Voter Fraud Operation Targets Music Victoria Awards 2024
MELBOURNE, Australia — Organizers of the 2024 Music Victoria Awards have confirmed that an “unknown assailant/s” executed a sophisticated manipulation of several publicly-voted categories, raising significant concerns regarding the integrity of the voting process.
On the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 27, Music Victoria, the esteemed trade organization behind this prestigious annual ceremony, publicly disclosed the breach via a social media announcement, supplemented by a detailed explanation posted on its official website. This transparency is crucial for maintaining the trust of the music community and its fans.
Representatives from Music Victoria revealed that they had “recently become aware of unusual activity” within the third-party voting system employed for the public voting categories in the upcoming 2024 Awards, prompting an urgent investigation into the integrity of the voting process.
Through thorough internal investigations—collaborating closely with the third-party voting system, Award Force, as well as consulting with cyber security experts and obtaining legal counsel—it was determined that targeted actions by unknown assailant/s led to thousands of misregistered votes being inaccurately attributed to nominees. This misallocation resulted in a significant alteration of the recipients in five of the six publicly voted categories, raising alarms about the security of such events.
The most recent Music Victoria Awards ceremony was held on October 25 at Fed Square, located in the vibrant state capital, Melbourne. This event is a cornerstone for celebrating local talent and showcasing the best in contemporary music.
In light of these developments, the rightful winners have been reinstated, and Music Victoria has committed to “carve out space” during the 2025 ceremony to publicly acknowledge and celebrate these winners in front of the industry, ensuring that their achievements are recognized appropriately.
Following a comprehensive investigation, Music Victoria has now awarded Jess Ribeiro for her outstanding work on “Summer of Love” (best song), Angie McMahon for her album Light, Dark, Light, Again (best album), Maple Glider (best solo artist), Gut Health (best group), and Leah Senior (best regional act). These recognitions highlight the incredible talent within the Australian music scene.
As Music Victoria approaches its 20th year, the organization acknowledges the “disappointment and devastation” this news may cause among its members and the wider music community. Consequently, the Victoria Police Cybercrime, Fraud, Scams, and Online Safety Unit has been enlisted to thoroughly investigate this serious matter, underscoring the organization’s commitment to security.
This incident represents a significant setback for the Victorian event, which was inaugurated in 2005 as a platform to celebrate the brightest and most talented contemporary music acts from the state. Such breaches threaten to undermine the hard work and dedication of artists and organizers alike.
Explaining their proactive approach to addressing this alarming situation, the association emphasizes its unwavering commitment to honesty, transparency, and integrity within the music industry, reinforcing the importance of ethical practices.
Meanwhile, the organizers continue to engage in close communication with the third-party voting system, Award Force, and cyber security experts to implement measures that will mitigate the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future, showcasing their dedication to safeguarding the voting process.
Winners in the 2024 industry categories, which fortunately were not impacted by the hacking incident, included Gretta Ray (best pop), Cheryl Durongpisitkul (best musician), and Pizza Death (best heavy work). These awards highlight the diverse range of talent within the vibrant Victorian music scene.
