Australian Artists Triumph At The 2025 Unsigned Only Music Awards

Orlando Kallen Named “Artist of The Year”

Judges Include: Aimee Mann, LeAnn Rimes, Janiva Magness, Sanctus Real, Rodney Atkins, Jill Scott, Robert Smith (The Cure), and more

Nashville, TN, September 16, 2025… The 2025 Unsigned Only Music Awards is proud to announce this year’s winners. Widely recognized as one of the premier music awards for independent and unsigned talent, Unsigned Only provides a unique space for artists to be heard and celebrated. 

Australia shone brightly in this year’s Unsigned Only with five winners (including the top honor, Artist of the Year). This represents the most wins second only to the USA. Bursting with talent, creativity, and a distinct Aussie edge, these winners embody the spirit of originality and innovation that Australia is known for, and they are setting the bar high internationally. 

Australian winners include:

• Orlando Kallen (Melbourne, VIC) – Artist of the Year

• Hayley Mary (Clunes, VIC) – Best AAA Artist

• Shebie King (Sefton, NSW) – Best Lyricist

• DEVAURA (Sydney, NSW) – Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist

• Felony. (Brisbane, QLD) – Best Rock Artist

“Australia has always been a hotbed for incredible music, and this year’s winners are proof of that,” said Candace Avery and Jim Morgan, Founders of Unsigned Only. “The five Aussie artists who took home top honors embody everything Unsigned Only stands for — fresh voices with something real to say. Their achievements celebrate the strength and creativity of Aussie artists making their mark worldwide. This is Australian music leading the way.”

Among this year’s honors, Orlando Kallen is named Artist of the Year, a recognition reserved for a singular artist whose music and artistic vision resonated deeply with the judges. A gifted singer, songwriter, and producer, Kallen is a young pop artist who is emerging as one of Australia’s most exciting new talents in contemporary music. With millions of streams across platforms and a fast-growing social media presence, Kallen has built an international fanbase and is positioning himself as an artist to watch on the global music stage.

 “I’m so honored to be acknowledged by the Unsigned Only Music Awards,” said Kallen. “As an independent artist trying to make it in this crazy industry, I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be seen and heard. This award truly means the world to me and has inspired me to keep going and keep creating.”

Born of Greek, Egyptian, and Croatian heritage, Kallen balances mainstream pop accessibility with indie edge and rock energy. His singles have landed on prominent playlists, while his music videos have racked up impressive views and engagement. Kallen’s win in Unsigned Only marks a milestone in what is shaping up to be a remarkable career.

Selected from almost 5,000 entries submitted from over 100 countries, the winners were chosen by a panel of high-profile industry professionals, including renowned artists, journalists, music managers, talent buyers, and more. The complete panel of judges includes:

Recording Artists: Aimee Mann; LeAnn Rimes; Robert Smith (The Cure); Jill Scott; Arty; Rodney Atkins; Sanctus Real; I Am They; Ruthie Foster; Chris Culos (O.A.R.); Janiva Magness; Nicholas Petricca (Walk The Moon); The Devil Makes Three; Russ Landau; Chaerin Kim; Masa Takumi; and Lucy Kalantari

Industry Professionals: Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Michael J. West (Reviews Editor, DownBeat); Jason Lipshutz (Music Editor, Billboard); Kevin McNeese (President, NewReleaseToday); Damon Stewart (CEO, IGA Talent Mgmt & Consulting); James Whitting (Partner, Paradigm Talent Agency); Carys Anderson (Staff Writer, The Austin Chronicle); John Dibiase (President, Jesus Freak Hideout); Angel Romero (Founder/Sr. Editor, World Music Central); Cy White (Music Journalist); Art Tipaldi (Editor, Blues Music Magazine); Paul Riario (Tech Editor, Guitar World Magazine); James Kempner (Owner, JMK Connections); Jennifer Taunton (Music Supervisor, Level Two Music); Mark Garfield (Co-Director, Pop-Up Music UK Ltd.); Brinson Strickland (President, Collective Artist Management); Debra Delshad (Sr. Director, Synchronization and Licensing, Angry Mob Music); Brandon Chitwood (Founder/Writer, The EDM Scholar); Tony Gervino (Exec. VP / Editor-In-Chief, Tidal); Nikita Konkin (Artist Manager); Roy Hamilton 111 (Management Team, The Singer’s Company); Claire Green (President, Parents Choice Foundation); and David Silbaugh (Talent Buyer, Summerfest)

Unsigned Only is sponsored by: Unsigned Only is sponsored by: The Church Studio; Play MPE; iProdigy; Merch Cat; and Music Business Registry. 

For a complete list of winners, go to: www.unsignedonly.com/winners.

For more information, go to www.unsignedonly.com.

Candace Avery
Unsigned Only Music Awards
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