Amadeus Austrian Music Awards
The Amadeus Austrian Music Awards (AAMA) are Austria's most prestigious music awards, organized annually by IFPI Austria since 2000. The 26th edition took place on March 6, 2026, at the Marx Halle in Vienna, featuring 14 category awards across genres including Pop/Rock, Hip Hop/Urban, Electronic/Dance, and Jazz/World/Blues.
Details
Organizing Body
IFPI Austria
Type
Industry Awards
Frequency
Annual
Categories
- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- FM4 Award
- Live Act of the Year
- Songwriter of the Year
- Best Sound
- Alternative
- Electronic/Dance
- Hard and Heavy
- Hip Hop/Urban
- Jazz/World/Blues
- Pop/Rock
- Schlager/Volksmusik
- Lifetime Achievement
Processes
Nomination Process
Nominations are based on Austrian music sales, streaming data, and industry submissions. IFPI Austria, the Austrian record industry association, oversees the nomination process. 52 nominated artists competed across 14 categories in 2026, including 16 first-time nominees.
Voting Process
A combination of public voting and industry professional voting determines winners across categories. The FM4 Award is decided by the FM4 radio audience. Best Sound is determined by an expert jury. Genre categories and major categories (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Live Act) use a mix of public and professional voting.
The Amadeus Austrian Music Awards (AAMA) are Austria's most prestigious music awards, organized annually by IFPI Austria since 2000. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in the Austrian music industry across 14 categories spanning genres, live performance, songwriting, and production. The 26th edition took place on March 6, 2026, at the Marx Halle in Vienna, hosted by Tom Neuwirth (Conchita Wurst).
How the Amadeus Awards Work
The AAMA selection process combines public voting and industry professional evaluation:
- Nominations: IFPI Austria oversees nominations based on Austrian chart performance, streaming data, and industry submissions. In 2026, 52 artists were nominated across 14 categories, including 16 debut nominees.
- Voting: Winners are determined through a mix of public voting and professional jury voting. The FM4 Award is decided by the FM4 radio audience. The Best Sound category is judged by an expert jury evaluating recording, mixing, and mastering quality.
- Ceremony: The awards ceremony is held annually in Vienna and broadcast on ORF1. The 2026 edition took place at the Marx Halle under the motto "All Eyes on Music."
Genre categories include Pop/Rock, Hip Hop/Urban, Electronic/Dance, Alternative, Hard and Heavy, Jazz/World/Blues, and Schlager/Volksmusik. Major categories include Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Live Act of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. A Lifetime Achievement award is presented annually.
Real-World Example: The 2026 Amadeus Awards
At the 26th AAMA on March 6, 2026, Seiler und Speer were the only act to win two awards, taking home both Pop/Rock and Live Act of the Year. Their Live Act win followed their sold-out concert at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion in July 2025, where they became the first Austrian band to sell out the 50,000-capacity venue, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their album "Ham kummst."
Folkshilfe won Album of the Year for their fifth studio album "bunt." Pizzera and Jaus won Song of the Year for "Zweifelturm," which reached number 3 on the Austrian charts. NENDA won the FM4 Award, and newcomer Caro Fux won Songwriter of the Year for "Aff im Kopf."
RAF Camora won Hip Hop/Urban for the ninth consecutive year. Melissa Naschenweng won Schlager/Volksmusik for the seventh year in a row, setting a new record. Parov Stelar won his eleventh Amadeus in the Electronic/Dance category. Peter Cornelius received the Lifetime Achievement award.
Klangkarussell won Best Sound for their album "Petrichor." OSKA won Alternative for the second consecutive year. Vulvarine won Hard and Heavy, and 5/8erl in Ehr'n won Jazz/World/Blues.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Amadeus Awards are specifically designed to recognize Austrian artists, regardless of label size. The 2026 edition featured 16 debut nominees, showing that emerging artists can earn nominations alongside established acts. The Songwriter of the Year category, won by newcomer Caro Fux in 2026, specifically honors composition and is open to artists who may not have major chart success yet.
Winning an Amadeus Award provides significant domestic recognition. Austrian radio stations including ORF and FM4 give increased airplay to winners. The Live Act category, won five times by Seiler und Speer, can directly boost concert ticket sales and festival bookings.
If you are an Austrian artist, ensure your releases are registered with IFPI Austria and that your streaming and sales data is being tracked. Submit your work through the AAMA website during the nomination period. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate the revenue impact of increased streams following a nomination.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Project earnings from post-nomination streaming increases
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan touring revenue around the Live Act award boost
- PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - Register with AKM or other PROs to collect performance royalties in Austria
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue streams alongside awards recognition
- What Is Stem Mastering and Do You Need It - The Best Sound category rewards excellence in production and mastering
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