THE PRIZE
AN INNOVATIVE GLOBAL FIRST THAT AMPLIFIES THE VOICES OF ARTISTS WHO INSPIRE ACTION FOR CLIMATE AND CONSERVATION
THE $AU 20,000 PRIZE RECOGNiSES AND REWARDS MUSIC AND MUSIC VIDEOS
THAT CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE
+ ENCOURAGE US US TO PROTECT IT
- Highlighting a curated list of diverse songs that connect us to nature or highlight an environmental issue.
- Making it easy for audiences to find and discover fantastic music about the places, animals and issues they care about.
- Encouraging more artists to write songs that have the power to touch us deeply and help us reflect on the type of world we want to leave behind.
EMPOWERS TALENTED ARTISTS TO USE THEIR VOICE STRATEGICALLY - BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE
- Drawing attention to artists who create meaningful music with important and inspiring messages.
- Recognising their ability to connect to fans through their songwriting, performances and platform.
- Providing media and event opportunities for them to talk about the ‘why’ behind their songs and reach wider audiences.
- Organising ‘Music Climate Leadership Workshops’ so they can engage with, and learn from, environmental leaders, so they feel confident and empowered to speak authentically about the issues they feel closest to.
ENERGISES AND ACTIVATES DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGH MUSIC
CREATING MOMENTUM FOR CHANGE
+ SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT
- Catalysing rapid social change when high profile-artists share their environmental journey, motivations and actions.
- Changing social norms around what is cool and providing positive reinforcement for those who care.
- Ensuring there is strong public support for environmental protection and climate action.
THE 2025 ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC PRIZE
DATES AND SELECTION CRITERIA // TO BE ANNOUNCED IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2025
This is an Environmental Prize, not a music industry award.
Our aim is to shine light on compelling art and artists capable of creating connection and inspiring action.
The 2025 PRIZE will be open to Australian citizens and residents who released original songs and music videos that:
- Reference nature or an environmental issue in their lyrics, or in the visual content of their music video.
- Connect us to the natural world, encourage us to reflect, or inspire us to protect the environment.
(This could be a celebration of nature, message of hope, moment of reflection or a call-to-action) - Are submitted as a music video on Youtube that was publicly available to watch and share.
Elements that will be considered by our Selection Committee include:
- Songwriting and lyrics
- Delivery of the song and its ability to create connection
- Visual communication through video and image
- Ability of the artist to connect to audiences
A DIVERSE SELECTION OF SONGS // CURATED BY ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS
- A broad mix of musical styles to engage a broad cross-section of music fans.
- A diverse group of artists who reflect across ages and demographics and who reflect Australia’s rich multicultural society.
- Songs that connect us to a variety of emotions (joy, sadness, love, motivation and anger) to reflect our feelings at different moments.
- Stu Mackenzie of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Winners of the 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC PRIZE
- Nidala Barker – Recipient of 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC PRIZE ‘Emerging Environmental Songwriter’ Award
- Anna Lunoe – DJ, Producer, Vocalist and Apple Music Radio Host, Podcast Presenter
- Jess Ribeiro – Singer, Songwriter, 2022 Prize Finalist
- Edwina Floch – Founder, Environmental Music Prize
- Berish Bilander – CEO, Green Music Australia
- Clare Ainsworth Herschell – Co-Founder, Groundswell Giving
- JoJo Ferris – Head of the Olympic Refuge Foundation + Director, Ferris Family Foundation
- David Ritter – CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
- Matthew Brennan – CEO, The Wilderness Society
- Tim Silverwood – Co-Founder, Ocean Impact Organisation
- Claire Maloney – Founder, The Bravery + Board, Comms Declare
- Jenny Ringland – Founder, Green + Simple
- Luke Bevans – Co-Founder of Impressed Recordings
THE $AU 20,000 PRIZE IS PUBLICLY-VOTED // REWARDING THOSE WHO CAN TOUCH AND MOBILISE FANS AROUND THE WORLD
- Voting is open to people of all nationalities and our reach is global – people from 59 countries participated in 2023.
- Each person is invited to select the 3 songs that touched them most – the Finalist that receives the most votes wins the prize.
SUB-PRIZES // AWARDED BY IMPACT PARTNERS
- If you’d like to help us reward more artists + benefit from great brand association and media coverage – please be in touch.
- There is no ‘best’ climate anthem or song that celebrates nature.
- We’re inviting values aligned-organisations to support the creation of new sub-prizes for emerging artists, female artists, or for a certain category.
- These will be announced at the same time as the winner and benefit from strong media coverage.
THERE IS GLOBAL INTEREST IN THE PRIZE // WE HOPE TO OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN 2026
- Many international artists have reached out saying they would love to participate… stay tuned…
- We are looking to form aligned global partnerships that will allow us to scale fast, whilst staying true to our values and ensuring a positive experience for all.
WHY MUSIC MATTERS
Dr Joelle Gergis, Australia’s lead scientist for the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, and Author of ‘Humanity’s Moment: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope’ led our last Music Climate Leadership Workshop.
She calls on artists to use their voice, talent and platform :
“It isn’t up to the scientific community to drive cultural change. We need our musicians, our artists, our teachers to use their communication skills and platforms.
I was really excited to hear about the ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC PRIZE, because music has such an incredible way of meeting people in the private place of communion that they have with their own reflective thoughts and their engagement with the world.
The songs highlighted invite us to have a cultural conversation about the things we collectively value as a society. This is meaningful, because when enough people care, they can choose to remove the social licence for the continued destruction of our planetary system.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC?
It’s a concept we’ve invented and that could evolve, but broadly we’re taking it to mean ‘music that connects us to nature, makes us reflect and want to protect our living ecosystems and their amazing biodiversity’. Environmental Music can come in all styles and genres. Check out our 2022 and 2023 Finalists and their artist pages for more information on what inspired them to write the song.
WHY SHOULD ARTISTS APPLY?
- The Network Effect
By acting together, we are stronger than when we act alone. - Exposure to New Audiences for Your Song and Your Story
Our Impact Partners will be sharing the shortlisted songs inviting their audiences to watch, listen and vote.
The voting period will see media, music industry, environmental groups and fans sharing the stories and the artists behind these environmentally engaging masterpieces across platforms including newsletters and social media. (Greenpeace alone has an audience of 1.2 million in Australia)
Last year’s prize saw over 50+ media articles from Australia and international media outlets - Future engagement and training opportunities
Finalists will receive ongoing invitations to join future workshops, presentation and training opportunities delivered by the Environmental Music Prize and impact partners.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Can I apply if I’m under 18?
Yes but you will need your parents to sign and return the following consent form.
If my song is co-written, can I still apply?
You need to have contributed to the songwriting of the entered song to apply. We only accept one entrant per song.
Please ensure your co-writers have agreed and authorised the submission of your song into this competition. We can supply you with consent forms for this purpose.
If you win, you would be deemed the sole winner and any eventuating prizes would be divided amongst your co-writers at your discretion.
Do I have to be a member of APRA AMCOS or another Performing Right Organisation (PRO) to enter?
Songwriters who have no current PRO affiliation may apply. However we do suggest that if your original songs are being broadcast on TV/Radio, streamed or downloaded for sale online or performed live in a public venue, you should consider joining a PRO to ensure that you collect your songwriting royalties.
Can I apply if I’m an international artist?
We recognise that both environmental issues and music are global and we hope to open to international entrants in future rounds.
2022 and 2023 are focused on start-up and scale-up in our home country, Australia, as a cultural shift is required to accelerate the adoption of sound environmental policy.
Please follow us on socials and join our mailing list (include your country on the signup form) to receive updates on future launches.
We would like to deepen our knowledge of the music and artists active in this space around the world.
If you are a recognised artist and have strong song you would like us to know about, please add it to our ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC DATABASE
ENTRY
How many songs can I enter?
A maximum of two. Choose your best and most aligned work.
Each song will need to be entered separately so we can collect specific information about that concept, composition, video and team.
I have a song but no music video, can I still apply?
No. We understanding that creating a video is complicated and expensive, and so not available to every artist, for every song. At this early stage, we’ve chosen to focus on music videos as they are strong, highly evocative and memorable communication tools that can watched and shared widely, thus reaching, touching and activating large audiences.
We may open future rounds to songs without videos, and we also hope to build a strong list of environmental songs to share, so if your work is of high / professional quality, please add it to this form. We will be in touch if relevant opportunities come up.
I have a music video, but it is not on Youtube, can I still apply?
No. The aim of the prize is to reach the maximum number of people with engaging environmental messages. Having a video that is freely available to watch and share enables us to embed it for voting, as well as media and impact partners and fans to share in their articles and newsletter when they are touched or inspired.
Will The Environmental Music Prize own my song if I enter?
No, you will retain all rights to your song. We will share the link to your music video on YouTube on our website and with impact partners. Please review the Terms & Conditions before entering.
Do you accept videos of live recordings?
Yes. Live recordings of high audio and visual quality will be accepted. Keep in mind that it should be engaging and that your entry will be competing with music videos.
Where can I find the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs)
https://environmentalmusicprize.com/terms/
SHORTLISTING
What are the main criteria the Shortlisting Committee will assess?
They will be looking for compelling and memorable pieces of art that create connection and inspire action.
Key parts of this are:
- Ability to create a personal connection
- Songwriting and lyrics
- Visual communication through video and image
- Delivery and quality of execution
- Ability to connect to an audience
Am I expected to re-share environmental campaigns?
We will host workshops and events that you are free to attend at your discretion.
If there is a strong link between the content or purpose of your song and the work of an environmental organisation in our network we may offer to provide an introduction, but you are under no obligation to accept or engage.
THE ORGANISER
Who is behind this prize?
A not-for-profit entity called Environmental Music Limited. Directors are Edwina Floch, Matthew Dent and Christina Chun. See the About Us section for more information.
The initial funding for the 2022 Prize was provided by…
A few kind donors who believe in the power of music to inspire:
Edwina Floch, The Ferris Family, Clare Ainsworth Herschell, Universal Music Australia, Graeme Wood Foundation
Probono Partners: Black Nova Capital, Paper Moose, Green + Simple, Byron Writers Festival
HOW CAN I SUPPORT?
The Environmental Music Prize is community and philanthropically funded. However without further funding we will not be able to deliver on our bold vision to build an impact ecosystem where artists are rewarded, supported and trained to engage more strategically on environmental issues.
We would greatly value your support:
- MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to increase the significance of the prize, build strategic partnerships and scale quickly.
- SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN in exchange for exciting eco-conscious rewards.
- SPONSOR THE PRIZE or additional activities (Strategy and Budget available on request).
- VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS OR BECOME A PROBONO PARTNER to support our mission and accelerate impact.
- BECOME AN IMPACT PARTNER, COMMUNITY PARTNER OR INFLUENCER who share the playlist of shortlisted songs and environmental stories with your network.
Contact our Founder Edwina : hello@environmentalmusicprize.com
PLEASE SIGNUP FOR UPDATES AND FOLLOW ON SOCIALS TO DISCOVER INSPIRING SONGS AND STORIES.