Shihad to Receive IMNZ Classic Record + Best Independent Debut & Music Journalism Award Finalists Announced

Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) shake up our Thursday with three major announcements, setting the scene for the sixteenth Taite Music Prize presentation ceremony at Tāmaki Makaurau's Q Theatre on 15th April. Shihad's breakout 1995 album Killjoy (Wildside Records) has been announced as this year's recipient of the prestigious IMNZ Classic Record, the first time a heavy rock / metal group has won this category since the accolade was established in 2013, fittingly capping off the group's just-concluded Loud Forever - The Final Tour.

In his recent interview for UTR with Nathan Hickey (Beastwars), frontman Jon Toogood stated Killjoy represents Shihad at their peak: "I think it's like a high point in the band's career. I think it's inspired. It's a band that's done heaps of live shows that are really tight, but then experimenting in an age where music's actually really exploding, like creativity's exploding".

Alongside the IMNZ Classic Record, finalists were also revealed today for the 2025 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award and the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, all to be presented at next month's Taite Music Prize ceremony. Recognising "Aotearoa’s most promising emerging talent", the Best Independent Debut Award comes with "a $2,000 cash prize, a performance or technical upskilling opportunity courtesy of Auckland Live, and, new for 2025, a $1,200 studio recording package from Parachute Studios". Established in 2021, the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award "honours a journalist, blogger, editor, or creator whose work has had a significant and enduring impact on the Aotearoa music scene through ethical, and innovative reporting" — coming with a cash prize of $2500.

The three debut collections shortlisted for the 2024 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award are...

Pony Baby - Pony Baby

Aquatopialien - VIDA

Flowers Dream - 花溪 Flowerstream

Filter - Byllie-jean

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award finalists for 2025 are...

Karl Puschmann (Antenna Media)

Rosa Nevison, Sam Elliot, Flynn Robson (Newzician Magazine)

Chris Schulz (Boiler Room)

Smash play on Shihad's pummelling 'Bitter' from their 1995 album Killjoy...