Of The Year

Jem Cassar-Daley – Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving
Keli Holiday – Dancing2
Ninajirachi – Ipod Touch (WINNER)
Playlunch – Keith
Way Dynamic – Miffed It

Independent Label Of The Year

ABC Music
Astral People Recordings
College Of Knowledge
Mushroom Music 
NLV Records (WINNER)

Independent Publicity Team Of The Year

Cult Logic – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Mushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)
Mushroom Music – Wilsn, Bloom
Twnty Three – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)
Twnty Three – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer

Independent Producer Of The Year

Angus Stone – Dope Lemon, Golden Wolf
Benjamin Stewart – Slowly Slowly, Forgiving Spree
Dylan Young – Way Dynamic, Massive Shoe
Nick DiDia – Ocean Alley, Love Balloon
Nina Wilson – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)

2026 Outstanding Achievement Award

Sebastian Chase (WINNER)

The full list of nominees for the 2026 Mercury Prize has been announced, with the shortlist including Paul McCartney, RAYE, Olivia Dean and more.

Celebrating the work of both esteemed and emerging artists from U.K and Ireland, the Mercury Prize is awarded annually and recognizes artistic achievement in LPs across a range of genres. Recent winners include Sam Fender (2025), English Teacher (2024), Ezra Collective (2023), Little Simz (2022), and Arlo Parks (2021) The Prize was first awarded in 1992 to Primal Scream for Screamadelica, and winners include collections by Pulp (1996), PJ Harvey (2001, 2011) and Arctic Monkeys (2006).

Among those featured on this year’s 12-strong shortlist are: RAYE for her chart-topping THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, Olivia Dean for the chart-topping The Art of Loving, and Paul McCartney for his 20th solo studio album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. It’s the first time that the latter has been nominated for the prize in his storied career.

Completing the lineup is Dave’s The Boy Who Played The Harp; Florence + The Machine’s Everybody Scream; Dove Ellis’ Blizzard; JADE’s THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!; Knats’ A Great Day In Newcastle; Kojey Radical’s Don’t Look Down; Nia Archives’ Emotional Junglist; Suede’s Antidepressants; and War Child compilation HELP(2).

A number of leading artists miss out on the nod, however. Lily Allen’s West End Girl is omitted, as is Lola Young’s I’m Only F****ng Myself‘ Blood Orange’s Essex Honey, The Last Dinner Party’s From The Pyre and Boards of Canada’s Inferno were also not selected for this year’s list.

The prize will be awarded at a ceremony at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Oct. 22. The ceremony moved outside of London for the first time in 2025 with hometown hero Sam Fender collecting the prize for his third album, People Watching, which features his No. 1 hit “Rein Me In.” Fans can purchase tickets for the ceremony, which will include a number of performances by the nominated artists, at the awards’ official website.

Albums released between Aug. 30 2025 and July 17, 2026 were eligible for consideration this year. The 12 shortlisted albums were chosen by an independent judging panel chaired by Jeff Smith, head of music, BBC 6 Music & Radio 2. 

This year’s committee consisted of: Afrodeutsche – composer & DJ; Danielle Perry – broadcaster & writer; Jamie Cullum – musician & broadcaster; Lea Stonhill – music programming consultant; MistaJam – songwriter, DJ & broadcaster; Phil Alexander – creative director, Kerrang!/contributing editor, Mojo; Sian Eleri – broadcaster & DJ; Will Hodgkinson – chief rock & pop critic, The Times; and Sophie Williams – writer & broadcaster.

2026 Mercury Prize nominees:

Dave, The Boy Who Played the Harp
Dove Ellis, Blizzard
Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream
JADE, THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
Knats, A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical, Don’t Look Down
Nia Archives, Emotional Junglist
Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Paul McCartney, The Boys of Dungeon Lane
RAYE, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE
Suede, Antidepressants
War Child Records, HELP(2)

UPDATE (July 29): Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. released a statement on Wednesday (July 29) in response to BTS’ decision not to enter their music for the 2027 Grammy Awards.

“I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision.

“I do want to clarify something that seems to be getting lost in the conversation. The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. The spirit of this new category is to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists. More categories mean more artists’ work is recognized. It’s never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters.

“I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.

“The Grammy organization is here to serve music and all the people who make it. As we continue to expand the reach, our membership and our awards, regardless of geography or language, I want to emphasize that we will continue to listen to the global music community and work to honor and celebrate all the artists whose music moves the world. – Harvey Mason jr, Grammys CEO”

While Mason didn’t mention it in his statement, he and BTS have something in common, at least in terms of Grammy nominations. Both have received exactly five Grammy nods without winning. Mason’s nominations are as a producer of Justin Timberlake’s Justified and the Dreamgirls, Pitch Perfect 2 and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert soundtracks and as a songwriter of Toni Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” BTS’ nominations are detailed below.

PREVIOUSLY (July 29): BTS has announced that they will not be submitting music from their comeback album ARIRANG for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards.

All seven members of the K-pop supergroup — RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook —simultaneously posted an identical statement on their individual Instagram accounts on Wednesday (July 29): “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” a translation of the message reads. “I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”

Their message takes an implicit swipe at the guidelines for the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which was one of five new Grammy categories introduced in June. The group members’ choice to specify both “region” and “language” is relevant, as the category specifies that songs must include “meaningful use” of any Asian language.

Ironically, BTS’s smash English-language hit single “SWIM,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, would have been excluded from this new Asian pop category anyway.

The boycott comes during a banner comeback year for BTS. After completing the group members completed their mandatory military service, they released their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, in March 2026. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 units, marking the biggest opening week for a group album in more than a decade.

BTS has received five Grammy nominations, including three consecutive nominations in the high-profile best pop duo/group performance category, for “Dynamite” (2021), “Butter” (2022) and “My Universe,” the latter a collab with Coldplay (2023). In 2023, the group received two other nominations: album of the year as a featured artist on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres and best music video for “Yet to Come.”

BTS’ decision not to enter its music is a blow to the Grammys’ prestige, but the biggest impact could be the Grammy telecast losing a powerhouse draw. The group has performed on the Grammy telecast twice; it contributed a remote performance from a Seoul skyscraper in 2021 and a live, spy-themed rendition of “Butter” in Las Vegas in 2022.

Other artists have declined to submit their music for Grammy consideration, often in reaction to what they saw as snubs, including Drake, The Weeknd and Morgan Wallen.

Some have criticized the new best Asian pop music performance category, which sits in the Pop & Dance/Electronic Field, fearing that it will lock Asian acts into a subcategory and deny them the opportunity to compete in the higher-profile General Field categories or in pop performance categories. The former fear is unfounded. All artists from all genres can compete in the General Field categories, which include album, record and song of the year and best new artist.

But it is true that a specific recording can compete in only one performance category. If a recording is entered for best Asian pop music performance, it cannot be entered for, say, best pop duo/group performance. The same act can, however, be nominated in multiple performance categories with different recordings.

K-pop achieved its first-ever Grammy win earlier this year when “Golden” from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters won best song written for visual media. The song was also nominated for song of the year but did not win.

The Recording Academy’s description of the new award, in full, reads:

“This category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances. Eligible recordings include contemporary popular music originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.

“Asian pop is a distinct and globally recognized form of popular music characterized by its integrated approach to music, performance, and presentation. Eligible recordings typically feature melody-driven composition, mainstream pop songwriting, and commercially oriented production, as recognized within their respective markets, and may incorporate elements of pop-adjacent styles such as pop-rock, pop R&B, and other related forms. Recordings in this category are often characterized by genre-blending arrangements, layered production, and dynamic structural shifts designed to support both audio and performance-based delivery.

“Recordings must feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. An Asian language should play a significant role within the song in bilingual or multilingual structures such that the recording is identifiable with that language. Recordings performed entirely in an Asian language are eligible. Incidental or minimal use (e.g., isolated words, adlibs, or brief phrases) does not qualify. Recordings performed entirely in English are not eligible in this category and remain eligible in other appropriate categories.

“The musical style is determinative of eligibility, not the ethnicity or nationality of the performer(s).

“Other popular music forms which originate in Asia or the Asian diaspora but do not meet the genre criteria for this category are eligible in other categories as appropriate.

“Only one version of a recording is eligible in a performance category in any year. A recording which is eligible and entered in another performance category is not also eligible in Best Asian Pop Music Performance for a different version featuring an Asian language performance.

“Nominees are Artist(s).

“Grammy statuettes awarded to Artist(s).”

There is recent precedent for tracks to win both in General Field categories (such as record and song of the year) and genre-specific categories. In 2019, Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” won best rap/sung performance as well as record and song of the year. In 2022, Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” won in two R&B categories as well as record and song of the year.

Earlier this year, Bad Bunny made history when Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first all-Spanish-language album to win album of the year. It also won best música urbana album. Of Bunny’s six 2026 nominations, four were in genre-neutral categories and two were in genre-specific categories. Of his three wins, one was in a genre-neutral category and two were in genre-specific categories.

The Caribbean Music Awards are moving closer to home.

On Wednesday (July 28), Caribbean Elite Group, which presents the awards, announced that the fourth annual ceremony will take place Sept. 18-20 in Trinidad & Tobago. The buzzy move follows a stellar three-year run at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, where the Caribbean Music Awards united artists, key industry players and fans in one of the world’s most robust diaspora cities.

Co-hosted by Trinidadian soca star Nailah Blackman and “King of Caribbean Comedy” Majah Hype (in his fourth consecutive year), the awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain.

In addition to the new location, this year’s Caribbean Music Awards expands the single-night celebration into a sprawling Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience. The weekend will feature immersive events across music and culture, the awards ceremony and official afterparty, and a special steelpan showcase presented by Stars and Steel.

“Four years hosting the Caribbean Music Awards? Mi feel like dem haffi give me my own seat at this point!” said Majah Hype. “But seriously, being part of this journey from day one has been a blessing. I’ve watched this celebration grow, seen the incredible talent come through, and witnessed how much this moment means to our people. To see it expand from Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to Trinidad & Tobago is something special. Caribbean culture is powerful, the talent is endless, and mi ready fi celebrate everybody who continues to carry our music and our culture to the world.”

Moving to Trinidad also underscores the incredible year Trini artists have been having across genres. T&T’s own Lady Lava, Billboard’s Up-And-Coming Caribbean Artist of the Month for June 2026, leads this year’s nominations tally with nine nods across seven categories. King of Soca Machel Montano, Grenadian soca sensation V’ghn and Jamaican dancehall star Ayetian — Billboard’s Up-And-Coming Caribbean Artist of the Month for July 2026 — follow with seven nominations each. Other notable names on this year’s nominees list include Vybz Kartel, Tyla, Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Sting, Fridayy, Davido and Burna Boy.

“The Caribbean Music Awards has been a special part of my journey,” said Nailah Blackman, whose grandfather Lord Shorty (born Garfield Blackman) is credited with inventing soca music. “I’ve experienced this celebration as a fan, as a performer, as a nominee, and as a winner, and now being able to step into the role of host is truly an honor. To do it in Trinidad, surrounded by our people and our culture, makes this moment even more meaningful. I’m excited to celebrate the incredible artists who continue to push Caribbean music forward.”

This year’s Caribbean Music Awards honors over 250 nominees across 40-plus categories spanning a diverse range of genres including reggae, soca, dancehall, calypso, R&B and gospel. Several new categories were introduced for the 2026 ceremony to accommodate the varied Caribbean music scene, including Dennery artist and song of the year, zess song of the year, konpa song of the year, chutney soca artist and song of the year, jab artist and song of the year and French Caribbean song of the year.

The Caribbean Music Awards are presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, which also produces Caribbean Elite Magazine – a print and digital publication that highlights Caribbean entertainers, artists, producers, promoters, cuisine, travel, fashion and entrepreneurs.

Voting is currently underway at the Caribbean Music Awards website and will conclude on Monday, Aug. 10. For the complete list of nominations, visit the Caribbean Music Awards website.

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) have named blues musician Marlene Cummins and Elcho Island’s Saltwater Band as the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, ahead of the ceremony in Darwin next month.

Cummins — a Guguyelandji woman on her father’s side and Woppaburra on her mother’s — is regarded as one of Australia’s leading Indigenous female blues voices. Born in Cunnamulla, Queensland, she studied saxophone and songwriting at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and has worked across music, broadcasting, activism, dance and acting.

Her career has included award-winning radio work, the documentary Black Panther Woman, which chronicled her own history within the Australian Black Panther movement, and the song “Koori Woman,” written as a dedication to Indigenous women.

Saltwater Band, from Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island, are recognised for a catalogue that threaded traditional song through reggae and ska-influenced pop, sung mostly in Yolŋu languages. The band’s most prominent member was the late Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, already a Hall of Fame inductee — inducted by fellow founding member Manuel Dhurrkay — who went on to become the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician in history.

Before co-founding Saltwater Band, Yunupingu played in Yothu Yindi, the internationally recognised group behind the landmark 1991 single “Treaty.” His solo debut Gurrumul (2008) reached No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart and won two ARIA Awards, and he sold an estimated half a million records worldwide before his death in 2017 at 46. Saltwater Band earned multiple NIMAs and Deadly Awards across their career, with their album Djarridjarri nominated for the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album in 2004.

The 2026 NIMAs take place at Darwin Amphitheater in Garramilla/Darwin on Saturday, Aug. 8, hosted by Rob Collins and Leila Gurruwiwi. The performance lineup features Baker Boy, Electric Fields, BIG NOTER, Stiff Gins, Bumpy, Casii Williams, South Summit and Zipporah, with more to be announced. The night’s Artist of the Year nominees include 3%, Baker Boy, Birdz and Fred Leone, Bumpy, Jem Cassar-Daley, Miss Kaninna and South Summit.

Ahead of the ceremony, the Blak Loud Showcase — presented by Amazon Music Australia and Awesome Blak — will serve as the unofficial opening night at Darwin’s Bustard Town on Aug. 7, featuring South Summit, Zipporah and Casii Williams. Free RSVPs are available through the NIMA website.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Springsteen received a new award from the American Civil Liberties Union recognizing contributions to American thought and culture.

Kaepernick and Springsteen were honored Friday night (July 24) with the ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports. The honor comes a decade after Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest against police violence and racial inequality.

“We know our civil liberties are under attack, we know humanity is under attack, education is under attack. They are trying to encroach on our rights, encroach on our dignity, encroach on the future that we want to build together,” Kaepernick said in his acceptance speech at the event in Washington, D.C. “When we look back at this moment, it will not be the speeches that change the direction of history. It’s going to be whether we decided: Are we going to build the schools or not? Are we going to defend the rights of others, or are we going to watch? Are we going to build community together, or are we going to stand in isolation?”

“The consequences of these decisions are going to be the reality that the future generations inherit.”

Kaepernick was joined in protest by teammate Eric Reid and others, but he also drew criticism from politicians, team owners and other players. Kaepernick and Reid filed collusion grievances against the NFL in 2017, saying they were blacklisted. They reached a settlement in 2019.

“He demonstrated in real time the price America too often exacts from those who challenge racial injustice,” said Deborah Archer, the ACLU’s president. “His peaceful protest was met with extraordinary personal sacrifice. He lost the career he spent his life building. He became the target of criticism, hostility and relentless public attack, and yet he never retreated.”

Springsteen — who closed the event with a solo rendition of “Streets of Minneapolis” — and Kaepernick were honored as part of an awards ceremony hosted by actress Laverne Cox.

“It’s important for us to recognize all of the people who are contributing to the fight to protect civil rights and civil liberties,” Archer said. “Those folks — actors, athletes — these folks have all shown up in incredibly powerful ways.”

Springsteen’s performance of “Streets of Minneapolis” was uploaded to his official YouTube channel. Watch it below.

BMI celebrated the best in gospel music on Tuesday (July 21) at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards held at BMI’s Nashville office, where Kierra Sheard received the BMI Impact Award in recognition of her career and impact on the future of gospel music. Sheard was also honored as BMI’s gospel songwriter of the year in a three-way tie with her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and Kerry Douglas.

BMI’s gospel song of the year went to “Lead Me On,” co-written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore and Jeff Pardo. Performed by Moore, the song was a single from his 2024 solo album, Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles. The song brought Moore his first solo No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart.

BMI’s gospel publisher of the year went to Capitol CMG Publishing for having the highest publisher share percentage of the top 25 songs, including BMI’s gospel song of the year, “Lead Me On.”

The 25 most-performed gospel songs of the previous year were also announced at the private afternoon ceremony hosted by BMI’s CEO, Mike O’Neill; executive vp and chief revenue & creative officer Mike Steinberg; and vp of creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

Douglas and siblings Kierra Sheard and J Drew Sheard II received songwriter of the year for each writing three of the most performed gospel songs of the previous year. Douglas was honored for “Don’t Give Up,” “Windows” and “Without You,” bringing his total number of BMI Awards to five. J Drew and Kierra Sheard were recognized for co-writing their hits “All Yours,” “RAIN DOWN ON ME” and “Send It Down,” marking the second time the duo has been honored with this title, after their first win in 2022.

The BMI Impact Award tributes kicked off with a video message from Sheard’s aunt and 2024 BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Music honoree Dorinda Clark-Cole. Sheard’s mother, Karen Clark Sheard, also gave a speech congratulating her daughter for the “well-deserved honor.”

To pay homage to Sheard’s career, tribute performances kicked off with Darrel Walls on “Indescribable,” joined by DOE, who gave a soulful rendition of “This Is Me.” Tasha Cobb Leonard ended the tributes with an uplifting performance of “Hang On,” with Karen Clark Sheard and Tamela Mann singing along from the audience.

Upon presenting Sheard with the BMI Impact Award, Steinberg said, “Today, we celebrate you for inspiring us through all your endeavors: your innovative songwriting, your powerful artistry and your ministry that touches hearts around the world.”

Sheard thanked her family and members of the audience, sharing, “God has a way to reward faithfulness before He rewards popularity… and [it] is a reminder that if you keep saying yes, He knows exactly where to find you.”  She added her appreciation to BMI, saying, “I want to thank you for pushing gospel music forward.  You make this industry worth staying in. What matters is what you represent, that someone still believes in a song that is worth protecting and paying for.” The ceremony concluded with Sheard singing her hit song “You Are.”

The ceremony, which kicked off with a performance of “I Love the Lord” sung by Keyla Richardson, highlighted 16 first-time winners, including Adia, Jazze Pha, Travis Finley, Dustin “SLATE” Slater and Keran Vega.

Visit the BMI site to see a full list of BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel Music Award honorees. (The link should be live by 11 p.m. ET.)