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Taite Music Prize

TMP

Taite Music Prize

The ten albums in contention for the 2024 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 2024 Taite Music Prize finalists are:

Dick Move - Wet (1:12 Records)
Ebony Lamb - Ebony Lamb (Slow Time Records)
Erny Belle - Not Your Cupid (Flying Nun Records)
Home Brew - Run It Back (Years Gone By)
Mermaidens - Mermaidens (Independent)
Shepherds Reign - Ala Mai (Golden Robot Records)
Tiny Ruins - Ceremony (Ursa Minor)
Tom Lark - Brave Star (Winegum Records)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V (Jagjaguwar Records)
Vera Ellen - Ideal Home Noise (Flying Nun Records)

Playlist: 2024 Taite Music Prize Finalists

Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of the country’s most highly respected music journalists, The Taite Music Prize‘s purpose is to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album. The winner receives a cash prize of $12,500, to be spent as they wish – with thanks to Founding Partner of the Taite Music Prize, Recorded Music NZ.

Also recognised at the ceremony are the Independent Spirit Award; the Independent Music NZ Classic Record – acknowledging a defining NZ record from our yesteryear and the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award – celebrating the freshest talent of Aotearoa. The winner receives a $2,000 cash prize, plus a performance or technical upskilling opportunity thanks to Auckland Live.

Announced in 2022 is the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award - the first of its kind for Aotearoa New Zealand and comes with a $2500 cash prize, thanks to Official Partner, NZ On Air. Created in the spirit of legendary broadcaster Dylan Taite and to extend IMNZ’s mandate to celebrate those who give media space to New Zealand music, the ground-breaking addition celebrates a special individual who made a creative contribution and significant impact with coverage of Aotearoa music during the year. For the award’s inaugural year, finalists were shortlisted by the IMNZ board and the recipient announced at the Taite Music Prize ceremony.

Wikipedia entry, Taite Music Prize: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taite_Music_Prize

Recipients of the Taite Music Prize

The Taite Music Prize 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.

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)
2023 - Princess Chelsea - Everything Is Going To Be Alright (Lil Chief Records)

Recipients of the Independent Music NZ Classic Record

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. The annual recipient is determined by the judging panel.

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 & The Moahunters – Tahi (Southside Records) 
2020 – Shona Laing – South (Pagan Records) 
2021 - Patea Mäori Club - Poi E (Maui Records)
2022 - Proud - An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation (Second Nature)
2023 - micronism - inside a quiet mind (Kog Transmissions)

Recipients of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut

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.

2017 – Merk – Swordfish  (Independent) 
2018 – The Miltones – The Miltones (Self-released)
2019 – Alien Weaponry – Tū (Napalm Records)
2020 – Repulsive Woman – Relief (Independent)
2021 - Na Noise - Waiting For You (1:12 Records)
2022 - Jazmine Mary - The Licking of a Tangerine (Independent)
2023 - TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd.)

Recipients of the Independent Spirit Award

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.

2019 - Bernie Griffen

2020 - Murray Cammick

2021 - Pete Rainey & Glenn Common

2022 - Karyn Hay

2023 - Paul Huggins

Recipients of the NZ On Air Outstanding Journalism Award

The ground-breaking addition to the Taite Music Prize introduced in 2022 celebrates a special individual who made a creative contribution and significant impact with coverage of Aotearoa music in the previous calendar year. The winner receives a $2500 cash prize thanks to NZ On Air.

2022 - Tony Stamp - RNZ Music

2023 - Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman - Eastern Sound Stories podcast, in conjunction with Radio Active.FM

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