National Indigenous Music Awards 2016
The National Indigenous Music Awards 2016 were the 13th annual National Indigenous Music Awards.
The nominations were announced on 31 July 2016 and the awards ceremony was held on 6 August 2016.
The theme for this year's award was Protest Songs. The year, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 and 25 years since the release of Yothu Yindi's Tribal Voice.
Performers
- A.B. Original
- Shellie Morris
- Warren H. Williams and Danielle Young
- Kahl Wallis
- Lonely Boys
- Stanley Gaykamangu
- Yirrmal with his father Witiyana Marika
- Rayella
- Chris Tamwoy
- David Spry
- Kuren
Hall of Fame Inductee
Kutcha Edwards is an indigenous Australian singer and songwriter, born in Balranald, New South Wales in 1965. He is a member of the Stolen Generations, and was removed from his parents at the age of 18 months. He is a Mutti Mutti man. He was named Indigenous Person of the Year at the 2001 NAIDOC Awards. He has released four studio albums between 2001-2015.Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner
- Kuren
Awards
Artist of the Year| Artist | Result |
| Emma Donovan | |
| Dan Sultan | |
| Gurrumul | Won |
New Talent of the Year
| Artist | Result |
| A.B. Original | |
| Benny Walker | |
| Gawurra | Won |
| Emily Wurramara | |
| Chris Tamwoy |
Album of the Year
| Artist and album | Result |
| Gawurra – Ratja Yaliyali | Won |
| Gurrumul – The Gospel Album | |
| Dan Sultan – Open Live – Live from the National Theatre, Melbourne |
Film Clip of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
| Briggs, Dewayne Everettsmith & Gurrumul – "The Children Came Back" | |
| Gawurra – "Ratja Yaliyali" | Won |
| Benny Walker – "Oh No You Don't" |
Song of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
| A.B. Original featuring Caiti Baker – "Dead in a Minute" | |
| A.B. Original – "2 Black 2 Strong" | |
| Gawurra – "Ratja Yaliyali" | |
| Briggs, Dewayne Everettsmith & Gurrumul – "The Children Came Back" | Won |
| Benny Walker – "Oh No You Don't" |
Cover Art of the Year
| Artist and album | Result |
| Gawurra – Ratja Yaliyali | Won |
| Gurrumul – The Gospel Album | |
| Benny Walker – Oh No You Don't |
Traditional Song of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
| Ishmael Marika – "Two Sisters Journey" | Won |
Community Clip of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
| Galiwinku – "Yolngu Style" | |
| Ngukurr – "Break the Silence" | Won |
| Katherine – "Shadows" |