Jessica Mauboy to Be Inducted Into NIMAs Hall of Fame

Ahead of the 2025 National Indigenous Music Awards ceremony, Jessica Mauboy is set to be honoured with a Hall of Fame induction.

The ceremony will return to Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 9th.

Mauboy, a Kuku Yalanji and Wakaman woman from Darwin, is recognised for her significant contributions to First Nations music and Australian music overall. She has released six Top 10 albums, 16 Top 20 singles, and received 31 ARIA nominations. Mauboy first gained attention on Australian Idol and has had hits such as “Burn” and “Little Things”. She has also starred in films and TV shows, including The Sapphires and The Secret Daughter, becoming the first Indigenous artist to top the ARIA Albums Chart with the show’s soundtrack.

Ahead of the ceremony, YouTube Music will host a free workshop on Friday, August 8th, at Darwin’s Harbour View Plaza from 2pm. Marion Goodman-Briand, head of Music Partnerships for YouTube AU/NZ, will guide artists on using multi-format release strategies to grow their audience. The session will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

 Goodman-Briand said: “As part of the NIMAs weekend, I’m really excited to be hosting a workshop to help artists grow their audience and engage with fans. The session will cover best practices for every stage of a release cycle, from Shorts and music videos to live streams. I can’t wait to connect with artists and their teams, and to share how they can amplify their music and reach a global audience.”

The 2025 NIMAs will feature performances by Troy Cassar-Daley, Emma Donovan, Velvet Trip, Kankawa Nagarra, and Eleanor Jawurlngali & Mick Turner. Jessica Mauboy will perform a special set to mark her induction.

In other news, Mauboy has gone independent, launching her own label, Jamally, in partnership with DistroDirect. This marks the first time she will release music outside the major label system. Her team says Jamally gives Mauboy full control over her creative process, from recording to marketing.

“This is the start of a new chapter for me – not just as a singer or performer, but as a storyteller and businesswoman too,” Mauboy said in a statement. To mark the move, she released the single “While I Got Time,” co-written with longtime collaborator PJ Harding.

The NIMAs, now in their 21st year, celebrate Indigenous music talent nationwide. For the first time, the 2025 ceremony will be livestreamed glovally in YouTube.

Tickets are available now here,