Independent Music NZ
Announces Taite Music Prize 2023
Nominations are now open
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Auckland Live Best Independent Debut
Nominations now open
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2023 NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism
Nominations now open
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Taite Music Prize ceremony to be held April 18th, 2023
For the full detail on specific eligibility and nomination forms please visit: www.indies.co.nz
Nominations for the Taite Music Prize close at 5.00 pm on Wednesday, 1st February 2023.
Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) with the support of Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ announces the return of the Taite Music Prize for 2023. Celebrating the unique voices of Aotearoa music and those that champion them, nominations for the main Taite Music Prize, the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award and the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award have now opened.
Now in its 13th year, the main Taite Music Prize highlights outstanding albums; recognising and celebrating the depth of talent and breadth of genres that make up Aotearoa’s unique musical voice. The highly coveted Taite Music Prize is open to all genres of music and judged on artistic merit regardless of genre, sales, or record label. Any Aotearoa/New Zealand album released during the calendar year of 2022 is eligible for nomination. The winner receives a cash prize of $12,500, thanks to Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ. Previous recipients include Aldous Harding, Anthonie Tonnon, Avantdale Bowling Club, Ladi6, Lorde and Troy Kingi.
IMNZ Chairperson, Pip Ryan-Kidd says “2022 has been another extraordinary year for Aotearoa’s independent musician’s, with strong representation in released music, awards and touring. This year's judging panel will have a very tough time deciding who will take home our coveted Taite Music Prize trophy.
We are excited to return the Awards to our previous late April date, to be able to usher in the celebrations of NZ Music Month in May. IMNZ is immensely proud to produce an Award Ceremony that reflects creativity and puts artistic talent at the very core of the event. Once again, we look forward to hosting the celebration in the seated Rangatira at Q Theatre, and encourage Aotearoa’s music community to join us.”
Recorded Music NZ CEO, Jo Oliver says “We are very proud to continue our support of the Taite Music Prize and celebrate the artistic achievement of the vibrant independent music sector in Aotearoa.”
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award celebrates the freshest talent of Aotearoa. We are celebrating debut albums or EPs (with a total of at least four tracks and/or duration of more than 20 minutes), released by IMNZ members in the previous year. Thanks to Auckland Live, the winner receives a $2000 cash prize plus a performance or technical upskilling opportunity.
From Auckland Live, Helaina Keeley, Manager Creative Industries Development, comments “Auckland Live is proud to continue our partnership with the Taite Music Prize with support for the Best Independent Debut Award in 2023. New Zealand is blessed with a wealth of new music talent and we’re looking forward to once again supporting and celebrating one of these incredible artists next year.”
An academy of all current members of IMNZ, musicians, and music industry personnel vote to produce the shortlisted finalist albums. Next, an independent panel debates and scrutinises the shortlisted albums to decide the winner. That panel comprises musicians, journalists, and music industry professionals with a wide variety of different backgrounds and personal tastes.
The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award debuted last year as the first of its kind for Aotearoa/New Zealand created in the spirit of legendary broadcaster Dylan Taite and to extend IMNZ’s mandate to celebrate those who give media space to music from Aotearoa. The ground-breaking addition to the Taite Music Prize for 2022 celebrates special individuals who made a creative contribution and significant impact with coverage of Aotearoa music in the previous calendar year.
For the award’s inaugural year, finalists were shortlisted by the IMNZ board, and the finalists were of the highest calibre including; Undertheradar.co.nz ’s editorial team, Chris Cudby and Annabel Kean, Rova’s 'Aotearoa Hip Hop: The Music, The People, The History' - Podcast creators; DJ Sirvere and Martyn Pepperell, 95bFM’s Long Player “Milk III - Reuben Winter” episode - Producer; Jess Fu and the 2022 recipient was producer and journalist; Tony Stamp of RNZ Music’s The Sampler. Alison Mau was extended a special commendation for her work for Stuff covering NZ music industry practices and sexual harm prevention.
The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award comes with a $2500 cash prize. It is open to nominations from NZ music journalists, bloggers or editors who have made a creative contribution and significant impact in truth-telling and innovative reporting in the Aotearoa music industry.
The Taite Awards ceremony also includes the Independent Music NZ Classic Record presentation. This award acknowledges one New Zealand record released over 20 years ago on an independent label. These records, whether a 12”, a compilation, EP, or full-length album have become quintessential gold nuggets of our musical history and have included Patea Māori Club for 'Poi E', The Clean’s Boodle Boodle Boodle and Upper Hutt Posse’s E Tū.
The Independent Spirit Award will be in its fifth year in 2023. Devised to recognise and celebrate someone passionate about NZ music; who's ahead of the game in creativity, diversity, and imagination; and has dedicated themself to helping artists or music people to grow and find their unique pathways. The Board of IMNZ determines the annual recipient.
For more details on specific eligibility and nomination forms please visit: http://www.indies.co.nz
Nominations close 5.00 pm on Wednesday, 1st February 2023.
Editors Notes:
The eponym for the awards is the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected TV music journalists. He became known for his Liverpudlian wry wit and his unabashed chutzpah-love of music. Dylan’s unique style captured some rare interviews over the decades. Interviews with The Sex Pistols, Deep Purple, and the career-defining Bob Marley are still referenced today.
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/dylan-taite
The Taite Music Prize
Presented by: Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ)
Founding Partner: Recorded Music NZ
Official Partners: NZ On Air / The Taite Family
Award Partners: Auckland Live
Event Partners: Q Theatre
Supporting Partners: FUGA / Panhead Breweries / NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Media Arts Lawyers / Commotion Ltd. / McCarthy Design / Merlin / Oceania / ToneDeaf / College Hill / Spyglass / Loop / Auckland City Of Music
Media Partners: RNZ Music / 95bFM
Charity Partners: MusicHelps
Previous winners of The Taite Prize:
2010 - Lawrence Arabia - Chant Darling (Honorary Bedouin Records)
2011 - Ladi6 - The Liberation Of (What? Music)
2012 - Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Seeing Records)
2013 – SJD - Elastic Wasteland (Round Trip Mars)
2014 – Lorde - Pure Heroine (Universal Music NZ)
2015 – Jakob – Sines (Shoot The Freak)
2016 – Silicon - Personal Computer (Weird World/Domino Recordings)
2017 - Street Chant - Hauora (Arch Hill Recordings)
2018 - Aldous Harding - Party (Flying Nun Records / 4AD)
2019 - Avantdale Bowling Club - Avantdale Bowling Club (Years Gone By)
2020 – Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)
2021 - Reb Fountain - Reb Fountain (Flying Nun Records)
2022 - Anthonie Tonnon - Leave Love Out Of This (Slow Time Records)
Previous Winners of the Independent Music NZ Classic Record:
2013 – Gordons – Gordons (Flying Nun)
2014 – Various Artists – AK79 (Ripper Records)
2015 – Herbs – What’s Be Happen? (Warrior Records)
2016 – Upper Hutt Posse – E Tū (Jayrem Records)
2017 - The Clean - Boodle Boodle Boodle (Flying Nun)
2018 - Headless Chickens - Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)
2019 - Moana and the Moahunters - Tahi (Southside)
2020 – Shona Laing – South (Pagan Records)
2021 - Patea Māori Club - 'Poi E' (Maui Records)
2022 - PROUD - An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation
Previous Winners of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut:
2017 - Merk - Swordfish (self released)
2018 - The Miltones - The Miltones (Self-released)
2019 - Alien Weaponry - Tū (Self-released)
2020 – Repulsive Woman – Relief (Independent)
2021 - Na Noise - Waiting For You (1:12 Records)
2022 - Jazmine Mary - The Licking of a Tangerine (Flying Nun)
Independent Spirit Award
2019 - Bernie Griffin
2020 - Murray Cammick
2021 - Pete Rainey and Glenn Common of Smokefree Rockquest
2022 - Karyn Hay - ONZM
NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism
2022 - Tony Stamp - RNZ Journalist