Music News

The Mighty Aotearoa Alternative Awards 2024 Winners Announced

Liam Hansen / Image: Te Rōpū Rorotu Favourite Group winners SKILAA / Monday 4th November, 2024 5:30PM

After a triple run of chaotic annual award show evenings across the motu, the Student Radio Network Awards returned as The Mighty Aotearoa Alternative Awards on Saturday — dedicated to showcasing the best musicians, broadcasters, and supporters of alternative music in typically insane student radio style. Ōtautahi’s own RDU 98.5FM took on the hosting reigns this year, seeing Liam Donnelly and Bex Pemberton present all national awards and sharing the love across Aotearoa, with every station simulcasting from their respective studios and venues. We squeezed into the 95bFM watch party at BIG FAN in Morningside, enjoying the MAAA-exclusive Hazy beers from Three Boys Brewery and taking in sets from multiple award nominee Geneva AM and our very own Power Nap.

The national awards this year reflected the current state of Aotearoa, with a variety of the nominees and winners championing indigenous rights from here to the other side of the world. Te Tohu Puoro o te Reo Māori - Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori was won by KOMMI and Infectiouss for 'Tāiro' feat. Marlon Williams, Caru and Dera Meelan took home the award for Te Tōtahi Toa - Favourite Single for 'See No Evil' feat. Church and deadforest, and Christoph el Truento’s Dubs from the Neighbourhood won Te Tohu Kōpae Puoro Rorotu - Favourite Album.

Tāmaki favourites Mokotron and SKILAA won awards for Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa - Favourite Solo Act and Te Rōpū Rorotu - Favourite Group respectively, with the former having his mahi also recognised for Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Rorotu - Favourite EP/Mixtape as part of Tautoko Gaza. The compilation was produced by Aotearoa Artists in Solidarity with Palestine late last year and released exclusively on Bandcamp, with all proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians. With contributors like Babe Martin, Citacsy, Molly McLennan, and the aforementioned Mokotron all in the room, their win received the most rapturous applause from the Tāmaki camp.

Speaking of camp, Ian Jorgensen (aka Blink) of Camp A Low Hum took out the prize for He Tohu Kahurangi - Outstanding Achievement Award for his 2024 return of the festival to Wainuiomata, and decades of service to the music community in Pōneke and around Aotearoa. The winners of Te Tohu nā te Marea i Kōwhiri - People’s Choice Award was won by Ōtepoti upstarts IVY, and longtime Pōneke hometown heroes Mermaidens had their song ‘I like to be alone’ top the 2024 SRN Top 10, after the track was nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll earlier this year.

Each SRN station — 95bFM, Radio Control 99.4FM, RadioActive.FM, RDU 98.5 FM and Radio One 91FM — had their own round of regional awards, check out the full list of winners HERE. Up in Auckland, we had the privilege of seeing Aotearoa’s leading skate brand-affiliated radio show Arcade Radio take out the award for He Tohu Kahurangi i te Pāhotanga ki a 95bFM - 95bFM’s Outstanding Achievement in Broadcasting after ten years on air. Rob Bollox, aka The Bard of Bollox won Te Tohu Tiketike o te Hāpai i a 95bFM - Outstanding Contribution to 95bFM in recognition of his time as the presenter of The Mind Trench on Breakfast, co-hosting Plato's Retreat on Saturday evenings, and much more, including being one of the friendliest faces you can come across in the station. Lastly, Thee Golden Geese rightfully won the award for Te Waiata Rorotu 2024 ki a 95bFM - 95bFM’s Favourite Song of 2024 with their anthem dedicated to the station, ‘95bFM Top Ten’ after one of the most infamous rises to the top of the charts that student radio has ever seen. Look forward to next year, where Radio Control 99.4 FM stands as the final station yet to host the modern interaction of the best awards show in town (not just because they gave us an award last year).