By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 16: The 25th Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM25), Malaysia’s most prestigious and longest-running music awards platform, will be held in Kuching for the first time on Sept 26, 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), marking a historic milestone as the awards celebrate their Silver Jubilee edition.
The Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) announced that AIM25 will continue its tradition of recognising artistic excellence and upholding standards in the Malaysian music industry, having honoured the nation’s top music creators since its inception in 1993.
The landmark edition is supported by the Ministry of Communications through the Digital Content Fund Grant via MyCreative Ventures, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) through a Tourism Event Grant, while TVS will serve as the Official Broadcaster and Co-Host of AIM25.
RIM and AIM chairman Rosmin Hashim said the 25th edition was a significant celebration of Malaysia’s music achievements and the industry’s continued evolution.
“AIM25 is especially meaningful as we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Malaysia’s most prestigious music awards. Over the past 24 editions, AIM has continued to recognise and honour the exceptional talent, creativity and dedication of our music creators, while evolving alongside the ever-changing landscape of the Malaysian music industry,” he said in a media release.
This follows the award announcement by MTCP Sarawak Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference held at Volume KL, The Arch Galleries in Kuala Lumpur today.
He expressed appreciation for the continued support from the Ministry of Communications, MTCP Sarawak and TVS, saying the collaborations would help deliver a memorable celebration of Malaysian music excellence while inspiring further growth of the industry.
In conjunction with the Silver Jubilee celebration, AIM25 will introduce two new award categories — Best Borneo Song and Best Festive Song — reflecting Malaysia’s diverse cultural identity and evolving musical expressions.
The Best Borneo Song category recognises outstanding works that celebrate the cultural richness, languages, traditions and unique identities of Sabah and Sarawak, while highlighting contemporary creative expressions from communities across Borneo.
The Best Festive Song category will honour musical works that capture the joy, values and traditions of Malaysia’s multicultural celebrations, recognising songs that have become part of the nation’s festive experiences and promote unity among communities.
RIM said the new categories reflected AIM’s continued commitment to recognising the diversity of Malaysia’s music industry and celebrating the cultural traditions that shape the country’s creative landscape.
AIM25 will also receive increased government support, with RM950,000 in Digital Content Fund Grants to be awarded to winners across 16 categories under the 2026 Digital Content Fund (DKD) allocation administered by MyCreative Ventures.
The allocation represents a RM250,000 increase compared with the RM700,000 awarded across 11 categories for AIM24, reflecting the expanded number of categories and the government’s continued commitment to strengthening the local music industry.
The increased funding is aimed at encouraging artistic excellence, supporting music creators and strengthening Malaysia’s creative economy by recognising the contribution of the local music industry to cultural and economic growth.
Meanwhile, MTCP Sarawak is providing a RM1 million grant to support AIM25, underscoring Sarawak’s commitment to developing the creative sector and positioning the state as a destination for major arts, culture and entertainment events.
The collaboration between RIM and MTCP Sarawak also marks AIM’s first staging in Kuching, showcasing Sarawak as a vibrant hub for creative and cultural activities.
AIM25 will feature 33 award categories covering various aspects of Malaysia’s music industry, including major awards such as Best New Artiste, Best Male Vocal, Best Female Vocal, Best Group Vocal, Best Band, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
Other categories include Best Rock Song, Best Pop Song, Best Rap/Hip Hop Song, Best Ethnic Song, Best Traditional Song, Best Borneo Song, Best Festive Song, Most Streamed Song and Song With Highest Creation Videos on TikTok.
Songs and albums in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese and Indian languages released in Malaysia between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2025 are eligible for nomination. Submissions open on July 16, 2026 and close on Aug 6, 2026.
Nominations will be assessed by a panel of judges comprising experienced music industry practitioners and experts from various disciplines, led by chief judge Ajai. The judges’ scores will be tabulated and audited by an independent auditor before the final results are announced.
The Sri Wirama Award recipient will be selected by the RIM Council, while the Final Five nominees for AIM25 are expected to be announced in September 2026.
As official broadcaster and co-host, TVS will bring the Silver Jubilee edition of AIM to audiences nationwide while partnering with RIM to deliver the landmark awards ceremony from Kuching, Sarawak. — DayakDaily
