The ARIA Music Award for Best Soul/R&B Release, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), an organisation whose aim is "to advance the interests of the Australian record industry." A previous category, Best Urban Album, was split into Best Soul/R&B Release and Best Hip Hop Release, which were first presented in 2019.
To be eligible, the work must be within the RnB, soul, funk, reggae or dancehall genres. The nominated release must qualify for inclusion in the ARIA Album Chart, and cannot be entered in any other genre categories. The accolade is voted for by a judging school, which comprises between 40 and 100 members of representatives experienced in this genre, and is given to an artist who is either from Australia or an Australian resident. The award for Best Soul/R&B Release was first presented to Kaiit for the single, "Miss Shiney". Tkay Maidza became the first artist to win twice in this category in 2024, and is also tied with Pania and Tash Sultana for the most nominations with three each, though the latter two have never won. American duo EarthGang, who won in 2023 along with Forest Claudette as a featured artist on "Mess Around", are the only non-Australian nominee.
Winners and nominees In the following table, the winner is highlighted in a separate colour, and in boldface; the nominees are those that are not highlighted or in boldface.
Year Winner(s) Album/single title 2019 Kaiit "Miss Shiney" Adrian Eagle "AOK" Genesis Owusu ""WUTD + Vultures" Matt Corby Rainbow Valley Tash Sultana "Can't Buy Happiness" 2020 Miiesha Nyaaringu Genesis Owusu "Don't Need You" Kian "Every Hour" Tash Sultana "Pretty Lady" Tkay Maidza Last Year Was Weird, Vol.2 2021 Tkay Maidza Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3) Budjerah Budjerah (EP) Hiatus Kaiyote Mood Valiant Jack Britten & Ngaiire 3 Tash Sultana Terra Firma 2022 Budjerah Conversations Emma Donovan & the Putbacks Under These Streets Kian Shine Vanessa Amorosi City of Angels 2023 Forest Claudette (featuring EarthGang) "Mess Around" Chanel Loren "Rollin" Jada Weazel "Skin" Kye "Ribena" Pania "P Stands 4 Playa" 2024 Tkay Maidza Sweet Justice Forest Claudette Jupiter Milan Ring Mangos Miss Kaninna "Blak Britney" Pania We Still Young 2025 Boy Soda "Lil' Obsession" Jacoténe "Why'd You Do That?" Jerome Farah Chlorine Larissa Lambert "Cardio" Pania "Pity Party"
Artists with multiple nominations 3 nominations Tkay Maidza Pania Tash Sultana
2 nominations Budjerah Forest Claudette Kian Genesis Owusu
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