Awards technical awards finalists announced

August 16, 2006

NZ Music Awards technical awards finalists announced

The finalists for the technical categories in the New Zealand Music Awards 2006 have been announced.

There are three Technical Awards in 2006, Best Album Cover, Best Engineer and Best Producer .

The winners are to be announced and the Tuis presented at the Finalists’ Announcement and Technical Awards presentation on September 6 at Craft bar in Auckland.

The finalists in the Best Album Cover category are:
- Chris Knox for As Sweet As Sin (Bleeders);
- Joe Garlick for Fly My Pretties’ The Return of Fly My Pretties; and,
- Stephen Tolfrey for the cover of Blindspott’s End The Silence.

In the Best Engineer category, the finalists are:
- Andre Upston, engineer on Birds by Bic Runga;
- Andrew Spraggon & Angus McNaughton, for their work on Moves On by Sola Rosa; and,
- Lee Prebble, for Fly My Pretties’ The Return of Fly My Pretties.

The finalists for Best Producer are:
- Bic Runga for Birds by Bic Runga;
- Don McGlashan, Sean Donnelly & Ed McWilliams for Don McGlashan’s Warm Hand; and,
- David Holmes for Like Stray Voltage by Gramsci.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson Campbell Smith says it’s very important the skills of the technical experts are recognised.

“2005 was another huge year for local music and a key part of this ongoing momentum is the creative role the background contributors play within the industry,” Mr Smith says.

“It is only appropriate these people are given the recognition they deserve. We are delighted to be able to honour these achievers and recognise their efforts in helping build and maintain the momentum Kiwi music has developed over recent years.”

The finalists for the main awards will be revealed at the same function in Auckland on September 6. The main awards categories are:

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
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, The Warehouse Highest Selling NZ Album and NZ on Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year 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.

Tuis awarded at separate functions throughout the year, and again recognised at the main gala event on October 18 are Best Folk Album, Best Pacific Music Album and Best Country Music Album.

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. (To be acknowledged at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards.)

The New Zealand Music Awards take place at the Aotea Centre – THE EDGE® in Auckland on October 18.

About Rianz: The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ) is a non-profit organisation representing major and independent record producers, distributors and recording artists throughout New Zealand. RIANZ works to protect the rights and promote the interests of creative people involved in the New Zealand recording industry.

ENDS

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