Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards nominations open

The music event of the year is set to kick off for 2011 – with nominations for the 46th annual RIANZ Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards opening this week and a new award announced.

Organiser the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand says it is introducing a new category this year for Best Alternative Album.

“With the introduction of this new genre award we are recognising a category that has long been a cornerstone of New Zealand music,” says RIANZ managing director, Chris Caddick. “The Best Alternative Album award inherently broadens the range of artists who can potentially take home a Tui in November.”

Details on how to submit a nomination can be found at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz. Unless otherwise specified, awards are open to New Zealand artists who have had recordings commercially released between 1 June 2010 and 31 May 2011. Nominations stay open until 5pm on Tuesday 31 May, 2011.

Nominations are being accepted for Album and Single of the year, Best Group, Best Male and Female Solo Artists, Breakthrough Artist, Best Music Video, Best Maori, Rock, Urban / Hip Hop, Electronica, Roots, Pop, Alternative, Gospel / Christian and Classical albums. There are also technical award categories of Best Producer, Best Engineer & Best Album Cover.

The awards finalists – together with the Technical Award winners – will be announced at the Finalists Announcement and Technical Awards presentation in Auckland on Wednesday 7 September. The announcement of the 2011 Legacy Award recipient and New Zealand Music Hall of Fame inductee– presented last year to legendary rockers Shihad – will also be made at that time.

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards ceremony will be held slightly later this year on 3 November, 2011 because of the Rugby World Cup.

NOTES:
All nominations must be submitted online via the official website, www.nzmusicawards.co.nz
Copies of the conditions of entry are available from www.nzmusicawards.co.nz
To be eligible for judging, all nominations including any accompanying material such as CDs and DVDs must be signed and with RIANZ by 5pm on Tuesday 31 May 2011.

The Tuis presented at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2011 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; Radio Airplay Record of the Year; Best Music Video; Best Rock Album; Best Pop Album, Best Alternative Album, Best Urban/Hip Hop Album; Best Electronica Album; Best Roots Album; Best Maori Album; Best Gospel/Christian Album; Best Classical Album; People’s Choice Award, International Achievement Award, The Legacy Award.

No finalists are announced for the Highest Selling NZ Single, Highest Selling NZ Album or Radio Airplay Record of the Year Awards.

The International Achievement and the Legacy 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 7 September) are for:
·Best Producer
·Best Engineer
·Best Album Cover

 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.

About the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards: The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2011 is owned and hosted by RIANZ and produced for RIANZ by Justine McKay and Andy Dowding of J&A Productions Limited.

About Vodafone: Vodafone is a passionate sponsor of music and music fans in New Zealand, and are proud to support this country's premiere music awards. Vodafone is also one of New Zealand's top digital music retailers, with a music store on your mobile and an mp3 store online at www.vodafone.co.nz/music.