APRA Reveals 2025 Professional Development Awards Finalists

APRA has revealed the star-studded finalists for this year’s Professional Development Awards (PDA), with artists handpicked across all genres – classical, country, hip-hop, EDM, and more.

61 songwriters and composers have made the finalists list revealed today. Some of the finalists include hip-hop artist BARKAA, R&B powerhouse Becca Hatch, alt-country singer-songwriter Charlie Collins, indie-pop hitmaker The Japanese House (Gabriel Strum), RVG bandleader Romy Vager, and electronic music pioneer Harvey Sutherland. You can find the full list of finalists below.

The winners across 13 categories will be revealed in Sydney on Thursday, 13 February. Each will take home $10,000 in cash.

APRA AMCOS developed the Professional Development Awards (PDAs) to create career-boosting opportunities for Australian songwriters and composers. The PDAs help recipients with their professional development journey by allowing them to attend workshops, music education courses, seminars, songwriting sessions, and more.

Previous Professional Development Award winners include Gotye, Angie McMahon, Morgan Evans, Yirrmal, Sara Berki, Baker Boy, Elsy Wameyo, Jem Cassar-Daley, and stacks more.

An experienced panel of Australian music industry legends will judge the competition for this year's awards. Journalists and presenters Dave Ruby Howe and Sosefina Fuamoli will join artists and producers Casey Barnes, Julian Hamilton, Liz Stringer, and Brooke McClymont on the panel.

Sosefina Fuamoli said of this year’s awards: “The judging process never gets easier. With each year, the competition increases in strength, and the number of talented applicants who take the time to develop impactful presentations is a testament to the powerful vision that drives some of this country's most exciting artistry - across genre and background. 

“I hope the reveal of these finalists encourages other artists who may not have seen themselves or their art represented in this space before, to potentially apply themselves."

2025 Professional Development Awards Finalists

Classical & Experimental

•    Corrina Bonshek (Corrina Bonshek & Collaborators)

•    Han Yi (Henry) Liang

•    Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung

•    Josten Myburgh

•    Kate Milligan

Country/Americana

•    Charlie Collins

•    Denvah

•    Max Jackson

•    Melody Pool

•    Raechel Whitchurch

Dance/Electronic

•    CORIN

•    Elle Shimada

•    Harvey Sutherland

•    Rromarin

•    Skeleten

Hip Hop/Rap

•    BARKAA

•    Gold Fang

•    Hayku Kyah

•    J-MILLA

•    YAWDOESITALL

Jazz & Improvised Music

•    Eduardo Cossio

•    Flora Carbo

•    Hilary Geddes

•    Solune

•    Tom Avgenicos

Music Theatre

•    Alec Steedman - Silver Tongue

•    Cassie Hamilton - A Transgender Woman on the Internet, Crying

•    Conor Neylon and Jackson Peele - Kate, Gus & The Other Kids

•    Erin McKellar - Wittenoom

•    Sheanna Parker Russon – Afterglow

Popular Contemporary (two awards)

•    Alias Error

•    Ally Hocking Howe

•    Claire Taylor

•    Gabriel Strum (Japanese Wallpaper)

•    KIAN

•    Salty

•    Sui Zhen

•    Romy Vager (RVG)

•    Samuel Gaskin

•    Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip)

R&B/Soul

•    Ashli

•    Dylan Atlantis

•    James Angus

•    Ruby Jackson

•    Wild Gloriosa

Screen Composition

•    Caleb Jacobs

•    Darren Lim

•    Josie Mann

•    Paul Nicolaou

•    Samuel Marks

NATSIMO General

•    FLEWNT

•    Jolene Lawrence

•    Katrina Connelly

•    Kee'ahn Bindol

•    Rrawun Maymuru

NATSIMO Youth (under 25)

•    Becca Hatch

•    Kaytlyn Johnson

•    Layla Barnett

NATSIMO Senior (over 50)

•    Anna Liebzeit

•    Brolga

•    Marlene Cummins