Today, Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) is excited to announce the finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2023 with the support of Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ and the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award. These two prestigious awards will be presented on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 alongside the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, IMNZ Classic Record and the Independent Spirit Award.
Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the coveted Taite Music Prize recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained in one recording. The award highlights outstanding New Zealand albums released in the past year. The award is open to all genres of music and judged on artistic merit regardless of genre, sales, or record label. The prize winner will receive a cash prize of $12,500, thanks to founding partner Recorded Music NZ.
A voting academy of all current members of IMNZ, musicians, and music industry personnel voted to produce the shortlisted finalist albums. 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 professional backgrounds and personal tastes.
The ten albums in contention for the 2023 Taite Music Prize span genres from hip hop to alt-country to indie electro pop and include some of Aotearoa's finest and pigeon-hole-defying musicians.
The 2023 Taite Music Prize finalists are:
Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (Flying Nun Records)
Avantdale Bowling Club - Trees (Years Gone By)
Erny Belle - Venus Is Home (Flying Nun Records)
Fazerdaze - Break! (Flying Nun Records)
Hans Pucket - No Drama (Carpark Records)
Marlon Williams - My Boy (Marlon Williams Music Limited)
Princess Chelsea - Everything Is Going To Be Alright (Lil Chief Records)
Tami Neilson - Kingmaker (Neilson Records)
TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd)
The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field (Ivy League Records)
Listen to a playlist of all Taite Music Prize 2023 albums on Spotify HERE.
Listen to a playlist of all Auckland Live Best Independent Debut albums on Spotify HERE.
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award celebrates the freshest talent of Aotearoa. The winner receives a $2000 cash prize plus a performance or technical upskilling opportunity thanks to Auckland Live.
The three albums nominated for the 2023 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award are:
Wiri Donna- Being Alone (Independent/DRM)
TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd)
Erny Belle - Venus Is Home (Flying Nun Records)
The fourteenth Taite Music Prize ceremony includes the presentation of the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award. IMNZ and NZ On Air look to celebrate a special individual who made a creative contribution and significant impact with coverage of Aotearoa music in 2022. The winner receives a $2500 cash prize thanks to NZ On Air. A shortlist of finalists for this award will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Independent Music NZ Classic Record 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.
Now in its fifth year, the Independent Spirit Award recognises and celebrates a New Zealander: someone who is passionate about NZ music; who's ahead of the game in creativity, diversity, and imagination; and has dedicated themself to helping artists and the wider music community to grow and find their own unique pathways. The annual recipient is determined by the IMNZ Board.
IMNZ General Manager, Dylan Pellett says, “As we move through these crazy times, it’s still so heartening to hear fresh new music being made and released in Aotearoa. Congratulations to all this year’s finalists!"
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."