The New Zealand Music Awards are coming

The New Zealand Music Awards are coming

The nominations are in, the judges are doing their thing and the venue is booked – it’s New Zealand Music Awards time again.

The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand brings its 41st annual celebration of Kiwi music to the nation this year on Wednesday October 18 in Auckland.

The finalists’ announcement for this years awards and the presentation of three technical awards will be held on Wednesday 6 September.

Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says the public will again have heaps of opportunities to attend the awards.

A highlight of the event over the past few years has been the arrival of New Zealand’s music royalty to the Aotea Square in an array of vehicles ranging from minis to stretched limos and even a tow truck!

With this year’s Tuis again being handed out in Auckland’s Aotea Centre – THE EDGE®, the hugely popular Oscar-like red carpet arrival rolls out again, and everyone is welcome to go down and join in the fun.

“This year we will again be making available a number of tickets to the main event,” Mr Smith says.

“So keep your eyes and ears open for how you can be part of the action on New Zealand musics’ biggest night of the year.”

Mr Smith says the NZ Music Awards 2006 web site is now live at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz and TV dates for delayed broadcast of the event are in place.

“The TV coverage takes the best of New Zealand music to the nation and again C4 will broadcast edited highlights the night after the Tuis are presented (19 October). Plus, there is a repeat on TV3 in the weekend (October 21).”

Three technical awards are being presented at the Finalists’ Announcement on September 6. They are Best Producer, Best Engineer and Best Album cover.

The only change to the main awards is the removal of the Songwriter of the Year. Mr Smith says the expertise of New Zealand songwriters is well celebrated at the Silver Scroll awards in September.

“With the huge growth of the NZ Music Awards over recent years and the consequent pressures resulting from their popularity we have been looking for ways to keep things tight on the night.

“The Silver Scrolls honour the best songwriters in the country so we have made the tough decision to take the category out of our event.”

Mr Smith expects some hot competition for this year’s Tuis.

“New Zealand music has had a great year. Fat Freddy’s Drop – last year’s big winner at the awards – is still in the charts and there has been a huge range of new quality music released in the past 12 months.”

The Tuis presented at the NZ Music Awards 2006 ceremony are for:
PlayStation®2 SingStar Album of the Year
The New Zealand Herald Single of the Year
Best Group
Best Male Solo Artist
Best Female Solo Artist
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
The Warehouse Highest Selling NZ Album
Highest Selling NZ Single
C4 Best Music Video
Best Rock Album
Best Urban/Hip Hop Album
Best Dance/Electronica Album
Best Aotearoa Roots Album
Best Maori Album
Best Gospel/Christian Album
Best Classical Album
People’s Choice

• No finalists are announced for the Highest Selling NZ Single or Highest Selling NZ Album Awards.
• The International Achievement, Outstanding Achievement and Lifetime Achievement awards are judged by the RIANZ Board and awarded at the Board’s discretion. No finalists are announced for these categories.
The presentation of the New Zealand Music Awards 2006 would not be possible without the assistance of a great group of sponsors. This year we welcome the following sponsors for their support; The Warehouse, PlayStation®2 SingStar, Auckland City, Vidal Wines, THE EDGE®, L’Oréal Professionel, M.A.C, Beck’s, Smirnoff, Stebbing Recording Centre, Amplifier.

The awards also get huge support from C4 and the CanWest radio stable including KIWI FM, The Edge, The Rock and More FM as well as The New Zealand Herald.

ends

© Scoop Media