Finalists Announced For NZ Music Awards and Critics' Choice Prize 2016

In the lead up to the annual New Zealand Music Awards next month, the list of Tui Award finalists have been revealed alongside the three contenders for the 2016 Critics Choice Prize. On top of that, the newly coined Artisan Awards (which replaces the Technical Awards) have been announced.

The Critics’ Choice Prize sits separate from the VNZMA ceremony, with the winner being announced at a showcase at The Tuning Fork on 2nd November. The finalists for this year's award are up-and-coming artists Kane Strang, Scuba Diva and SPYCC & INF. The winner receives an $8000 NZ On Air grant to be used for recording a song and/or accompanying music video; a $1500 voucher for audio services at Stebbing Recording Centre; mentoring sessions from industry professionals; and a year’s membership to the Music Manager’s Forum.

The newly announced Artisan Awards also take place at a seperate ceremony, to be held on 20th October at the Pullman Hotel. These awards recognise the heroes behind the scenes, and include Best Producer, Best Engineer, Best Album Art, and Best Music Video. The full list of nominees is below.

Also announced today is the 2016 NZ Herald Legacy Award recipient which will see Bic Runga inducted into the NZ Music Hall Of Fame. During the course of her illustrious career Bic has clocked up 20 Tuis - more than any other solo artist in New Zealand. Her awards include Album of the Year for her debut Drive, and Best Female Vocalist on four separate occasions.  

The New Zealand Music Awards 2016 see Broods, Aaradhna, MAALA and Fat Freddy's Drop dominating the finalists list, see the full list (by category) below.

The VNZMA ceremony will take place on Thursday 17th November at Vector Arena in Auckland, and will be broadcast live on TV3, streamed live on TV3.co.nz from 8.30pm

VNZMA 2016 FINALISTS:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Broods – ‘Conscious’

Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’

Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Broods – ‘Free’

KINGS – 'Don't Worry Bout' It'

MAALA – ‘Kind of Love’

The Naked and Famous – ‘Higher’ 
Shapeshifter – ‘Stars’

BEST GROUP

Broods – ‘Conscious’

Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

Sol3Mio – ‘On Another Note’

BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST
Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’

Dave Dobbyn – ‘Harmony House’

Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’

MAALA – ‘Composure’

BEST FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

Hollie Smith – ‘Water Or Gold’

 Ladyhawke – ‘Wild Things’

Tami Neilson – ‘Don’t Be Afraid’

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
KINGS – 'Don't Worry Bout' It'

Leisure – All Over You’

nomad – ‘Oh My My’

SACHI – ‘Lunch with Bianca’

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Beastwars – ‘The Death Of All Things’

Jordan Luck Band – ‘Not Only… But Also’

Villainy – ‘Dead Sight’

BEST POP ALBUM

Avalanche City – ‘We Are For The Wild Places’

Broods – ‘Conscious’

MAALA – ‘Kind of Love’

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Lawrence Arabia – ‘Absolute Truth’

The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’

Silicon – ‘Personal Computer’

BEST URBAN/HIP HOP ALBUM
Aaradhna – ‘Brown Girl’

PNC – The Luke Vailima EP 

SWIDT – ‘SmokeyGotBeatz Presents SWIDT vs EVERYBODY’

BEST ROOTS ALBUM
Fat Freddy’s Drop – ‘BAYS’

Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’

Unity Pacific – ‘Blackbirder Dread’

BEST ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Electric Wire Hustle – ‘Aeons’

Opiuo – ‘Omniversal’

Pacific Heights – ‘The Stillness’

BEST MAORI ALBUM

Dennis Marsh – ‘Maori Songbook 2’

Kirsten Te Rito – ‘Āiotanga’

Rob Ruha – ‘Pūmau’

BEST WORSHIP ALBUM

Edge Kingsland – ‘Edge Vol. 3: The Common Good’

Grace Vineyard Music – ‘Seek You’

LIFE Worship – ‘By My Spirit’

BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM
Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris – ‘Fjarran’

Kenneth Young – ‘Shadows and Light’

Zephyr – ‘Zephyr’

ARTISAN AWARDS:

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Chris Lane – ‘Inside Out’ (Avalanche City)

Sam Peacocke – ‘Buried By The Burden’ (Pacific Heights Ft. Louis Baker)

Simon Oliver – ‘Secret Lives of Furniture’ (Ha the Unclear)

BEST ALBUM COVER

Anns Taylor – ‘Absolute Truth’ (Lawrence Arabia)

Henrietta Harris – ‘I'll Forget 17’ (Lontalius)

Simon Faisandier – ‘Road To You’ (ARISE)

BEST PRODUCER

Devin Abrams – ‘The Stillness’ (Pacific Heights)

Joel Little – ‘Conscious’ (Broods)

Josh Fountain – ‘Composure’ (MAALA)

BEST ENGINEER

Joel Little – ‘Conscious’ (Broods)

Miller & Phil Yule – ‘Shoot Me In The Heart’ (Miller Yule)

Samuel Flynn Scott & Lee Prebble –‘Harmony House’ (Dave Dobbyn)

OTHER AWARDS:

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Broods

Fat Freddy’s Drop

KINGS

MAALA

Sol3Mio

LEGACY AWARD

Bic Runga

CRITICS CHOICE PRIZE - SHORTLISTED ARTISTS
Kane Strang

Scuba Diva

Spycc & INF