Killing Time - Lust for Live Sep 2022 (Fred Randell)
Let’s celebrate local original music!
The DOMAs showcase and reward the best locally-created music, music videos and live music performances across all musical genres.
Any musician living locally who is writing their own music can enter. SOMAD membership is not required. The awards are determined by a mix of a judging panel, people’s choice public voting and from the SOMAD organising committee.
See below for award categories, judging method and eligibility.
Voting takes place over 2 weeks in November (Aussie music month) and the ceremony will be held in early December.
Raptor County - Lust for Live Sep 2022 (Fred Randell)
AWARD CATEGORIES 2025
Encompassing events and releases from Nov 01, 2024 to Oct 31, 2025.
Judging Panel (50%) and SOMAD members (50%):
Original Music Single of the Year 2025
Original Music Album or EP of the Year 2025
Original Music Video of the Year 2025
Original Music Album/Single artwork of the Year 2025
Original Music Gig photo of the Year 2025
Public Vote – People’s choice
Original Music People’s choice Single of the Year 2025
Original Music Live artist of the year 2025
Award from SOMAD committee, subject to discretion:
Services to the Dubbo original music scene
Media Supporter of the year
Rising star
Whisperhead - Mirkwood Metalfest 2022 (Fred Randell)
Award Ruleset
Artists must reside primarily within the Dubbo region. This is defined as:
Distance: within 100km of Dubbo - includes Dubbo, Narromine, Gil, Wellington, Peak hill, Dunedoo, Mendooran.
More than half of band members must reside within the area
If the artist moved into or out of the region in that time, they are eligible if they spent the majority of their time living in the area in that year.
We will accept nominations for awards that are:
original content only (no song covers)
publicly released (music or visual artwork), performed (for live music categories) or taken (for photo awards) within the relevant awards time period
For 2025, the awards time period is 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025
Artists playing any genre of music can enter
Artists who are not SOMAD members can enter
Artists who exhibit criminality or antisocial behaviour may be excluded from the competition at the discretion of the SOMAD committee.
Nominations received will be vetted by the SOMAD committee to determine eligibility. One appeal on this decision is allowed for, but the second decision is final.
Public, judging panel or SOMAD committee vote results are not made public, except the winner. Votes are anonymous.
Attendance at the awards ceremony is not required to win an award, but we encourage all to attend.
This ruleset can be varied by the SOMAD committee if the need arises.
The following award categories will be awarded based on a combination (50% each) of (1) an independent judging panel appointed by the SOMAD committee and (2) a vote by SOMAD members:
Single of the Year
Music video of the Year
Album or EP of the Year
Album or single visual artwork
Gig photo of the year
The following ‘people’s choice’ award categories will be awarded based on the results of a public online vote:
Live Artist of the Year
People’s Choice single of the year
The following award categories will be awarded based on a decision of the SOMAD committee, and may not be awarded in some years:
Services to Original music
Original Music Media Supporter
Original Music Rising Star
Nomination Form
Encompassing events and releases from Nov 01, 2024 to Oct 31, 2025.