The NSW Music Prize pool totals $160,000 across three categories, with Speed taking the top prize for the album that has made the most significant impact over the past year, following the July 2024 release of Only One Mode.

NSW Arts Minister John Graham and ARIA chief executive Annabelle Herd tied the prize to broader goals of supporting local music, boosting careers, and countering the dominance of American streaming.

Speed, a Sydney hardcore band, won the inaugural $80,000 NSW Music Prize in the main category for the most significant impact by a NSW artist or act, for their debut album Only One Mode.

Speed beat high-profile nominees, including RÜFÜS DU SOL and OneFour, to claim the prize at a ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Band members say authenticity and community underpin their success, with guitarist Joshua Clayton noting the award validates their scene and values amid changing social dynamics.

Speed’s rise to prominence is underscored by their Coachella appearance earlier in the year as the first Australian hardcore act and an ARIA Awards nomination for Best Australian Live Act, signaling a breakthrough year.

Clayton also indicated the prize could benefit the broader Australian hardcore scene, not just the band, by helping foster the next generation of musicians.

ARIA and Sound NSW leaders emphasized the prize’s role in strengthening NSW’s music ecosystem, expanding audiences, and helping local artists compete in a global streaming environment.