The sixth annual Australian Music Prize (AMP) has been won by Cloud Control, a four-piece folk-pop band from New South Wales.

The Blue Mountains band's debut album Bliss Release was judged the winner above eight other shortlisted bands by a panel of musicians, music critics and music retailers.

The indie pop four-piece - made up of Alister Wright, Heidi Lenffer, Ulrich Lenffer and Jeremy Kelshaw - was unable attend tonight's award ceremony in Sydney's Annandale Hotel due to touring commitments in the UK.

Their manager Joel Connelly, who accepted the $30,000 prize on their behalf, says the winnings will go toward touring and promotion expenses in 2011.

The industry prize aims to recognise original Australian music making and is modelled around the UK's Mercury Music Prize.

AMP director Scott B Murphy said its focus lay on commending artistic quality regardless of chart positions, marketing might or radio play.

"For the sixth year in a row The AMP has successfully enabled an independent body of relevant judges to listen and review the body of work created by Australian recording artists and released in a particular calendar year," he said.

"All musical genres have been welcomed and all entries have been treated equal."

This year's nine nominees included Tame Impala, Richard In Your Mind, Sally Seltmann, Dan Kelly and Gareth Liddiard.

Another band nominated, The Holidays, were previously announced winners of the AMP Red Bull Prize which recognises an outstanding debut album.

Cloud Control will be back in Australia in May following their first headline tour of the UK and shows at the South By Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas.

- ABC/AAP