Nominations open for NZ Music Awards 2006

News release
May 8, 2006

Nominations open for NZ Music Awards 2006

If you’re planning on entering your next great recording in the NZ Music Awards 2006 you’d better get into gear!

Nominations for this year’s awards in October are now open at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz and the finalists are due to be announced in Auckland on September 8.

All entries for the NZ Music Awards 2006 must have been commercially released between 1 June 2005 and the end of May 2006.

With NZ Music Month underway the focus on local recordings couldn’t be keener says awards spokesperson and RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith.

“The annual NZ Music Awards again focus on the major achievements during a year that has simply highlighted the huge growth in local music,” Smith says. “It’s going to be New Zealand music’s biggest-ever big night once again.”

The 41st presentation of the awards sees some minor tweaking with all categories returning[1] –except Songwriter of the Year.

Smith says the songwriter category has been dropped because the craft is properly rewarded by APRA at the annual Silver Scroll Awards.

“We’re always fine tuning to ensure both a better event and an appropriate celebration of achievements in the recording industry. A song writing award properly rewards excellence in song writing And Every year the Song of the Year is rewarded at the Silver Scrolls.RIANZ feels the song writer is therefore also acknowledged at that awards ceremony.”

All judging for the music awards again takes place online and nomination forms can now be downloaded from the official website at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz.

Copies of the conditions of entry are available from the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Nominations are usually made by record companies, artist management and artists themselves.

The 41st Annual New Zealand Music Awards ceremony takes place in the ASB Theatre of Auckland’s Aotea Centre, The Edge® on Wednesday October 18.

The Tuis presented at the NZ Music Awards 2006 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; Highest Selling NZ Album; Highest Selling NZ Single; 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; International Achievement Award.

- 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.

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

Other awards:
Awards that are presented at separate events and acknowledged at the NZ Music Awards 2006 are:

- Best Folk Album Tui awarded to Lorina Harding at the Auckland Folk Festival in January 2006.

- Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of NZ Music on Radio Tui presented to David Innes at the NZ Radio Awards in April 2006.

- Best Pacific Music Album Tui to be presented at the Pacific Music Awards in May 2006.

- Best Country Music Album Tui to be presented at the Gold Guitar Awards in June 2006.

- Best Jazz Album Tui to be presented at the Wellington International Jazz Festival in November.

ENDS

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