The 22nd annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) took place on 19 October 2008. The nominees for all categories were announced on 10 September, while the winners of the Artisan Awards were announced on the same day.
Awards and nominations
Final nominees are shown in plain, with winners in bold.
ARIA Awards
Album of the Year
The Presets – Apocalypso
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Rattlin' Bones
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! The Living End – White Noise
Single of the Year
Gabriella Cilmi – "Sweet About Me" Faker – "This Heart Attack" Sam Sparro – "Black and Gold" The Living End – "White Noise" The Presets – "My People"
Best Male Artist
Nick Cave – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul Paul Kelly – To Her Door (live) Pete Murray – Summer at Eureka Sam Sparro – Sam Sparro
Best Female Artist
Gabriella Cilmi – Lessons to Be Learned
Clare Bowditch – The Moon Looked On
Holly Throsby – A Loud Call
Kylie Minogue – X
Missy Higgins – "Peachy"
Best Group
The Presets – Apocalypso
Angus & Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Faker – Be the Twilight
Silverchair – "If You Keep Losing Sleep" The Living End – White Noise
Best Adult Contemporary Album
The Panics – Cruel Guards
Clare Bowditch – The Moon Looked On
Jimmy Barnes – Out in the Blue
Katie Noonan – Skin
Robert Forster – The Evangelist
Best Blues & Roots Album
The Audreys – When the Flood Comes
Angus & Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Jeff Lang – Half Seas Over
Mia Dyson – Struck Down
The Waifs – Sun Dirt Water
Best Children's Album
The Wiggles – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
Hi-5 – Planet Earth (deluxe edition) Jay Laga'aia – Come Dance and Sing Justine Clarke – Songs to Make You Smile The Fairies – Fairy Fun, Fun, Fun
Best Comedy Release
Shaun Micallef – The Expurgated Micallef Tonight
Akmal Saleh – Akmal Live and Uncensored
Matt Tilley – Cereal Pest: Gotcha Calls – Three's a Crowd
Merrick and Rosso – Live and Totally Wrong! The Umbilical Brothers – Don't Explain
Best Country Album
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Rattlin' Bones
Catherine Britt – Little Wildflower
Melinda Schneider – Be Yourself
Sara Storer – Silver Skies
The McClymonts – Chaos and Bright Lights
Best Dance Release
The Presets – Apocalypso
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Mobin Master – Show Me Love
Pnau – Pnau
The Potbelleez – "Don't Hold Back"
Best Independent Release
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul
Ben Lee – Ripe
British India – Thieves
Lior – Corner of an Endless Road
Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia
Best Music DVD
Powderfinger & Silverchair – Across the Great Divide Tour
Hilltop Hoods – The City of Light
Paul Kelly – Live Apples
John Butler Trio – Live at Federation Square
Wolfmother – Please Experience Wolfmother Live
Best Pop Release
Gabriella Cilmi – Lessons to Be Learned
Kylie Minogue – X
Operator Please – Yes Yes Vindictive
Sam Sparro – "Black and Gold" The Veronicas – Hook Me Up
Best Rock Album
The Living End – White Noise
Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
Faker – Be the Twilight
Gyroscope – Breed Obsession
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Best Urban Release
Bliss n Eso – Flying Colours
A-Love – Ace of Hearts
Katalyst – What's Happening
Muph & Plutonic – …And Then Tomorrow Came
Spit Syndicate – Towards the Light
The Herd – Summerland
Breakthrough Artist – Album
Gabriella Cilmi – Lessons to Be Learned
Angus & Julia Stone – A Book Like This
Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia
Operator Please – Yes Yes Vindictive
Sam Sparro – Sam Sparro
Breakthrough Artist – Single
Gabriella Cilmi – "Sweet About Me" Angus & Julia Stone – "The Beast" Sam Sparro – "Black and Gold" The Panics – "Don't Fight It" The Potbelleez – "Don't Hold Back"