After much deliberation and more than a few considered discussions, the finalists for the second Taite Music Prize have been decided. Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of the country's most highly respected music journalists, the Taite Music Prize has been established to champion the finest release by a New Zealand artist or group, specifically focusing on the artistic merit and creative excellence of one album released in the previous calendar year. Acknowledging creativity and musicianship regardless of sales figures or genre, it is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

This year’s nominees, from a lengthy list submitted by record labels both independent and major from right across the country, are:

Dudley Benson - Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne (Golden Retriever Records)

Connan Mockasin - Please Turn Me Into the Snat (Self Released)

Julia Deans - Modern Fables (Tardus Music)

Die! Die! Die! - Form (Flying Nun)

Ladi6 - The Liberation Of (Question? Music)

The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You (Somewhat Damaged)

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo (The Phoenix Foundation)

Street Chant - Means (Arch Hill Recordings)

The judging panel to determine the eight finalists was made up of 29 music media/industry specialists plus all 75 members of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ). There will be a second round of judging by a selected music panel to decide the eventual winner.

Ben Howe, Business Development Manager at IMNZ says, “there were 73 nominated albums and they were of a very high standard. The finalists show an embarrassment of riches. It will take some serious work for the music panel to decide a winner”.

The award winner will be announced on the 20th of April at an industry-only event at Sale St bar in Auckland’s Freeman’s Bay. Judge – and son of Dylan Taite – John Taite will be a special guest on the night, and the winner of the Inaugural Taite Music Prize, Lawrence Arabia, will be giving a special performance.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000, to be spent as they wish. Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and PPNZ Music Licensing (PPNZ) are the principal music industry supporters of the Taite Music Prize in conjunction with the Taite family.

IMNZ would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Taite Music Prize sponsors: PPNZ Music Licensing, Jagermeister, APRA/AMCOS, The NZ Music Commission, Native Tongue and NZ On Air; and we’d like to thank Amplifier for their excellent technical input.

PPNZ Music Licensing Limited ("PPNZ") is the New Zealand not-for-profit music licensing company established to obtain fair compensation for
recording artists and record labels when their sound and video recordings are used in a broadcast, public performance or new media/online setting. Representing many thousands of artists and labels both locally and internationally, PPNZ licenses thousands of businesses around New Zealand for the use of its members’ sound and video recordings.