View source for Music of Australia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2025}}

The '''music of Australia''' has an extensive history made of music societies. [[Indigenous Australian music]] forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic [[didgeridoo]]. Contemporary fusions of indigenous and Western styles are exemplified in the works of [[Yothu Yindi]], [[No Fixed Address (band)|No Fixed Address]], [[Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu]] and [[Christine Anu]], and mark distinctly Australian contributions to [[world music]]. 

Australian music's early [[Western culture|western]] history, was a collection of British colonies, [[Australian folk music]] and [[bush ballad]]s, with songs such as "[[Waltzing Matilda]]" and ''[[The Wild Colonial Boy]]'' heavily influenced by [[Anglo-Celtic Australian|Anglo-Celtic]] traditions, Indeed many bush ballads are based on the works of national poets [[Henry Lawson]] and [[Banjo Patterson]].

Contemporary [[Australia]]n music ranges across a broad spectrum with [[Timeline of trends in Australian music|trends]] often concurrent with [[Music of the United States|those of the US]], the [[Music of the United Kingdom|UK]], and similar nations—notably in the [[Australian rock]] and [[Australian country music]] genres. Tastes have diversified along with post–[[World War II]] multicultural [[immigration to Australia]], whilst classical music derives from European influences.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the most recent and possibly only original genre of music to emerge from Australia outside of indigenous music came from Newcastle and Sydney as a genre known as Breakcore.[https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-n-of-terror-nasenbluten-and-the-cult-of-bloody-fist-records/]

==Indigenous music==
{{Main|Indigenous music of Australia}}
[[File:Aboriginal song and dance.jpg|thumb|left|President [[George W. Bush]] enjoys a performance of Aboriginal song and dance during a 2007 visit to the [[Australian National Maritime Museum]] in Sydney with traditional instrument, the [[didgeridoo]].]]
Indigenous Australian music refers to the music of [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginals]] and [[Torres Strait Islanders]]. Music forms an integral part of the [[society|social]], [[culture|cultural]] and ceremonial observances of these peoples, and has been so for over 60,000 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/the_arts/aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_arts|title=Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts|publisher=[[Australian Council of the Arts]]|access-date=12 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101053525/http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/the_arts/aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_arts|archive-date=1 January 2008}}</ref> Traditional indigenous music is best characterised by the [[didgeridoo]], the best-known instrument, which is considered by some to be the world's oldest.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Didgeridoo Phenomenon|publisher=Traumzeit-Verlag|last=Gurruwiwi|first=Djalu |author2=David Lindner|isbn=3-933825-42-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r90RAAAACAAJ}}</ref> Archaeological studies of [[rock art]] in the [[Northern Territory]] suggest people of the [[Kakadu National Park|Kakadu]] region were playing the instrument 15,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journey in Time: The World's Longest Continuing Art Tradition|last=Chaloupka|first=George|author-link=George Chaloupka|page=189|publisher=Reed|isbn=0-7301-0310-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VCY4AAAACAAJ&q=Journey+in+Time+Chaloupka|year=1999|access-date=9 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517193036/https://books.google.com/books?id=VCY4AAAACAAJ&dq=Journey+in+Time+Chaloupka|archive-date=17 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Contemporary indigenous Australian music has covered numerous styles, including [[Australian rock|rock and roll]], [[Australian country music|country]],<ref>{{cite book
| author= Clinton Walker
| title=    Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music
| publisher=Pluto Press
| location= Sydney
| year=     2000
| page=    323
| isbn=     1-86403-152-2
| author-link= Clinton Walker
}}</ref> [[Australian hip hop|hip hop]], and [[reggae]].

===Artists===
[[Jimmy Little]] is regarded as the first Aboriginal performer to achieve mainstream success, with his debut 1964 song "The Royal Telephone" highly popular and successful.<ref name=AAOCulture>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/culture/conmusic.php|title=Contemporary Aboriginal Music|publisher=Aboriginal Art Online|access-date=12 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617052404/http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/culture/conmusic.php|archive-date=17 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, Little was presented with an [[honorary doctorate]] in music by the [[University of Sydney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=6&newsstoryid=195|title=Music honours for Jimmy Little and Peter Sculthorpe|date=6 June 2005|access-date=12 April 2008|publisher=[[University of Sydney]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203141904/http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=6&newsstoryid=195|archive-date=3 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the popularity of some of his work, Little failed to launch indigenous music in the country—from the 1970s onwards, groups such as [[Coloured Stone]], [[Warumpi Band]], and [[No Fixed Address (band)|No Fixed Address]] helped improve the image of the genre.<ref name=AAOCulture /> It was [[Yothu Yindi]] that brought indigenous music to the mainstream, with their 1991 song "Treaty", from the album ''[[Tribal Voice]]'', becoming a hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A7u6cmpp39f2o |title=Tribal Voice > Overview |website=[[AllMusic]] |author=Jonathan Lewis |access-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603090016/http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg |archive-date=3 June 2009 }}</ref> It reached No. 11 on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yothu+Yindi&titel=Treaty&cat=s|title=Yothu Yindi – Treaty|publisher=australian-charts.com|access-date=12 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310175525/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yothu+Yindi&titel=Treaty&cat=s|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The band's performances were based on the traditional [[Yolngu]] dance, and embodied a sharing of culture.<ref name=AAOCulture /> The success of Yothu Yindi—winners of eight [[ARIA Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=Y&artist=Yothu%20Yindi|title=Winners by artist: Yothu Yindi|publisher=[[ARIA Awards]]|access-date=12 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213050141/http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=Y&artist=Yothu%20Yindi|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>—was followed in by [[Kev Carmody]], [[Tiddas (band)|Tiddas]], [[Archie Roach]] and Christine Anu, and numerous other indigenous Australian musicians.<ref name=AAOCulture />

[[File:Fanny Cochrane Smith recording.jpg|thumb|Horace Watson recording the songs of [[Fanny Cochrane Smith]], considered to be the last fluent speaker of a Tasmanian language, 1903. Folk-singer [[Bruce Watson (songwriter)|Bruce Watson]], descendant of Watson, composed a song about this picture and later performed it with singer Ronnie Summers, a descendant of Smith.]]
Indigenous Australian music is unique, as it dates back more than 60,000 years to the [[prehistory of Australia]] and continues the ancient songlines through contemporary artists as diverse as: [[David Hudson (musician)|David Dahwurr Hudson]], [[Warumpi Band]], Wild Water, [[Saltwater Band]], [[Nabarlek (band)|Nabarlek]], [[Nokturnl]], [[the Pigram Brothers]], [[Blekbala Mujik]], and [[Ruby Hunter]].

In 2024, Indigenous Australian artists have achieved incredible success at home and abroad, with chart-toppers like [[The Kid Laroi]], [[Thelma Plum]] and [[Baker Boy]] (who raps and sings in both English and Yolngu) dominating. In 2022, 10 tracks in the Triple J listener-voted Hottest 100 countdown featured Indigenous representation, which was a new record. Arnhem Land's [[King Stingray]] was responsible for four of those entries alone.

==Folk music==
{{main|Australian folk music}}
[[File:The Old Bush Songs by Banio Paterson.jpg|thumb|150px|Cover to [[Banjo Paterson]]'s seminal 1905 collection of bush ballads, titled ''The Old Bush Songs'']]

For much of its history, Australia's bush music belonged to an oral and folkloric tradition, and was only later published in print in volumes such as [[Banjo Paterson]]'s ''Old Bush Songs'', in the 1890s. The distinctive themes and origins of Australia's "bush music" or "[[bush band]] music" can be traced to the songs sung by the convicts who were sent to Australia during the early period of the British colonisation, beginning in 1788. Early Australian ballads sing of the harsh ways of life of the epoch and of such people and events as [[bushranger]]s, [[swagmen]], [[Drover (Australian)|drovers]], [[Stockman (Australia)|stockmen]] and [[sheep shearer|shearer]]s. Convict and bushranger verses often railed against government tyranny. Classic bush songs on such themes include: "[[The Wild Colonial Boy]]", "[[Click Go the Shears]]", "The Drover's Dream", "The Queensland Drover", "The Dying Stockman" and "[[Moreton Bay (song)|Moreton Bay]]".<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/bush/ Bush songs and music – Australia's Culture Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406104520/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/bush/ |date=6 April 2011 }}. Cultureandrecreation.gov.au. Retrieved on 2011-04-14.</ref>

Later themes which endure to the present include the experiences of war, of droughts and flooding rains, of [[Australian Aborigines|Aboriginality]] and of the railways and trucking routes which link Australia's vast distances. Isolation and loneliness of life in the [[Australian bush]] have been another theme. "[[Waltzing Matilda]]", often regarded as Australia's unofficial [[national anthem]], is a quintessential Australian folk song, influenced by Celtic folk ballads. Country and folk artists such as [[Tex Morton]], [[Slim Dusty]], [[Rolf Harris]], [[The Bushwackers (band)|the Bushwackers]], [[John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson]], and [[John Schumann]] of the band [[Redgum]] have continued to record and popularise the old bush ballads of Australia through the 20th and into the 21st century – and contemporary artists including [[Sara Storer]] and [[Lee Kernaghan]] draw heavily on this heritage.

Australia has a unique tradition of folk music, with origins in both the indigenous music traditions of the original Australian inhabitants, as well as the introduced folk music (including [[sea shanties]]) of 18th and 19th century Europe. [[Celts|Celtic]], [[English people|English]], [[Germans|German]] and [[Scandinavian folklore|Scandinavian]] folk traditions predominated in this first wave of European immigrant music. The Australian tradition is, in this sense, related to the traditions of other countries with similar ethnic, historical and political origins, such as [[New Zealand]], [[Canada]], and the [[United States]]. The Australian indigenous tradition brought to this mix of novel elements, including new instruments, some of which are now internationally familiar, such as the [[didgeridoo]] of Northern Australia. A number of British singers have spent periods in Australia and have included Australian material in their repertoires, e.g. [[A. L. Lloyd]], Martin Wyndham-Read and [[Eric Bogle]].

===Folk revival===
[[File:FIL 2016 - Eric Bogle 3149.jpg|thumb|[[Eric Bogle]]]]

Notable Australian exponents of the folk revival movement included both European immigrants such as [[Eric Bogle]], noted for his sad lament to the [[battle of Gallipoli]] "[[And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda]]", and more contemporary artists such as [[Archie Roach]] and [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]]. Kelly's lyrics capture the vastness of the culture and landscape of Australia by chronicling life about him for over 30 years. David Fricke from Rolling Stone calls Kelly "one of the finest songwriters I have ever heard, Australian or otherwise." In the 1970s, Australian Folk Rock brought both familiar and less familiar traditional songs, as well as new compositions, to live venues and the airwaves. Notable artists include [[The Bushwackers (band)|the Bushwackers]] and [[Redgum]]. Redgum are known for their 1983 anti-war protest song "[[I Was Only Nineteen]]", which peaked at No. 1 on the National singles charts. The 1990s brought Australian indigenous folk rock to the world, led by bands including [[Yothu Yindi]]. Australia's long and continuous folk tradition continues strongly to this day, with elements of folk music still present in many contemporary artists including those generally thought of as [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Heavy metal music|Heavy Metal]] and [[Alternative Music]].

==Popular music==
===Early pop music===
[[File:Screenshot from 2018-12-13 21-04-19.png|thumb|upright|Joe Slater]]
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Australian Cradle Song 1919 Albert Saunders.ogg|title=Australian Cradle Song (1919|description=[[MIDI]] rendition)}}
{{Listen|type=music|filename=What'll we do, when the wattle blooms again?.mid|title=What'll we do, when the wattle blooms again? by Reginald Stoneham (1919|description=[[MIDI]] rendition)}}
Australian composers who published popular musical works (e.g. Ragtime, light ephemera) in the early twentieth century include [[Vince Courtney]], [[Herbert De Pinna]], [[Jack Lumsdaine]], [[Joe Slater (composer)|Joe Slater]], [[Bert Rache]], [[Reginald Stoneham]], [[Albert Bokhare Saunders|Clement Scott]] and [[Herbert Cosgrove]], among others. Demand for local works declined with recording and broadcast.

Possibly the first Australian song to compete with imported recordings was '''Good-Night Mister Moon''' by Allan Ryan and William Flynn <ref>{{cite news|url=https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/74VM8p8kK6Wd|title=Allan's7th Song Hit Folio {{!}} Allan's Song Hit Folio series|volume=VII|issue=1|location=New South Wales, Australia|date=1 January 1948|accessdate=18 November 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235978616 |title=THESE TWO ARE AUSTRALIA'S ACE SONG-WRITING TEAM |newspaper=[[Smith's Weekly]] |volume=XXXI |issue=42 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 December 1949 |accessdate=18 November 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190477939 |title=BITS AND PIECES |newspaper=[[Warwick Daily News]] |issue=9650 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=12 July 1950 |accessdate=18 November 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169373934 |title=Publican Composer |newspaper=[[Truth (Sydney newspaper)|Truth]] |issue=3058 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 August 1948 |accessdate=19 November 2021 |page=32 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>Parlophone A-7703 copy held at NFSA</ref>

===Country music===
{{Main|Australian country music}}
[[File:Melinda Schneider Paul Kelly 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Country singer [[Melinda Schneider]] with folk-rocker [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]]]]
[[File:Kasey Chambers.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Kasey Chambers]]]]

Australia has a long tradition of country music, which has developed a style quite distinct from its US counterpart. The early roots of Australian country are related to [[folk music|traditional folk music]] traditions of Ireland, England, Scotland and many diverse nations. "[[Botany Bay (song)|Botany Bay]]" from the late 19th century is one example. "[[Waltzing Matilda]]", often regarded by foreigners as Australia's unofficial [[national anthem]], is a quintessential Australian country song, influenced more by Celtic folk ballads than by American Country and Western music. This strain of Australian country music, with lyrics focusing on strictly Australian subjects, is generally known as "bush music" or "[[bush band]] music." The most successful Australian bush band is Melbourne's [[The Bushwackers (band)|the Bushwackers]], active since the early 1970s, other well-known country singers include [[Reg Lindsay]], bush balladeer singer [[Buddy Williams (country musician)|Buddy Williams]], and entertainers [[Johnny Ashcroft]] and [[Chad Morgan]].

Another, more Americanized form of Australian country music was pioneered in the 1930s by such recording artists as [[Tex Morton]], and later popularized by [[Slim Dusty]], best remembered for his 1957 song "[[A Pub With No Beer]]", and [[Smoky Dawson]]. Dusty married singer-songwriter [[Joy McKean]] in 1951 and became Australia's biggest selling domestic music artist with more than 7 million record sales.<ref>[http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/slim_chroniclerofthebush.html Slim Dusty – Chronicler of the Bush] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029224133/http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/slim_chroniclerofthebush.html |date=29 October 2010 }}. Historyofcountrymusic.com.au (2003-09-19). Retrieved on 2011-04-14.</ref> British-born country singer and yodeller, [[Frank Ifield]], was one of the first Australian post-war performers to gain widespread international recognition. After returning to the UK in 1959 Ifield was successful in the early 1960s, becoming the first performer to have three consecutive number-one hits on the UK charts: "[[I Remember You (1941 song)|I Remember You]]", "[[Lovesick Blues]]" (both 1962) and "[[The Wayward Wind]]" (1963).<ref name="UK Charts Ifield">{{cite book | first = David | last = Roberts | year = 2006 | title = British Hit Singles & Albums | edition = 19th | publisher = Guinness World Records Limited | location = London | isbn = 1-904994-10-5 | page = 266 }}</ref> "I Remember You" was also a Top-5 hit in the US.<ref name="US Charts Ifield">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/frank-ifield-mn0000171855/awards | title = Frank Ifield Awards | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = 10 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904073703/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/frank-ifield-mn0000171855/awards | archive-date = 4 September 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Australian country artists including [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Sherrie Austin]], and [[Keith Urban]] have achieved considerable success in the USA. In recent years local contemporary country music, featuring much [[Crossover (music)|crossover]] with [[popular music]], had popularity in Australia; notable musicians of this genre include [[David Hudson (musician)|David Hudson]], [[John Williamson (singer)|John Williamson]], [[Gina Jeffreys]], [[Lee Kernaghan]], [[Troy Cassar-Daley]], [[Sara Storer]], [[Felicity Urquhart]], and [[Kasey Chambers]]. Others influenced by the genre include [[Nick Cave]], [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]], [[the John Butler Trio]], Jagged Stone and [[the Waifs]]. Popular Australian country songs include "[[Click Go the Shears]]" (Traditional), "[[Lights on the Hill (song)|Lights on the Hill]]" (1973), "[[I Honestly Love You]]" (1974), "[[True Blue (John Williamson song)|True Blue]]" (1981), and "[[Not Pretty Enough]]" (2002).

===Children's music===
[[File:Wiggles 2007 Lineup.jpg|thumb|[[The Wiggles]]' lineup in 2007, riding in the Big Red Car during a concert]]

Children's music in Australia developed gradually over the latter half of the 20th century. Some of the most recognised performers in that period were those associated with the long-running [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] series ''[[Play School (Australian TV series)|Play School]]'', including veteran actor-musician [[Don Spencer]] and actor and singer [[Noni Hazlehurst]]. Children's music remained a relatively small segment of the Australian music industry until the emergence of groundbreaking children's group [[the Wiggles]] in the late 1990s. The multi-award-winning four-piece group rapidly gained international popularity in the early 2000s and by the end of the decade they had become one of the most popular children's groups in the world. The Wiggles now boasts a huge fanbase in many regions including Australasia, Britain, Asia, and the Americas.

In 2008, the Wiggles were named [[Business Review Weekly]]'s top-earning Australian entertainers for the fourth year in a row, having earned [[Australian dollar|A$]]45&nbsp;million in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=183 |title=Wiggles beat Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe to top of earnings list |publisher=meeja.com.au |date=10 September 2008 |access-date=10 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019213347/http://meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=183 |archive-date=19 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> They have been called "the world's biggest preschool band" and "your child's first rock band".<ref name="babysband">{{cite news | last = Wright | first = Anders | title = Baby's first rock band | work = San Diego Citybeat | date = 25 March 2008 | url = http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/baby_s_first_rock_band/6758/ | access-date = 31 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080820030105/http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/baby_s_first_rock_band/6758/ | archive-date = 20 August 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The group has achieved worldwide success with their children's albums, videos, [[television series]], and concert appearances. They have earned 18 [[Music recording sales certification|gold]], 13 [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]], three double-platinum, and ten multi-platinum awards; additionally 15 ARIA Awards for Best Children's Album (making ARIA history as the most awarded ARIA winner in the one category), received the ARIA for Best Australian Live Act, and been inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]].

By 2002, the Wiggles had become the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s (ABC) most successful pre-school television program. They have performed for over 1.5&nbsp;million children in the US between 2005 and 2008.<ref name = "fabfour">{{cite news | last = Markstrom | first = Serena | title = Fab Four of kid rock comes to town | work = The Register Guard | date = 21 March 2008 | url = http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=77938&sid=42&fid=1 | access-date = 23 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090924031958/http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=77938&sid=42&fid=1 | archive-date = 24 September 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> They have won [[Australasian Performing Right Association|APRA]] song writing awards for Best Children's Song three times and earned ADSDA's award for Highest Selling Children's Album four times.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.thewiggles.com.au/au/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818171550/http://www.thewiggles.com.au/au/about/ |archive-date=18 August 2007 |access-date=23 January 2007 |publisher=The Wiggles}}</ref> They have been nominated for [[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA's]] Best Children's Album award nineteen times, and won the award twelve times.<ref>They won in 1995 for "Big Red Car", in 1996 for "Wake Up Jeff!", in 1998 for "Toot Toot!", in 2005 for "Live Hot Potatoes"{{cite web | title = History: List of winners | publisher = ARIA Awards 2007 | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=W&artist=Wiggles%20%20The | access-date = 2 October 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213032716/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=W&artist=Wiggles%20%20The | archive-date = 13 February 2009}} Additionally, the Aria Awards List by performers omits the Wiggles nomination and winning of the award in 2007 for [http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007 Pop Goes the Wiggles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718204222/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007 |date=18 July 2008 }} and [http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2006 Racing to the Rainbow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519015949/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2006 |date=19 May 2011 }} in 2006.</ref> In 2003, they received ARIA's Outstanding Achievement Award for their success in the U.S.<ref name="aboutus"/> and were also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/wiggles-kylie-to-be-inducted-into-arias-hall-of-fame-20111031-1mr7r.html |title=Wiggles, Kylie to be inducted into ARIA's Hall of Fame |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101201550/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/wiggles-kylie-to-be-inducted-into-arias-hall-of-fame-20111031-1mr7r.html |archive-date=1 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Peter Combe]], [[Patsy Biscoe]] and [[Hi-5 (Australian group)|Hi-5]] are other notable names within the industry.

===R&B and soul music===
[[File:Guy Sebastian and Jimmy Barnes Memphis Tour 7 Mar 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Guy Sebastian]] and [[Jimmy Barnes]] 6 March 2008 State Theatre]]

R&B soul music had a significant impact on Australian's music, although it is notable that many seminal recordings in this genre by American acts of the late 20th century were not played on Australian radio. Anecdotal evidence suggest that racism was a key factor—in his book on the history of Australian radio, author and broadcaster Wayne Mac recounts that when a local Melbourne DJ of the 1960s played the new [[Ike and Tina Turner]] single "[[River Deep Mountain High]]" it was immediately pulled from the playlist by the station's program manager for being "too noisy and too black".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/boom-times/2006/02/11/1139542439712.html |title="Boom Times", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 13 February 2006 |date=13 February 2006 |access-date=19 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107055805/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/boom-times/2006/02/11/1139542439712.html |archive-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Renée Geyer]] is an Australian [[vocals|singer]] who came to prominence in the mid-1970s, has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of [[jazz music|jazz]], [[soul music|soul]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[music genres|idioms]].<ref name="McF">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop|last=McFarlane|first=Ian|author-link=Ian McFarlane|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|location=[[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]]|year=1999|chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Renée Geyer'|chapter-url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=829|isbn=1-86448-768-2|access-date=7 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803174326/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=829|archive-date=3 August 2004|title-link=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop}}</ref><ref name="Howl">{{cite web|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en/geyerrenee/geyerrenee.htm|url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/geyerrenee/geyerrenee.htm|title=Renée Geyer|publisher=HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music. [[Ed Nimmervoll]]|archive-date=26 July 2012|access-date=22 January 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with "[[It's a Man's Man's World]] "Rock historian, [[Ian McFarlane]] described her as having a "rich, soulful, passionate and husky vocal delivery".<ref name="McF"/> Geyer's iconic status in the Australian music industry was recognised when she was inducted into the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] on 14 July 2005.

Parallel with Geyer's success, American born vocalist [[Marcia Hines]] emerged as one of Australia's most successful solo singers. She first came to prominence in the early 1970s with critically acclaimed roles in the local stage productions of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' and ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' (in which she was the first African-American to play the role of Mary Magdalene) before launching a solo career. By the late 1970s she was one of Australia's top singing stars, winning several ''[[Queen of Pop]]'' awards and hosting her own national TV variety series.

Following their initial dissolution in 1982 [[Cold Chisel]] lead vocalist [[Jimmy Barnes]] embarked on a successful solo career that has continued from the 1980s to the present. Many of Barnes' albums have featured versions of songs from these genres and his chart-topping album ''[[Soul Deep (Jimmy Barnes album)|Soul Deep]] (1991)'' consisted entirely of covers of classic 1960s soul/R&B covers. Australian soul singer/songwriters like [[Daniel Merriweather]], has after several successful collaborations with artists such as [[Mark Ronson]], released his official debut album, ''Love & War'', in June 2009. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number two. After launching his career as the winner of an early series of ''[[Australian Idol]]'', soul singer/songwriter [[Guy Sebastian]] has also made an impact on this genre in Australia winning awards at the [[Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand]] for Best Male Artist and Best R&B Album. Sebastian's recent release "[[Like It like That (Guy Sebastian song)|Like it Like That]]", was the highest selling Australian artist single in 2009 and charted at No. 1 for two consecutive weeks<ref name="Top 50 Australian Artist Singles 2009">[http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-australian-singles-2009.htm Top 50 Australian Artist Singles 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112000430/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-australian-singles-2009.htm |date=12 January 2012 }} Retrieved 7 January 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2009.htm ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126102330/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2009.htm |date=26 January 2012 }} Retrieved 7 January 2010</ref>

In 2004, ''Australian Idol'' finalist [[Paulini]]'s debut single "[[Angel Eyes (The Jeff Healey Band song)#Paulini version|Angel Eyes]]" and album ''[[One Determined Heart]]'' both reached number one on the ARIA charts and were certified platinum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Paulini|title=Discography Paulini|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027220647/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Paulini|archive-date=27 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Paulini earned ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards for both the single and album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/AustralianRecordingArtistsMakeARIAChartHistory.htm|title=Australian Recording Artists Make ARIA Chart History|website=www.aria.com.au|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040816051404/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/AustralianRecordingArtistsMakeARIAChartHistory.htm|archive-date=16 August 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> Her second album ''[[Superwoman (Paulini album)|Superwoman]]'' included the singles "[[Rough Day]]" and "[[So Over You]]", and earned Paulini two nominations at the [[Urban Music Awards Australia and New Zealand|2007 Urban Music Awards]] for 'Best R&B Album' and 'Best Female Artist'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopn.com/rhinos-urban-music-awards-2007-review/|title=Rhino's Urban Music Awards 2007 – Review|publisher=Hiphopn.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923092825/http://www.hiphopn.com/rhinos-urban-music-awards-2007-review/|archive-date=23 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

2006 ''Australian Idol'' runner-up [[Jessica Mauboy]] made her musical solo debut in 2008 with the single "[[Running Back (Jessica Mauboy song)|Running Back]]", which featured American rapper [[Flo Rida]], and peaked at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart, eventually being certified double platinum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jessica+Mauboy|title=Discography Jessica Mauboy|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331212131/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jessica+Mauboy|archive-date=31 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Her debut album ''[[Been Waiting]]'' earned her seven nominations at the 2009 [[ARIA Music Awards]], winning the award of 'Highest Selling Single' for "Running Back".<ref>[http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php ARIA Awards 2009: History: Winners by Year] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124212945/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php |date=24 November 2009 }} Retrieved 29 July 2010</ref>

===Reggae===
[[Reggae]] had success on the radio charts in Australia in the early 1980s when [[Toots and the Maytals]], the first artist to use the term "[[reggae]]" in song, went to number one with their song "Beautiful Woman".<ref>Hardwicke, Al. [https://pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c991248/Toots-and-the-Maytals-to-Ignite-UK-Festival-Circuit-.html "Toots and the Maytals to Ignite UK Festival Circuit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314152716/https://pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c991248/Toots-and-the-Maytals-to-Ignite-UK-Festival-Circuit-.html |date=14 March 2017 }}. African & Caribbean Music Circuit Ltd. Web. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 13 March 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.dictionary.com/browse/reggae "reggae"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101044705/http://www.dictionary.com/browse/reggae |date=1 November 2017 }}. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 March 2017.</ref> Early reggae groups from Australia include [[No Fixed Address (band)|No Fixed Address]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rarecollections/reggae/5149582 Roots of reggae. ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 29 December 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316115209/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rarecollections/reggae/5149582 |date=16 March 2017 }}></ref>

===Rock and pop===
{{Main|Australian rock}}
[[File:Kylie Minogue - Summer 2019 - Step Back In Time Tour - Castlefield Bowl - Manchester - 11.07.19 - 153.jpg|alt=Kylie Minogue singing on stage into a microphone. She is wearing a red bodysuit.|thumb|[[Kylie Minogue]] is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2020 |title=Kylie's music, film, television and more |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/kylie-minogue |access-date=14 July 2023 |publisher=The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia}}</ref>]]
Australia has produced a wide variety of [[Australian rock|rock]] and popular music, from the internationally successful groups [[AC/DC]], [[INXS]], [[Nick Cave]], [[Savage Garden]], [[the Seekers]], or pop divas [[Delta Goodrem]], [[Kylie Minogue]] to the popular local content of [[John Farnham]], [[Jimmy Barnes]] or [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]]. [[Indigenous Australian music]] and [[Australian jazz]] have also had crossover influence on this genre.<ref>[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/pop/ Australian pop music – Australia's Culture Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720080932/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/pop/ |date=20 July 2008 }}. Cultureandrecreation.gov.au. Retrieved on 2011-04-14.</ref> Early Australian [[rock and roll]] stars included [[Col Joye]] and [[Johnny O'Keefe]]. O'Keefe formed a band in 1956; his hit ''Wild One'' made him the first Australian rock'n'roller to reach the national charts.<ref>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Michael |last=Sturma   |title=John Michael (Johnny) O'Keefe (1935–1978) |id2=okeefe-john-michael-johnny-11293 |year=2000 |volume=15 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> While US and British content dominated airwaves and record sales into the 1960s, local successes began to emerge – notably [[the Easybeats]] and the folk-pop group [[the Seekers]] had significant local success and some international recognition, while AC/DC had their first hits in Australia before going on to international success.

[[File:DelltonesAwards.jpg|thumb|''[[The Delltones]]'' with four radio awards]]

[[File:ACDC-Hughes-long ago.jpg|thumb|left|[[AC/DC]] performing at the [[Ulster Hall]] in August 1979]]
A pivotal event was the [[1970 radio ban]], which lasted from May to October that year. The Ban was the climax of a simmering "pay for play" dispute between major record companies and commercial radio stations, who refused to pay a proposed new copyright fee for playing pop records on air. The dispute erupted into open conflict in May 1970—many commercial stations boycotted records by the labels involved and refused to list their releases on their Top 40 charts, while the record companies in turn refused to supply radio with free promotional copies of new releases.

An unexpected side-effect of the ban was that several emerging Australian acts signed to independent labels (who were not part of the dispute) scored hits with covers of overseas hits; these included [[the Mixtures]]' cover of [[Mungo Jerry]]'s "[[In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry song)|In the Summertime]]"<ref name="KentDM">{{Cite thesis | type = MA | title = The place of Go-Set in rock and pop music culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974 | chapter = Appendix 6: The Record Ban | last1 = Kent | first1 = David Martin | publisher = [[University of Canberra]] | date = September 2002 | location = [[Canberra]], ACT | chapter-url = http://erl.canberra.edu.au/uploads/approved/adt-AUC20050509.095456/public/02whole.pdf <!--correct parameter--> | pages = 265–269 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904073704/http://erl.canberra.edu.au/uploads/approved/adt-AUC20050509.095456/public/02whole.pdf | archive-date = 4 September 2015}} Note: This PDF is 282 pages. Retrieved 20 November 2010</ref> and [[Liv Maessen]]'s cover of Mary Hopkin's [[Eurovision]] song "[[Knock, Knock Who's There?]]".

Despite commercial radio resistance to the more progressive music being produced by bands like [[Spectrum (band)|Spectrum]] and [[Tully (band)|Tully]], acts as diverse as [[AC/DC]], [[Sherbet (band)|Sherbet]] and [[John Paul Young]] were able to achieve major success and develop a unique sound for Australian rock. From 1975, key agents for the increased exposure of local music were the nationally broadcast ABC-TV [[television]] pop show ''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'', which premiered in late 1974, and Australia's first non-commercial all-rock [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]] [[Triple J|Double Jay]], which opened in January 1975. [[Hard rock]] bands AC/DC and [[Rose Tattoo]] and harmony rock group [[Little River Band]] also found major overseas success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, touring all over the world. Meanwhile, a score of Australian expatriate solo performers like [[Helen Reddy]], [[Olivia Newton-John]] and [[Peter Allen (musician)|Peter Allen]] became major stars in the US and internationally. [[Icehouse (band)|Icehouse]] also formed in the late 1970s.

Pop magazines such as ''[[Go-Set]]'' (which began in 1966), the ''[[Daily Planet]]'', and television programs such as ''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'' promoted Australian popular music to the youth market.

====1980s====
[[File:Nick Cave 1986.jpg|thumb|left|160px|[[Nick Cave]] performing in 1986]]

The 1980s saw a breakthrough in the independence of Australian rock—[[Nick Cave]] said that before the 1980s, "Australia still needed America or England to tell them what was good".<ref name=Longway5>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/longway/episode_5/|title=Long Way to the Top: INXS to Exile 1976–1988|publisher=[[ABC Online]]|access-date=8 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015144750/http://www.abc.net.au/longway/episode_5/|archive-date=15 October 2002|url-status=live}}</ref> An example of Australians breaking free from convention came in [[TISM]]. Formed in 1982, the band is known for its anonymous members, outrageous stage antics, and humorous lyrics. In the words of the band, "There's only one factor left that makes us work. And that factor, I think, we've burned away, with the crucible of time, into something that's actually genuine."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488079697.html|title=The phantom menace|work=[[The Age]]|author=Michael Dwyer|date=2 July 2004|access-date=8 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603013414/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488079697.html|archive-date=3 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Men at Work]], [[Divinyls]], and [[Hoodoo Gurus]], all formed between 1979 and 1981, became hugely successful worldwide. Men at Work's "[[Down Under (song)|Down Under]]" hit number one in Australia, Europe, the UK, Canada, and the United States, and was considered the [[theme song]] of Australia's successful showing at the [[1983 America's Cup]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Atkinson|first=Ann|author2=Linsay Knight |author3=Margaret McPhee |title=The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ELACebeQEgcC&pg=PA156-IA11 |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|page=156|isbn=1-86373-898-3|year=1996}}</ref> Hoodoo Gurus, meanwhile, hit it big on the US college circuit—all of their [[Hoodoo Gurus discography#Studio albums|1980s albums]] topped the chart.<ref>{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Peter|author2=Jonathan Buckley|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haEfq-nKqjgC&pg=PA940 |publisher=[[Rough Guides]]|page=779|isbn=1-84353-105-4|year=2003}}</ref> At the same time, a number of Australian bands relocated to the U.K. and particularly London to further their artistic and commercial endeavours, among whom were [[the Moodists]], [[the Go-Betweens]], [[The Birthday Party (band)|the Birthday Party]] with guitarist [[Rowland S. Howard]], [[Laughing Clowns]], [[Foetus (band)|Foetus]], [[SPK (band)|SPK]], [[the Triffids]], and [[Peter Loveday (singer-songwriter)|Peter Loveday]].<ref>Stuart Coupe, for The Sun Herald, 27 January 1985</ref>

=====Grunge=====
{{Main|Grunge}}
[[File:CosmicPsychos2007.jpg|thumb|alt=An Australian rock band, the Cosmic Psychos, performing onstage. The dark stage is lit up by coloured lights. Three performers are visible: an electric bass player, an electric guitarist, and a drummer behind a drumkit.|[[Cosmic Psychos]], one of several Australian bands which influenced and interacted with the Seattle grunge scene]]
Grunge is a subgenre of [[alternative rock]] and a [[subculture]] that emerged during the {{nowrap|mid-1980s}} in Australia and in the [[Pacific Northwest]] U.S. state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. The early grunge movement in the US revolved around Seattle's independent record label [[Sub Pop]] and that region's [[underground music]] scene. By the early 1990s, its popularity had spread, with grunge bands appearing in California, then emerging in other parts of the United States and in Australia, building strong followings and signing major record deals. [[Mark Arm]], the vocalist for the Seattle band [[Green River (band)|Green River]]—and later [[Mudhoney]]—stated that the term had been used in [[Australia]] in the mid-1980s to describe bands such as [[King Snake Roost]], [[The Scientists]], Salamander Jim, and [[Beasts of Bourbon]].<ref>{{cite news | date=20 January 2001 | title=No End in Sight: Mudhoney Is Alive and Well | last=True | first=Everett | author-link=Everett True | work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] | url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/no-end-in-sight/Content?oid=6267 | access-date=11 September 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806051930/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/no-end-in-sight/Content?oid=6267 | archive-date=6 August 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> Arm used grunge as a descriptive term rather than a genre term, but it eventually came to describe the punk/metal hybrid sound of the Seattle music scene.<ref>[[Clinton Heylin|Heylin, Clinton]]. ''Babylon's Burning: From Punk to Grunge''. Conongate, 2007. {{ISBN|1-84195-879-4}}, p. 606.</ref>

Several Australian bands, including [[Cosmic Psychos]] and [[Feedtime]] are cited as precursors to grunge, their music influencing the Seattle scene through the college radio broadcasts of Sub Pop founder [[Jonathan Poneman]] and members of Mudhoney.<ref>Hennesy, Kate (11 August 2013). [http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/cosmic-psychos-uberblokes-punked-pumped-and-primed-20130811-2rpt8.html "Cosmic Psychos: Uber-blokes punked, pumped and primed"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204220431/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/cosmic-psychos-uberblokes-punked-pumped-and-primed-20130811-2rpt8.html |date=4 December 2017 }}, ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''. Retrieved 8 October 2015.</ref><ref name="zan">[[Zan Rowe|Rowe, Zan]] (26 September 2008). [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/zan/blog/s2374282.htm "Jonathan Poneman from Sub-Pop takes five with the albums he wishes he'd released..."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426200316/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/zan/blog/s2374282.htm |date=26 April 2016 }}, ''Mornings with Zan''. Retrieved 8 October 2015.</ref> Chris Dubrow from ''[[The Guardian]]'' states that, in the late 1980s, Australia's "sticky-floored...alternative pub scene" in seedy inner-city areas produced grunge bands with "raw and awkward energy" such as [[X (Australian band)|X]], [[Feedtime]] and [[Lubricated Goat]].<ref name="Dubrow">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2014/apr/07/australia-grunge-nirvana |title=Nirvana had nothing on Australia's Lubricated Goat |last=Dubrow |first=Chris |date=7 April 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=8 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211082925/https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2014/apr/07/australia-grunge-nirvana |archive-date=11 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dubrow said "[[Kurt Cobain|Cobain]]...admitted the Australian wave was a big influence" on his music.<ref name="Dubrow"/> [[Everett True]] states that "[t]here's more of an argument to be had for grunge beginning in Australia with the Scientists and their scrawny punk ilk."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

From being discovered in mid-1994 with their debut single "[[Tomorrow (Silverchair song)|Tomorrow]]" to their 1995 debut album ''[[Frogstomp]]'' (which sold more than 4 million copies worldwide<ref name="AMGBio">Erlewine, "Silverchair > Biography".</ref><ref name="MABio">{{cite web |date=10 April 2003 |title=Silverchair |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-NAMO~1626 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413163925/http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-NAMO~1626 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |access-date=13 October 2011 |publisher=[[Music Australia (online resource)|Music Australia]]. [[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref>), [[Silverchair]] were considered by some to be grunge's "last stand".<ref>{{cite web |last=Danaher |first=Michael |date=4 August 2014 |title=The 50 Best Grunge Songs |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html?a=1 |access-date=8 February 2017 |website=pastemagazine.com |publisher=Paste}}</ref> The band's trio of teenagers—[[Ben Gillies]] on drums, [[Daniel Johns]] on vocals and guitars, and [[Chris Joannou]] on bass guitar—were still in high school when the album went to number one in Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="AUSCharts">{{cite web |last1=Hung |first1=Steffen |title=Silverchair Discography |url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Silverchair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023075719/http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Silverchair |archive-date=23 October 2012 |access-date=13 October 2011 |publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien}}</ref><ref name="TomorrowAUSChart">{{cite web |last1=Hung |first1=Steffen |title=Silverchair – ''Frogstomp'' |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Silverchair&titel=Frogstomp&cat=a |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/62Q4Sg66u?url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r218511/review |archive-date=14 October 2011 |access-date=14 October 2011 |publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien}}</ref>

====1990s: Indie rock====
{{Main|Australian indie rock}}
[[File:Livingendonstage2007.JPG|thumb|[[Psychobilly]] group [[the Living End]] were successful internationally in the 1990s]]
The 1990s saw continued overseas success from groups such as [[AC/DC]],<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3496/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} |title=AC/DC > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=18 April 2008}}</ref> [[INXS]],<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4555/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} |title=INXS > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=18 April 2008}}</ref> [[Men at Work]], [[Midnight Oil]], [[the Bad Seeds]],<ref name=AusCultRock>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/music/rock/|title=Australian rock music|publisher=[[Australian Government|Australian Culture Portal]]|access-date=20 April 2008|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100629230600/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/21007/20100630-0906/www.culture.gov.au/articles/music/rock/index.html|archive-date=29 June 2010|url-status=live}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and a new [[indie rock]] scene started to develop [[Australian indie rock|locally]]. Sydney-based [[Ratcat]] were the first new band to achieve a mainstream following,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=379 |title=Ratcat |publisher=[[Australian Music Online]] |access-date=20 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917100539/http://amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=379 |archive-date=17 September 2007 }}</ref> while bands such as the [[Hoodoo Gurus]] got off to a slower start; their debut album ''[[Stoneage Romeos]]'' earned a small following but failed to captivate a mainstream that at the time "didn't get it".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Guru-worship/2005/04/21/1114028472793.html|title=Guru worship|work=[[The Age]]|author=Michael Dwyer|date=22 April 2005|access-date=26 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117065125/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Guru-worship/2005/04/21/1114028472793.html|archive-date=17 November 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Later reviews described the band as "integral to the story of Aussie indie music", influencing bands including [[Frenzal Rhomb]] and [[Jet (band)|Jet]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/9967/hoodoo-gurus-stoneage-romeos/|title=Hoodoo Gurus: Stoneage Romeos|magazine=[[PopMatters]]|author=Dan Raper|date=31 January 2007|access-date=26 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212094546/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/9967/hoodoo-gurus-stoneage-romeos/|archive-date=12 February 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The band became an [[ARIA Hall of Fame]] inductee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-hall-of-fame.php|title=Hall of Fame|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|access-date=26 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027045844/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-hall-of-fame.php|archive-date=27 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> [[The Church (band)|The Church]], meanwhile, was highly successful in the 1980s, only to see their careers diminish in the next decade; 1994's ''[[Sometime Anywhere]]'' saw the band recede from a mainstream audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd--gig-reviews/the-church/2005/10/06/1128562925156.html|title=The Church|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|author=Bernard Zuel|date=8 October 2005|access-date=27 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816110815/http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd--gig-reviews/the-church/2005/10/06/1128562925156.html|archive-date=16 August 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Alternative rock]] began to gain popularity midway through the 1990s, with [[grunge]] and [[Britpop]] styles especially popular, resulting in a new wave of Australian bands. Some—such as [[Savage Garden]], [[the Living End]] and [[Silverchair]]—also gained quick success in the United States,<ref name="Internationalists">{{cite news|title=Internationalists|author=Kelsy Munro|date=November 2001|publisher=JUICE}}<!-- http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl33.htm --></ref> while [[You Am I]], [[Jebediah]], [[Magic Dirt]], [[Something for Kate]], [[Icecream Hands]] and [[Powderfinger]] gained more success locally.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bowling Maidens Over|author=Jayson Argall|date=August 2001|publisher=Beat}}<!-- http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl40.htm --></ref> Bands such as [[Regurgitator]] and [[Spiderbait]] were hit heavily by the [[post-grunge]] backlash, losing in sales and critical acclaim.<ref name=Internationalists /><ref>{{cite news|title=Fish Tales|author=Samantha Clode|date=December 1998|publisher=JUICE}}<!-- http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl11.htm --></ref>

Much of the success of rock in Australia is attributed to the non-commercial [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s radio station [[Triple J]], which focuses heavily on Australian alternative music, and has done so since its formation as 2JJ in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Off-the-dial/2005/01/11/1105423476299.html|title=Off the dial|date=12 January 2005|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|author=Gayle Austin|access-date=10 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528195605/http://www.smh.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Off-the-dial/2005/01/11/1105423476299.html|archive-date=28 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the station's history, they have helped jump start the careers of numerous bands such as [[Missy Higgins]] and [[Killing Heidi]] through programs such as ''[[Unearthed (talent contest)|Unearthed]]'', the Australian Music program Home & Hosed and the [[Triple J Hottest 100|Hottest 100]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Entertainment/Triple-J-Timeline/2005/01/11/1105423476865.html|title=Triple J Timeline|date=12 January 2005|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=10 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817115739/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Entertainment/Triple-J-Timeline/2005/01/11/1105423476865.html|archive-date=17 August 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Big Day Out]] festival has showcased Australian and international acts, with [[Big Day Out lineups by year|line-ups]] spanning multiple genres, with an alternative focus. It has become highly popular amongst musicians; [[Foo Fighters]] lead singer [[Dave Grohl]] said "We play the Big Day Out because it's the best tour in the world. You ask any band in the world – they all want to play the Big Day Out, every single one of them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/24/1042911545091.html|title=Summer's biggest day out rolls into Melbourne|work=[[The Age]]|date=25 January 2003|access-date=10 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031140145/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/24/1042911545091.html|archive-date=31 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Other festivals, such as [[Homebake]], [[Livid (festival)|Livid]], and [[Splendour in the Grass]], are also rock focused, and together with Big Day Out are "united by the dominant presence of the indie-guitar scene".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tasa.org.au/conferencepapers05/papers%20(pdf)/com_cummings.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903102517/http://www.tasa.org.au/conferencepapers05/papers%20(pdf)/com_cummings.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2007 |title=Australian Indie Music Festivals as Scenes|publisher=[[University of Tasmania]]|author=Joanne Cummings|date=6 December 2005|access-date=10 May 2008 }}</ref> [[Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest|Australia]] made its first appearance in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2015]] after being granted a spot in the final by the [[EBU]].

===Electronic and dance music===
[[File:Julian 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Australian electronic music duo [[The Presets]]]]
[[File:Gareth McGrillen Pendulum 2007.jpg|thumb|[[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]] bassist Gareth McGrillen. The band blends electronic and rock elements.]]
[[File:Knife Party @ Concord, Chicago.jpg|thumb|[[Knife Party]] performing live. The duo formed as a side project by Pendulum members Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen.]]

[[Electronic music]] in Australia emerged in the 1990s, drawing from styles such as [[funk]], [[house music|house]], [[techno]], and [[trance music|trance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aian.com.au/genre/electronic/ |title=Australian Electronic music |publisher=Australian Independent Artists Network|access-date=15 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317113245/http://www.aian.com.au/genre/electronic/ |archive-date=17 March 2008}}</ref> Early innovators included [[Whirlywirld]] and [[Severed Heads]], who were among the first electronic acts to play the [[Big Day Out]] and gained recognition for their experimental sound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/reviews/music/19947/|title=Severed Heads – The Illustrated Family Doctor OST|date=2 March 2005|publisher=inthemix.com.au|access-date=16 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511200842/http://www.inthemix.com.au/reviews/music/19947/|archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref>

In the 2000s, Australian electronic acts began achieving mainstream and international success. [[The Presets]] rose to prominence with their fusion of electro-house and synth-pop, winning multiple [[ARIA Music Awards]] and helping define the "Modular Records" sound of the mid-2000s. Their 2008 album ''Apocalypso'' was a commercial and critical success, cementing their role in the evolution of Australian dance music.

[[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]], formed in Perth in 2002, brought drum and bass into the Australian mainstream by blending electronic production with live instrumentation and rock influences. Their debut album, ''Hold Your Colour'', became one of the best-selling drum and bass albums of all time and expanded their reach to Europe and North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/15/1081998284201.html|title=Howdy swingers|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=16 April 2004|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713115222/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/15/1081998284201.html|archive-date=13 July 2007}}</ref>

Following their success with Pendulum, members Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen formed [[Knife Party]], an electro house and dubstep duo that gained international popularity with aggressive, high-energy tracks such as "Internet Friends" and "Centipede". Knife Party became a prominent act at global festivals, further raising the profile of Australian electronic producers on the world stage.

Educational institutions have also embraced the genre; the [[University of Adelaide]]’s Electronic Music Unit and Melbourne’s [[School of Synthesis]]—founded by producer [[Davide Carbone]]—provide training in music technology and production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music.adelaide.edu.au/facilities/emu/ |title=Electronic Music Unit (EMU)|publisher=[[University of Adelaide]]|access-date=15 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312000722/http://www.music.adelaide.edu.au/facilities/emu/ |archive-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>

Other notable acts such as [[Pnau]], [[Rogue Traders]], and [[Regurgitator]] have contributed to the genre by blending electronic styles with pop, rock, and hip hop. The success of these artists led to a growth in electronic music festivals including Two Tribes, [[Future Music Festival]], [[Stereosonic]], [[Defqon.1 Festival|Defqon.1]], Utopia, and IQON, although mainstream radio support remains limited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/interview.asp?id=1057 |title=Andrew Penhallow – 2000AV & AIR producer|publisher=[[Australian Music Online]]|author=AMO Staff|date=20 June 2005|access-date=16 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803075324/http://www.amo.org.au/interview.asp?id=1057 |archive-date=3 August 2008}}</ref>

Sydney-based magazine ''[[Cyclic Defrost]]'', founded in 1998, remains one of the few Australian publications dedicated solely to electronic music and culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/print/s1216124.htm|title=Cyclic Defrost|publisher=[[ABC Online]]|work=[[Triple J]]|author=Anna Burns|access-date=16 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916080056/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/print/s1216124.htm|archive-date=16 September 2007}}</ref>

===Grime===
{{Main|Grime_(music_genre)#Australian_grime|l1=Australian grime}}Grime is a British electronic genre<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/wagwan/|title=What Does wagwan Mean? {{!}} Slang by Dictionary.com|work=Everything After Z by Dictionary.com|access-date=2018-11-18|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119010707/https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/wagwan/|archive-date=19 November 2018|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #7 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/an-idiots-guide-to-edm-genres/grime|title=An Idiot's Guide to EDM GenresGrime|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2018-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118153102/https://www.complex.com/music/an-idiots-guide-to-edm-genres/grime|archive-date=18 November 2018|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #8 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> that emerged in the early 2000s, derivative of electronic music such as [[UK garage]] and [[Oldschool jungle|jungle]],<ref name="McKinnon">{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=McKinnon |title=Grime Wave |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/grimewave.html |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=5 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126235949/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/grimewave.html |archive-date=26 January 2007 |access-date=23 January 2016}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #9 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> and draws influence from [[dancehall]], [[ragga]], and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uk.complex.com/music/2016/06/hip-hop-dancehall-breaking-down-the-origins-of-grime/dizzee-talks-hip-hop-rosenberg |title=Hip-Hop Or Dancehall? Breaking Down The Grime Scene's Roots |website=Complex UK |language=en |access-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103917/http://uk.complex.com/music/2016/06/hip-hop-dancehall-breaking-down-the-origins-of-grime/dizzee-talks-hip-hop-rosenberg |archive-date=6 February 2017 |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #2 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> The style is typified by rapid, syncopated [[breakbeat]]s, generally around 140 [[Tempo#Beats per minute|bpm]],<ref name="McKinnon"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Cowie|first=Richard Kylea|date=2017|title=Eskiboy|location=London|publisher=William Heinemann|page=72|isbn=978-1-785-15159-0}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #1 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> and often features an aggressive or jagged electronic sound.<ref>{{cite web|title=Garage rap/Grime overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/garage-rap-grime-ma0000004464|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119215703/http://www.allmusic.com/style/garage-rap-grime-ma0000004464|archive-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #10 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> [[Rapping]] is also a significant element of the style, and lyrics often revolve around gritty depictions of urban life.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bramwell|first1=Richard|title=UK Hip-Hop, Grime and the City: The Aesthetics and Ethics of London's Rap Scenes|date=2012|publisher=Routledge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nDesCQAAQBAJ&q=grime+urban+life|isbn=9781135085971}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #11 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref>

Australian grime emerged in 2010 after UK-born<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://obeserecords.com/obs/fraksha-my-way-out-01-03-2013/|title=Fraksha – My Way out 01.03.2013|website=obeserecords.com|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232611/http://obeserecords.com/obs/fraksha-my-way-out-01-03-2013/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #52 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> artist Fraksha released his [[mixtape]] ''It's Just Bars''.<ref name="Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape">{{Cite web|url=https://allaussiehiphop.com/2010/04/13/fraksha-its-just-bars-mixtape/|title=Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape|date=2010-04-13|website=aahh|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232438/https://allaussiehiphop.com/2010/04/13/fraksha-its-just-bars-mixtape/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #53 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> Fraksha is widely regarded as a pioneer of the scene in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-grime-grew-from-london-into-a-thriving-international-entity/|title=How Grime Grew From London into a Thriving International Entity|last1=Bernard|first1=Jesse|last2=Bassil|first2=Ryan|date=2019-01-03|website=Noisey|language=en-UK|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232439/https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/7xy33d/how-grime-grew-from-london-into-a-thriving-international-entity|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #54 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref name="Ep. 11 - His Way featuring Fraksha">{{Citation|title=Ep. 11 - His Way featuring Fraksha|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Xsx3m5IPNTb3qEZMdpydc|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232533/https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Xsx3m5IPNTb3qEZMdpydc|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #55 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref name="Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2018/02/03/fraksha-helping-take-grime-music-international/|title=How Fraksha Helping The UK Grime Movement Go International|last=Sanchez|first=The Lesson w/ DJ|date=2018-02-03|website=The Source|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232413/http://thesource.com/2018/02/03/fraksha-helping-take-grime-music-international/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #56 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> Fraksha, alongside fellow MC's Scotty Hinds, Diem and Murky, formed the first Australian based grime collective, Smash Brothers, in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australianhiphopdirectory.com/listing/smash-bros/|title=Smash Bros (Alex Jones, Diem, Fraksha, Scotty Hinds)|website=Australian Hip Hop Directory|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121235420/https://australianhiphopdirectory.com/listing/smash-bros/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #59 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref name="Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape"/> Smash Brothers pioneered what became Australian grime music, and were known for their high energy performances. For the most part, few members initially released a lot of music other than Fraksha, but all were active in the raving scene where they exposed many to grime music.<ref name="Ep. 11 - His Way featuring Fraksha"/> They also worked with UK based artists such as [[Skepta]], [[Foreign Beggars]] and Dexplicit.<ref name="Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape"/> Another first for Fraksha was the launch of Melbourne radio show The Sunday Roast on [[KISS-FM (brand)|KissFM]] with Affiks, dedicated to grime and [[Dubstep]] music. In 2011 he started the first Australian grime night alongside Affiks and Artic called 50/50. Fraksha in 2011 performed in [[New Zealand]] alongside UK grime pioneer [[Dizzee Rascal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australianhiphopdirectory.com/listing/fraksha/|title=Fraksha|website=Australian Hip Hop Directory|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121233934/https://australianhiphopdirectory.com/listing/fraksha/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #57 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref name="Fraksha – It's Just Bars Mixtape"/>

The resurgence grime was experiencing in the UK during the mid 2010s also reached Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/hiphop/british-grime-resurgence-global-genre-wiley-stormzy-skepta/|title=The Fascinating Resurgence of British Grime As A Global Genre|date=2017-06-01|website=UPROXX|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232434/https://uproxx.com/hiphop/british-grime-resurgence-global-genre-wiley-stormzy-skepta/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #60 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guestlist.net/article/91059/it-s-grime-worldwide|title=It's Grime Worldwide|last=Manson|first=Ben|date=2017-02-01|website=guestlist.net|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #61 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lifewithoutandy.com/news/music/interview-fraksha-unites-australias-standout-mcs-for-the-grime-down-under-mixtape/|title=Interview: Fraksha Unites Australia's Standout MCs For The 'Grime Down Under' Mixtape|website=Life Without Andy|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232502/http://lifewithoutandy.com/news/music/interview-fraksha-unites-australias-standout-mcs-for-the-grime-down-under-mixtape/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #58 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> The sound's resurgence also affected the popularity of grime in Australia, with various other Australian MC's picking up the sound with success, such as Diem, Alex Jones, Shadow, Talakai, Nerve, Wombat and Seru.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Hip Hop Show Cypher: underground artists you need to know|date=2018-11-16|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hip-hop-show/the-hip-hop-show-live-cypher:-underground-artists-youve-got-to/10505962|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-01-21}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #67 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allaussiehiphop.com/2018/11/16/premiere-melbournes-seru-levels-up-with-fraksha-on-new-single-dead-zone/|title=PREMIERE: Melbourne's SERU Levels Up With Fraksha on New Single 'Dead Zone'|date=2018-11-16|website=aahh|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232459/https://allaussiehiphop.com/2018/11/16/premiere-melbournes-seru-levels-up-with-fraksha-on-new-single-dead-zone/|archive-date=21 January 2019|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #68 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/best-australian-grime-mcs-you-need-to-know-about/9043890|title=Meet the kings of Australia's secret Grime scene|last=Latukefu|first=Hau|date=2017-10-12|website=triple j|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002042451/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/best-australian-grime-mcs-you-need-to-know-about/9043890|archive-date=2 October 2018|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/901419970 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/901162895 cite #69 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref>

==Art music==
===Classical music===
{{main|Classical music in Australia}}

===Jazz===
[[File:James morrison.jpg|thumb|upright|[[James Morrison (jazz musician)|James Morrison]]]]
{{Main|Australian jazz}}
{{No footnotes|section|date=January 2019}}
The history of jazz and related genres in Australia extends back into the 19th century. During the gold rush locally formed [[blackface]] (white actor-musicians in blackface) [[Minstrel show|minstrel troupes]] began to tour Australia, touring not only the capital cities but also many of the booming regional towns like [[Ballarat]] and [[Bendigo]]. Minstrel orchestra music featured improvisatory embellishment and polyrhythm in the (pre-classic) banjo playing and clever percussion breaks. Some genuine African-American minstrel and jubilee singing troupes toured from the 1870s. A more jazz-like form of minstrelsy reached Australia in the late 1890s in the form of improvisatory and [[syncopated]] [[coon song]] and [[cakewalk]] music, two early forms of [[ragtime]]. The next two decades brought ensemble, piano and vocal ragtime and leading (mostly white) American ragtime artists, including [[Ben Harney]], "Emperor of Ragtime" [[Gene Greene]] and pianist [[Charley Straight]]. Some of these visitors taught Australians how to 'rag' (improvise unsyncopated popular music into ragtime-style music).

By the mid-1920s, [[phonograph]] machines, increased contact with [[American popular music]] and visiting white American dance musicians had firmly established jazz (meaning jazz inflected modern dance and stage music) in Australia. The first recordings of jazz in Australia are Mastertouch piano rolls recorded in Sydney from around 1922 but jazz began to be recorded on disc by 1925, first in Melbourne and soon thereafter in Sydney. Soon after World War II, jazz in Australia diverged into two strands. One was based on the earlier collectively improvised called "dixieland" or traditional jazz. The other so-called modernist stream was based on big band swing, small band progressive swing, boogie woogie, and after WWII, the emerging new style of [[bebop]]. By the 1950s American bop, itself, was dividing into so-called 'cool' and 'hard' bop schools, the latter being more polyrhythmic and aggressive. This division reached Australia on a small scale by the end of the 1950s. From the mid-1950s [[rock and roll]] began to draw young audiences and social dancers away from jazz. British-style dixieland, called Trad, became popular in the early 1960s. Most modern players stuck with the 'cool' (often called West Coast) style, but some experimented with free jazz, modal jazz, experiment with 'Eastern' influences, art music and visual art concept, electronic and jazz-rock fusions.

The 1970s brought tertiary jazz education courses and continuing innovation and diversification in jazz which, by the late 1980s, included world music fusion and contemporary classical and jazz crossovers. From this time, the trend towards eclectic style fusions has continued with ensembles like The Catholics, Australian Art Orchestra, Tongue and Groove, [[Roger Dean (musician)|austraLYSIS]], Wanderlust, The Necks and many others. It is questionable whether the label jazz is elastic enough to continue to embrace the ever-widening range of improvisatory music that is associated with the term jazz in Australia. However, mainstream modern jazz and dixieland still have the strongest following and patron still flock to hear famous mainstream artists who have been around for decades, such as One Night Stand players Dugald Shaw and Blair Jordan, reeds player [[Don Burrows]] and trumpeter [[James Morrison (jazz musician)|James Morrison]] and, sometimes, the famous pioneer of traditional jazz in Australia, [[Graeme Bell]]. A non-academic genre of jazz has also evolved with a harder "street edge" style. The Conglomerate, The Bamboos, Damage, Cookin on Three Burners, Black Money [[John McAll]] are examples of this.
See:
*[[Andrew Bisset]]. ''Black Roots White Flowers'', Golden Press, 1978
*Bruce Johnson. ''The Oxford Companion to Australian Jazz'' OUP, 1987
*John Whiteoak. ''Playing Ad Lib: Improvisatory Music in Australia: 1836–1970'', Currency Press, 1999

==Sacred music==
; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
The most ancient musical traditions in Australia transmit the beliefs of the Aboriginal Dream Time. The Ntaria Choir at [[Hermannsburg]], [[Northern Territory]], has a unique musical language which mixes the traditional vocals of the Ntaria Aboriginal women with Lutheran chorales (tunes that were the basis of much of [[Bach]]'s music). ''Baba Waiyar'', a popular traditional [[Torres Strait Islander]] hymn shows the influence of [[gospel music]] mixed with traditionally strong Torres Strait Islander vocals and [[country music]].<ref>[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/christmas/ Christmas season celebrations in Australia – australia.gov.au] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408180134/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/christmas/ |date=April 8, 2011 }}</ref> The [[Australian Aborigines|Australian Aboriginal]] singer-songwriter [[Jimmy Little]] found success in the genre. His gospel song "[[Royal Telephone]]" (1963) was the first No.1 hit by an Aboriginal artist.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmy-Little Jimmy Little]; Encyclopedia Britannica online</ref>

; Church Music
Australian composers of church music include [[George Savin De Chanéet]], [[John Albert Delany]], [[Edwin Fowles]], [[Nathan Isaac]], [[Alfred Wheeler (composer)|Alfred Wheeler]], [[Christian Helleman]], [[Guglielmo Enrico Lardelli]], Arthur Massey, [[Frederick Augustus Packer]], [[William Robert Knox]], [[George William Torrance]], [[Alberto Zelman]], Ernest Edwin Mitchell (-1951) and [[Tharawal]] Aboriginal Tom Foster.

; Christian
[[Christian music in Australia]] arrived with the [[First Fleet]] of British settlers in 1788 and has grown to include a variety of genres including [[classical music]], [[hymns]], [[Christian rock]], [[country gospel]], and [[Christmas music]]. [[St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney]], is the oldest musical institution in Australia, from origins in 1817.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lea-Scarlett |first1=Errol |date=1979 |title=A Cathedral reaches out — the impact of St. Mary's music on Sydney life |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08145857.1979.10415135 |journal=Musicology Australia |volume=5 |pages=173–190 |doi=10.1080/08145857.1979.10415135 |access-date=8 June 2020|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Major recording artists from [[Johnny O'Keefe]] (the first Australian Rock and Roll star) to [[Paul Kelly (Australian musician)|Paul Kelly]] (folk rock), [[Nick Cave]] (the critically acclaimed brooding rocker) and [[Slim Dusty]] (the ''King of [[Australian country music]]'') have all recorded Christian themed songs. Other performing artists such as Catholic nun [[Sister Janet Mead]], Aboriginal crooner [[Jimmy Little]] and [[Australian Idol]] contestant [[Guy Sebastian]] have held Christianity as central to their public persona. The [[Newsboys]] were founded in Mooloolaba Australia by [[Peter Furler]] and they popularised Christian music with hits like "Shine" and "God's not Dead". Today, Christian music in Australia ranges widely across genres, from Melbourne's [[St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne|St Paul's Cathedral Choir]] who sing [[choral evensong]] most weeknights; to the Contemporary music that is a feature of the evangelical [[Hillsong Church|Hillsong]] congregation.<ref>[http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/music/choir_about.html June Nixon AM, Director of Music – Music – St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304172449/http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/music/choir_about.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Hillsongs-true-believers/2004/11/06/1099547435083.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Hillsong's true believers | date=7 November 2004 | access-date=20 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224202548/http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Hillsongs-true-believers/2004/11/06/1099547435083.html | archive-date=24 December 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

;Christmas music
Annually, Australians gather in large numbers for traditional open-air Christmas concerts in December, such as the [[Carols by Candlelight]] of Melbourne, and Sydney's [[Carols in the Domain]]. Australian Christmas carols like the ''Three Drovers'' or ''Christmas Day'' by John Wheeler and [[William G. James]] place the Christmas story in an Australian context of warm, dry Christmas winds and red dust. As the festival of Christmas falls during the Australian summer, Australians gather in large numbers for traditional open-air evening carol services and concerts in December, such as [[Carols by Candlelight]] in Melbourne and [[Carols in the Domain]] in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/christmas/ |title=Christmas season celebrations in Australia |work=About Australia |publisher=Australian Government |date=16 July 2009 |access-date=6 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408180134/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/christmas/ |archive-date=8 April 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

;Gospel music
[[Australian country music]]'s most successful artist [[Slim Dusty]] recorded a number of [[country gospel]] songs, with which he liked to finish his live shows.<ref>Per narration by Slim Dusty, ''Slim Dusty Live at Wagga Wagga''; Track 12, 1972</ref> In 1971, he released the Gospel album ''Glory Bound Train'', featuring the eponymous hit ''Glory Bound Train'', and other songs of a Christian theme. ''Glory Bound Train'' was in turn the song selected to conclude the tribute concert held at Tamworth after his death. The "Concert for Slim" was recorded live on January 20, 2004, at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, and an all star cast of Australian musicians sung out the show with Slim's ''Glory Bound Train''.

==Funding==
{{expand section|date=October 2019}}
In March 2019, the [[Australian government]] announced an injection of funding worth {{AUD|30.9 million}} in the contemporary music sector. The funding covers support of live music venues, investment for [[Indigenous music of Australia|Indigenous music]], mentorship programs and music exports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/federal-government-announces-30-9m-in-contemporary-music-a-diverse-and-multi-layered-approach/|website=The Music Network|title=Federal government announces $30.9m for contemporary music: "a diverse and multi-layered approach"|date=30 March 2019|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711055037/https://themusicnetwork.com/federal-government-announces-30-9m-in-contemporary-music-a-diverse-and-multi-layered-approach/|archive-date=11 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Music|Australia}}
*[[APRA AMCOS]]
*[[Australian hip hop]]
*[[Culture of Australia]]
*[[Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest]]
*''[[Australian Musician (magazine)|Australian Musician]]''
*[[Australian Music Examinations Board]]
*[[:Category:Australian musicians]]
*[[List of music festivals in Australia]]
*[[List of Australian composers]]
*[[List of Indigenous Australian musicians]], Indigenous [[:Category:Indigenous Australian musicians|musicians]] and [[:Category:Indigenous Australian musical groups|groups]]
*''[[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]''
*[[Template:Australian music charts|Australian music charts]]
*[[Culture of Melbourne#Music]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
===Books and articles===
* Agardy, Susanna and Zion, Lawrence (1997). "The Australian Rock Music Scene", in Alison J. Ewbank and Fouli T. Papageorgiou (eds.), ''Whose master's voice? the development of popular music in thirteen cultures'', Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, Ch. 1. {{ISBN|0-313-27772-9}}
* Agardy, Susanna. (1985), ''Young Australians and Music'', Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, Melbourne.{{ISBN|0-642-09805-0}}
* Bebbington, Warren (ed.) (1998). ''The Oxford companion to Australian music.'' Oxford. {{ISBN|0-19-553432-8}}.
* Homan, Shane and Mitchell, Tony (eds) (2008). ''Sounds of then, sounds of now: Popular music in Australia'', ACYS Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-875236-60-2}}.

===Online===
*{{cite web | website=GO-SET Magazine | title=Australian singles and album charts, 1966-1974 | url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/}}
*{{cite web | last=Gregory | first=Mark | title=Australian Folk Songs | url=http://folkstream.com/}} "A comprehensive bibliography and discography and 93 articles about Australian folk songs and the Folk Revival... 1103 Songs and Poems", includes recently discovered original material published by [[Trove]].
*{{cite web | title=Australian Traditional Music Archive | website=Australian Traditional Music Archive | url=http://bushtraditions.wiki/}}"A searchable collection of tunes with associated supporting biographical and documentary material and recorded examples.
*{{cite web | last=Darby | first=Stephen | title=Open Australian Tune Book | url=http://sdarby.au/}}
*{{cite web | title=Swedish songwriters punch above their weight in the pop world. Could Australia emulate that success? | website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=13 August 2020|first=Paul|last= Donoughue | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-14/sweden-dominates-pop-music-could-australia-follow-its-lead/12541620}}
* {{cite web | title=About| website=Australian Variety Theatre Archive: Popular Culture Entertainment: 1850-1930| date=15 January 2014 | url=https://ozvta.com/ |first=Clay|last=Djubal}}
*{{cite web | last=Kimball | first=Duncan | title=Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964-1975 | website=Milesago | url=http://www.milesago.com/}}
* [[Musée d'ethnographie de Genève]] [http://www.ville-ge.ch/meg/musinfo_ph.php?what=pays=Australie&debut=0&bool=AND Audio clips: Traditional Australian music.] {{in lang|fr}}
* Walker, Clinton [https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075444/http://www.clintonwalker.com.au/aust-music-bibliography.html/ Australian Music Book Bibliography]
* Museums of History NSW and the Sydney Conservatorium of NSW, University of Sydney, [https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/hearing-the-music-of-early-new-south-wales/ Hearing the Music of Early NSW]

===Organisations===
* [https://www.nfsa.gov.au/ National Film and Sound Archive homepage]
*{{cite web | title=Home page | website=Music Australia | url=https://musicaustralia.org.au/}}
*{{cite web | title=Australian Music Centre Online: Breaking Sound Barriers | website=Australian Music Centre | url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/ }} "The national service organisation dedicated to the promotion and support of art music in Australia."

{{Music of Australia}}
{{Indigenous music of Australia}}
{{Oceania topic|Music of}}
{{Australia topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Music of Australia}}
[[Category:Music of Australia| ]]
[[Category:Australian music history]]
[[Category:Performing arts in Australia]]