Music Victoria Suspends 2025 Awards Amid Voter Fraud Scandal

Music Victoria has announced the suspension of the 2025 Music Victoria Awards following a significant voter fraud incident uncovered in the 2024 ceremony, where thousands of misregistered votes manipulated the results in several publicly-voted categories. The organization, after extensive internal investigations and consultations, reinstated the rightful winners but has decided not to hold the awards in 2025 to reassess and reimagine the event's structure. Music Victoria emphasized that this pause is a short-term measure intended to create a more robust and sustainable future for the awards. The organization remains committed to its mission of supporting Victoria’s diverse music community and intends to work closely with stakeholders to develop new ways to celebrate local talent. CEO Fiona Duncan described the suspension as a necessary step back to enable future progress and greater inclusivity. The move comes after 18 months of reflection, with Music Victoria pledging ongoing support for the local music industry during the hiatus.