Music industry association QMusic has issued a new statement following backlash from last week’s 2025 Queensland Music Awards
In a statement to members issued Wednesday afternoon, April 2nd, QMusic, producers of the QMAs, say the fallout from this year’s show has created “one of the most complex and challenging moments in QMusic’s history,” and that its own response “has not met the expectations of all parts of our community.”
The QMAs played out like any awards ceremony, with more than 30 categories presented on the night at Fortitude Music Hall, performances, speeches.
When jazz winner Kellee Green gave an impassioned presentation on human rights violations on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, few in the room expected her words to make ripples around the globe.
They did.
Green’s comments, and her winning track – a pro-Palestinian instrumental piece named “River to Sea”, a phrase that has reportedly upset some in the Jewish community – became part of the news cycle, led by the Courier Mail, part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp empire.
Then, Queensland Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg urged federal and state government to undertake a review of its funding for the QMAs, and for Green’s award to be revoked, per the Courier Mail article, published under the headline “Music award so off-key.”
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner took matters into his own hands and launched an extraordinary attack on QMAs, and pulled the Brisbane City Council’s funding of the annual event.
“The promotion of antisemitism at Tuesday night’s Queensland Music Awards was utterly shameful and divisive,” wrote Schrinner, a member of the Liberal National Party.
“The decision to hand a major prize to an offensively titled anti-Jewish song raises serious questions about whether the awards have been hijacked by extremists.”
He added, “as a result, we will be immediately withdrawing our funding and support for these awards.”
At the start of this week, more than 2,000 artists and industry professionals had signed an open letter asking QMusic to take a more transparent, braver stand in support of artistic freedom and the right to speak. Launched by Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra, the petition noted that, in the aftermath of her win, Green had been subject to “unacceptable” acts of intimidation.
“We hear you,” reads QMusic’s latest message to its members, “and we are committed to acting with care and accountability.”
QMusic reiterates its disappointment at Shrinner’s comments, and his decision to withdraw funding, worth $25,000 — a move “made without consultation.”
“While we will continue dialogue with Council and our funding partners, we must be clear: it cannot become standard practice for governments to revoke support in response to artistic expression they disagree with. That is not how democracy — or the arts — should work,” the message continues.
QMusic’s board and CEO Kris Stewart insist they have heard the feedback from community, and that feedback will inform its next steps, which include a review of the QMAs. That process will explore how the awards honour artistic expression, uphold safety, advocate for artists and foster a culture of mutual respect, and how QMusic serves as an industry convener and cultural advocate.
The statement was issued just hours before the music community was due to mingle with the state’s powerbrokers for the annual, invite-only “QLD Parliamentary Friends of the Music Industry” gathering at Parliament House.
Read QMusic’s full message below.
To our members and the wider music community,
More than 2,000 artists and industry professionals have signed an open letter asking QMusic to take a more transparent, braver stand in support of artistic freedom and the right to speak.
We hear you, and we are committed to acting with care and accountability.
This has been one of the most complex and challenging moments in QMusic’s history. In navigating a deeply sensitive situation, we acknowledge that our response has not met the expectations of all parts of our community.
QMusic exists to support artists — not to manage them, censor them or protect others from the discomfort that art can cause.
What happened at this year’s Queensland Music Awards has sparked a national conversation. Not just about one moment or one artist but about the boundaries of expression, the role of public institutions and the invisible lines drawn when art is seen as “too political”.
We believe those conversations are critical and we believe QMusic must help lead them.
We recognise the deep trauma and division caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, as well as the concerning rise in anti-Semitic activity both globally and here in Queensland. We support the view that there is no place for hate, discrimination or racism in our state.
We disagree with the Lord Mayor’s decision to withdraw funding from an event designed to celebrate the achievements of Queensland’s music community – a decision made without consultation. While we will continue dialogue with Council and our funding partners, we must be clear: it cannot become standard practice for governments to revoke support in response to artistic expression they disagree with.
That is not how democracy — or the arts — should work.
We are in regular contact with Kellee Green, offering support and connecting her with additional assistance and wellbeing services. We know this has taken a personal toll and we will continue to provide care in line with our values and responsibilities.
But we understand this goes beyond one individual. This is about culture, expectations and ensuring that artists remain safe to challenge the status quo.
We want to say this clearly: QMusic has no interest in controlling what artists say about their work. That is not our role. Our role is to protect the conditions in which art can be made and heard — even, and especially, when it challenges us.
We also recognise that with this freedom comes responsibility. While we prioritise an artist’s right to creative expression, we also have a duty to ensure our events are safe, inclusive and respectful. That balance is not always simple, but it is something we take seriously and will continue to strive to manage with care.
We also recognise that the systems we work within, including government partnerships and public funding, come with pressures. We don’t pretend to be immune to that, but we reject the idea that funding should come at the expense of artistic freedom.
We’ve heard the feedback from our community and understand there are ways we can better show up in our communication, our processes and our care. This reflection informs our next steps.
We are undertaking a review of the QMAs, including how we honour artistic expression, uphold safety, advocate for artists and foster a culture of mutual respect. This includes reflecting on QMusic’s role as an industry convener and cultural advocate.
We will continue to work constructively with our funding partners to ensure that artistic freedom, cultural safety and community confidence can co-exist.
We don’t have all the answers, but we are listening, we are learning, and we are committed to representing Queensland’s music industry with strength and integrity.
For any queries, feedback or questions please contact QMusic HERE.
QMusic Board & CEO
