Taite Music Prize

The award carries a cash prize of NZ$12,500 and sponsors' prizes. It is primarily sponsored by Recorded Music NZ (formerly known as PPNZ Music Licensing). The award is judged on originality, creativity, and musicianship displayed on an album, rather than on sales or commercial factors. • At least 6 songs or 25 minutes long. • Original (no rereleases, no more than 25% covers). • Released in the previous calendar year (e.g. the 2026 award is for albums released in 2025). • Attributed to one artist or group – no compilations. • Recorded by artists who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. For bands, at least half of members must qualify. • Either self-released, or owned by a recording label that is NZ-owned or has an office in New Zealand. The prize shortlist is decided by votes from a group of over 1,000 musicians (APRA members), industry figures and IMNZ members. The size of the shortlist has varied, but since 2019 there have been 10 albums each year. The winner is decided by a judging panel chosen by IMNZ. The intersecting linestrokes, one solid and one striped, represent commercial and independent music. A new trophy, made of metal and weighing eight kilograms, is made each year. == Other awards ==

A second award was added at the 2013 Taite Music Prize. The Independent Music NZ Classic Record award honours a record that is at least 20 years old and now considered a classic. In 2017, a third award was added to the Taites. The Best Independent Debut Award ( known as the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award) honours the best debut release of an artist or group on a member label of Independent Music New Zealand. The winner receives $2000 cash and other sponsors' prize. Like the Taite Music Prize award cycles begin with an open call for nominations (including self-nominations). The same judging panel selects the winners of both awards. Unlike the main Taite, entrants must be IMNZ members and EPs of at least 4 tracks are eligible. Since 2019 the Independent Spirit Award has been given to an individual to acknowledge their support for the local music industry and their personal contribution to its growth. The winner is selected by the IMNZ Board. An Outstanding Music Journalism Award, sponsored by NZ On Air, was added in 2022. The winner receives a $2500 cash prize. The first recipient was RNZ music journalist Tony Stamp. Each year three or four finalists are announced ahead of the award ceremony. Documentary directors, podcasters, radio journalists and website creators have all been nominated for the award. == History ==

The Taite Music Prize was first awarded in 2010. In 2009 Independent Music New Zealand, Phonographic Performances New Zealand (which has evolved into Recorded Music New Zealand) and members of Dylan Taite's family, notably his music executive son John, worked together to establish and fund the award. John has remained closely involved with the Prize, often as a judge. Explaining why the award was named after Dylan Taite, Dylan Pellet of IMNZ compared him to John Peel. "He didn't care how much a record sold or what genre it was. If he loved it, he'd try to convince others to give it a listen. He was an enthusiastic champion of music he believed in, so naming this award after him was a good fit. The timing seemed right, too; these sorts of awards - celebrating artists rather than sales - are becoming more common around the world, with things like the Mercury Prize in the UK, the Polaris Prize in Canada, the Australian Music Prize and the Scottish Album of the Year." With prize money originally set at $10,000 (and since raised to $12,500), the award was designed to focus on originality, creativity and musicianship. It was compared to the APRA Silver Scroll, which awards similar aspects of singles rather than albums. Notable winners Lawrence Arabia won 2010's inaugural Taite Music Prize, accepting it via video link from London. In 2014, Lorde asked that the $10,000 cash prize, studio time and other sponsors' prizes be split among the seven other nominees, saying, "I think everyone is kind of sick of me winning stuff at the moment and other people are in more in need of the funds and exposure right now." Brothers Ruban and Kody Nielson, both formerly of The Mint Chicks, have each won the Taite Music Prize for different music projects – Ruban as Unknown Mortal Orchestra in 2012 and Kody as Silicon in 2016. In 2026 The Mint Chicks' Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! won the Classic Record Award. The first album in te reo Māori to be honoured was WAEREA by Mokotron in 2025. • Sale Street Bar, 2011 • Q Theatre, 2012, 2019, 2021-2025 • Galatos Live, 2013–2016 • The Wintergarden, Civic Theatre, 2017–18 • Online only (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), 2020 • New Zealand International Convention Centre, 2026 == Winners and finalists ==

Acts with three or more shortlisted albums Although a number of acts and artists have been shortlisted multiple times, there has not yet been a two-time winner of the Taite Music Prize. Troy Kingi and @Peace are the only acts to have been shortlisted in three consecutive years. People with three or more shortlisted albums under different names Tom Scott has been shortlisted with four different acts, a record. Scott and Kody Nielson have both had two shortlisted albums in a single year. == Independent Music NZ Classic Record award winners ==

== Best Independent Debut Award finalists and winners ==

Jazmine Mary, 2022's winner as a solo artist, was also a Best Independent Debut finalist in 2025 as one half of Pony Baby. Notes == Independent Spirit Award winners ==

== Outstanding Music Journalism Award finalists and winners ==