New Critics’ Choice Prize to Music Awards season

Media information critics choice – 1
July 21, 2010

RIANZ adds new Critics’ Choice Prize to Music Awards season

A new prize judged by some of New Zealand’s top music critics is set to honour up-and-coming Kiwi musicians and provide some tangible support to help nurture promising talent.

Developed to form part of the annual Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards celebrations, the Critics’ Choice Prize recognises an artist that a panel of 13 critics believe is on track to become a Kiwi music success story.

RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith says the Prize is all about recognising musicians who are on the rise and providing some profile and assistance to help them further on their way.

Smith says that to be eligible, an artist must not yet have released an album, and not been a finalist at any stage for any Vodafone New Zealand Music Award.

“We want to recognise early and encourage the next generation of Tui winners. We have a great panel of highly respected critics from across the media and I am confident they have some great Kiwi talent in their sights.

“This is our chance to recognise those artists who are out there gigging and recording demos, just getting going, who will soon be a fixture on our music players and in the charts.”

The Critics’ Choice prize will also provide tangible support for the winner. The winning artist receives recording time at York Street Studios, $5,000 worth of equipment from NZ Rockshop and mentoring from Dave McLaughlin from McLaughlin Law, Lydia Parsons from Entertainment Accounting, touring guru Brent Eccles and various members of the Music Managers Forum.

The Prize will be presented by Gravity Coffee. Chris Brown, Gravity marketing manager, says: “We are really proud to be supporting and presenting the Critics’ Choice Prize. There are so many amazingly talented musicians out there working hard, doing their thing, and it’s great that we can acknowledge these artists through this Prize and Showcase.”

A shortlist of three artists will be announced at the VNZMA Finalists Announcement and Technical Awards presentation in Auckland on Wednesday 1 September. Those artists will take to the stage at the Kings Arms for a special showcase on September 15, and the winner of the Critics’ Choice Prize will be announced that night.

There will be limited door sales to the Gravity Coffee Critics’ Choice Showcase available at the venue on the night.

NOTES:
All Artists are eligible, provided they have not released an album either during the eligibility period or prior to that period.

Solo artists and groups are not eligible if they have previously been a finalist in any New Zealand Music Award category. Solo artists are not eligible if they are or have been a member of another group that has previously been a finalist in any New Zealand Music Award category, or that has had an album appear in the official New Zealand Music Chart Top 40 charts.

Groups are not eligible if any member of the group has been a finalist in any New Zealand Music Award category either as a solo artist or as part of a group), or had an album appear in the official New Zealand Music Chart Top 40 charts (either as a solo artist or as part of a group).

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards are held on October 7.

The Tuis presented at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2010 ceremony are for:
Album of the Year; Single of the Year; Best Group; Best Male Solo Artist; Best Female Solo Artist; Breakthrough Artist of the Year; Best Pop Album, Highest Selling NZ Album; Highest Selling NZ Single; Radio Airplay Record of the Year; Best Music Video; Best Rock Album; Best Urban/Hip Hop Album; Best Electronica Album; Best Aotearoa Roots Album;; Best Gospel/Christian Album; Best Classical Album; People’s Choice Award, International Achievement Award, The Legacy Award.

No finalists are announced for the Highest Selling NZ Single, Highest Selling NZ Album or Radio Airplay Record of the Year Awards.

The International Achievement and the Legacy Awards are judged by the RIANZ Board and awarded at the Board’s discretion. No finalists are announced for these categories.

Technical Award Categories (presented at the Finalists Announcement 1 September) are for:
• Best Producer
• Best Engineer
• Best Album Cover

ends

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