Aotearoa Music Awards 2025 Finalists Announced

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Aotearoa Music Awards — formerly known as the Loxene Golden Disc awards, the Recording Arts Talent Awards, the Clear Music and Entertainment Awards, the Coca-Cola New Zealand Music Awards and the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards — recognising "excellence in New Zealand music" with the iconic Tūī trophy since 1965. Recorded Music NZ have today revealed a big list of 2025's finalists for all major categories, with superstars CHAII and Stan Walker leading the pack at five placings each.

We'll be dusting off our suit and tie for the official presentation ceremony on 29th May at Tāmaki Makaurau's Viaduct Events Centre. The event will be live streamed on the night via RNZ and available to stream on TVNZ+ from 30th May. As with previous years, I'm intrigued as to why there is still no Metal award, yet closely related genres like Folk and Country get seperate categories — scope out the full list of finalists below...

"A huge congratulations to all the finalists for the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. The finalists illustrate the breadth and depth of musical talent we have here in Aotearoa, and the impact these artists and music are having both at home and beyond.

In addition to celebrating the 2025 finalists and winners, it’s also our privilege this year to be marking an incredible 60 years of the Music Awards in Aotearoa. The Awards is a key part of our musical heritage and has evolved over the years to reflect our unique cultural identity. AMA 2025 will recognise special artists and waiata of the past and present; and create new moments to inspire the next generation of artists." - Recorded Music NZ CEO Jo Oliver

NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year

Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
CHAII – Safar
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho
Jordan Rakei – The Loop
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
L.A.B – L.A.B VI
Mel Parsons – Sabotage
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson
Troy Kingi – Leatherman And The Mojave Green

Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year

Cassie Henderson – ‘Seconds To Midnight (11.59)’
CHAII – ‘We Be Killing It’
Fazerdaze – ‘Cherry Pie’
Georgia Lines – ‘The Letter’
JessB – ‘Power’ (feat. Sister Nancy & Sampa the Great)
Kaylee Bell – ‘Cowboy Up’
Lorde – ‘Girl, so confusing featuring lorde’ (Charli xcx, Lorde)
MOKOMOKAI – ‘KUPE’ feat. MELODOWNZ
Reb Fountain – ‘Come Down’
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
Theia – ‘BALDH3AD!’
Troy Kingi – ‘Silicone Booby Trap’

Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group

Corrella – Skeletons
DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Earth Tongue – Great Haunting
Foley
L.A.B – L.A.B VI
SKILAA – Tiger In The River

Spotify Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist

Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Fazerdaze – Soft Power
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
MOKOTRON – WAEREA
Stan Walker

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo

Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
Haami Tuari – Taku Kaenga
Jordyn With a Why – ‘Reia’
Stan Walker – ‘Māori Ki Te Ao’
TAWAZ – ‘Tātarakihi’ (feat. MOHI)
Tuari Brothers – ‘Higher’

Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist

Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha
Corrella – Skeletons
Jordyn with a Why – Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice
MOHI
Stan Walker
TAWAZ

Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist

Jim Nothing – Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn
Louisa Nicklin – The Big Sulk
Vera Ellen – heartbreak for jetlag

Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist

Jian Liu – Where Fairburn Walked
Justin DeHart – Towards Midnight: NZ Percussion Vol 2
Michael Houstoun – The Well-Tempered Clavier

Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist

Barry Saunders and Delaney Davidson – Happiness Is Near
Kaylee Bell – Nights Like This
Tami Neilson – Neilson Sings Nelson

Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist

CHAII – Safar
Lee Mvtthews – EXIT
MOKOTRON – WAEREA

Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist

Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams
Kerryn Fields – The Folk Singer
Mel Parsons – Sabotage

Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist

David Dallas – Vita
Jujulipps – Superstar
RNZŌ

Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist

Lucien Johnson – Ancient Relics
Thabani Gapara – Dzindza
Umar Zakaria – Family Music

Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist

Cassie Henderson – The Yellow Chapter
Frankie Venter
Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho

Te Manu Taki Rakapioi o te Tau | Best Rock Artist

DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One
Devilskin – Surfacing
Troy Kingi – Leatherman And The Mojave Green

Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist

Christoph El Truento – Dubs From The Neighbourhood
Corrella – Skeletons
Lomez Brown

Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist

Aaradhna – Sweet Surrender
Sam V
Stan Walker

ARTISAN AWARDS

Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork

Emma Hercus – Sabotage (Mel Parsons)
Matt Sinclair – Neilson Sings Nelson (Tami Neilson)
Natalie King, Chris Schmelz – Uneven Ground (Death and the Maiden)

Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer

Emily Wheatcroft-Snape, Amelia Murray – Soft Power (Fazerdaze)
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Simon Gooding – Safar (CHAII)

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content

CHAII – ‘Night Like This’ (CHAII)
Night Watch – ‘Nightshift’ (Jujulipps)
Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – ‘Paradise’ (DARTZ)

Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer

CHAII, Frank Keys – Safar (CHAII)
Nic Manders – The Rose Of Jericho (Georgia Lines)
Rory Noble