Nominations for the 2023 Taite Music Prize Are Now Open

Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) has announced that nominations for the 2023 Taite Music Prize are now open.

Celebrating the best Aotearoa music and the voices that champion them, next year’s 13th edition will feature three awards: the coveted Taite Music Prize, the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award and the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award.

Any local album released during the calendar year of 2022 is eligible for nomination, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $12,500.

Last year the Taite Music Prize went to singer-songwriter Anthonie Tonnon for his third album Leave Out Of This, with previous winners including Avantdale Bowling Club, Ladi6 and Lorde.

The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, meanwhile, is open to debut albums or EPs totalling at least four tracks with a duration of more than 20 minutes, released by IMNZ members in the previous year. The winner of the award receives a $2,000 cash prize in addition to a performance ups killing opportunity.

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award only debuted last year, becoming the first award of its kind in the country. RNZ Music journalist Tony Stamp was the inaugural recipient of the award thanks to his Longford music documentaries and features.

The award comes with a $2,500 cash prize and is open to nominations from local journalists, bloggers or editors who have made a creative contribution in coverage of Aotearoa music in the previous calendar year.

The Taite Music Prize ceremony also includes the Independent Music NZ Classic Record presentation, given to a seminal Aotearoa record released over 20 years ago on an independent label. Previous winners include Patea Māori Club (Poi E), The Clean (Boodle Boodle Boodle) and Upper Hutt Posse (E Tū).

Next year will see the awards return to their traditional late April date, just before NZ Music Month in May, with the Tāmaki Makaurau’s Q Theatre once again hosting the ceremony.

“2022 has been another extraordinary year for Aotearoa’s independent musicians, with strong representation in released music, awards and touring. This year’s judging panel will have a very tough time deciding who will take home our coveted Taite Music Prize trophy,” IMNZ Chairperson, Pippa Ryan-Kidd, says.

Voting is now open here. Nominations close on Wednesday, February 1st at 5pm NZDT.