Young Franco triumphs as Cassar-Daleys continue their QMA winning streak
A Brisbane DJ and producer has claimed the top honour at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards, while a father and daughter have both taken home major gongs in another standout year for the musical family. FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brisbane DJ-producer Young Franco has taken out Song of the Year at the 2025 Queensland Music Awards held on Tuesday night at Fortitude Music Hall, but it was the Cassar-Daley name that once again made a lasting impression on Queensland’s biggest night in music.
Singer-songwriter Jem Cassar-Daley, who won last year’s top honour for King of Disappointment, returned to the winner’s list with the Indigenous Award for her powerful new track Big Container.
She also received her Valley Walk of Fame plaque in Fortitude Valley’s Brunswick Street Mall earlier that day — a proud tradition for past Song of the Year recipients.
“I’m definitely pinching myself a little bit today,” she said. “This has been a moment I don’t think really felt real until I was here. So very excited.”
But Jem wasn’t the only Cassar-Daley recognised.
Her father, country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, was awarded the first publicly voted Album of the Year award for ‘Between The Fires’,
“[This is] one night he’s usually very excited for,” Jem said, adding that while her dad had his “feet up in Queenstown,” he was “very sad he’s missing out.”
Despite her own success, Jem said the best part of the night was the sense of community.
“It’s catching up with a lot of lifetime friends and seeing just how much good music we have in Queensland every year. The awards are just a bonus on top of having such an awesome community.”
But the night ultimately belonged to Young Franco, who not only clinched the Song of the Year award for his hit Wake Up ft. Master Peace, but also walked away with the Electronic Award and Export Achievement Award.
Other major wins included Rockhampton singer Denvah, who earned the Country Award for Making Cups of Tea, and music icon Christine Anu, who was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Powderfinger bassist and Nightlife Economy Commissioner JC Collins said the QMAs had become a cornerstone of the state’s music identity.
“It’s definitely changed in its importance — how the industry responds to it, how the artists respond to it. That’s a real win for the Queensland industry,” he said.
“I honestly believe Queensland is a hidden gem in the country when it comes to recognising, representing, and celebrating its artists.”
2025 QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS – WINNERS
2025 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Christine Anu
ALBUM OF THE YEAR | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Troy Cassar-Daley – Between the Fires
SONG OF THE YEAR
Young Franco – ‘Wake Up ft Master Peace’
EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Young Franco
HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM
Amy Shark – ‘Sunday Sadness’
HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE
Amy Shark – ‘Beautiful Eyes’
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lottie McLeod
BLUES | ROOTS AWARD
Full Flower Moon Band – ‘Illegal Things’
CHILDREN’S MUSIC AWARD
The Wobble Bus – ‘Rubbish Bin Day’
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL & MUSIC FOR STAGE
Nicole Murphy – ‘Untangled’
COUNTRY AWARD
Denvah – ‘Making Cups of Tea’
ELECTRONIC AWARD
Young Franco – ‘Wake Up ft. Master Peace’
FOLK AWARD
Asha Jefferies – ‘Spinning’
HEAVY AWARD
Wildheart – ‘The Darkest Path’
HIP HOP AWARD
Randy Thrill$ – ‘Walked Away’
INDIGENOUS AWARD
Jem Cassar-Daley – ‘Big Container’
JAZZ AWARD
Kellee Green – ‘River to Sea’
MUSIC FOR SCREEN
Tristan Barton – ‘Legend Is Born’
POP AWARD
Sycco – ‘Meant To Be’
ROCK AWARD
Beddy Rays – ‘Stay The Same’
SOUL | FUNK | RNB AWARD
JUNO – ‘I’m the Man’
WORLD AWARD
JUNGAJI – ‘Gummy Bamarra (Grandsons Story)’
YOUTH (AGES 10 – 17) AWARD
Mackenzie May – ‘Little Things’
REGIONAL AWARD
Greta Stanley
VIDEO AWARD
Tom Carroll – ‘Hocus Pocus – Mallrat’
CAROL LLOYD AWARD
Dana Gehrman
BILLY THORPE SCHOLARSHIP
Miles Nautu
DENNIS “MOP” CONLON SCHOLARSHIP
Rudy Matoy
GRANT MCLENNAN FELLOWSHIP
Wolfe Peterson
METRO VENUE OF THE YEAR | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
The Fortitude Music Hall
REGIONAL VENUE OF THE YEAR | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Sandstone Point Hotel
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Big Pineapple Festival
ACCESSIBLE VENUE AWARD (INDUSTRY ASSESSED)
The Station SC
Revealed: Missing cop a member of Hemsworth’s surfing inner circle
Missing Queensland cop Jay Notaro was part of a close circle of surfing mates including Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, it can be revealed.
‘Go woke go broke’: Disney’s Snow White remake slammed
Hollywood is facing backlash that its films are ‘too woke’ as Disney’s remake of Snow White becomes the latest cinematic outing to bomb at the box office.