2015 New Zealand Music Awards

The 2015 New Zealand Music Awards was the 50th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. It took place on 19 November 2015 at Vector Arena in Auckland and was hosted by Taika Waititi. The awards show was broadcast live on TV3, and hosted by Sharyn Casey and Dominic Bowden. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the awards from its origins in 1965 as the Loxene Golden Disc.[1]

2015 New Zealand Music Awards
Awarded forExcellence in New Zealand music
Sponsored byVodafone
Date19 November 2015 (2015-11-19)
LocationVector Arena, Auckland
CountryNew Zealand
Hosted byTaika Waititi
Reward(s)Tui award trophy
Websitehttp://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz
Television/radio coverage
NetworkTV3
The Edge TV
← 2014 · Main · 2016 →

The awards were dominated by Broods, who won Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Pop Album, and Radio Airplay Record of the Year. Marlon Williams won two awards, Best Male Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Lorde won Single of the Year and shared the International Achievement award with Savage.[2]

Early awards

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While most of the awards will be presented at the main awards ceremony held in November, five genre awards were presented earlier in the year at ceremonies of their field.

  • The first was awarded in January, with the Tui for Best Folk Album presented at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu to Auckland group Great North for their album Up In Smoke.[3]
  • The Tui for Best Jazz Album was presented in April at the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga to Auckland band DOG for their debut album DOG.[4]
  • The Best Country Music Album Tui was presented in May at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Gore to Tami Neilson for her album Dynamite!.[5]
  • The Tui for Best Pacific Music Album was presented in June at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards to the duo Cydel for their album Memoirs of a Midnight Cowboy.[6]
  • In August the Best Children's Music Album award was presented live on What Now to fleaBITE for her album The Jungle is Jumping.[7]

The nominees for the three technical awards were announced on 1 October, and the technical award winners, legacy award recipient and the Critics' Choice Prize shortlist were announced on 13 October.[8] The Critics Choice showcase and award presentation will be held on 5 November.[9]

Controversy

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During the live broadcast of the main awards ceremony, six awards - including Best Maori Album - were presented during the ad breaks and omitted from the television broadcast. This was criticised by previous NZMA winner Tama Waipara, who described the incident as "disgusting and it's not surprising but it is extremely disappointing and moreover, it's unconstitutional." A Mediaworks spokesperson responded, saying, "We can't broadcast the entire awards ceremony without commercial breaks, so many awards aren't televised."[10]

Nominees and winners

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The main nominees were revealed on 13 October 2015. The Best Gospel / Christian Album category was renamed Best Worship Album.[11]

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

Key
 ‡  – Technical award
Album of the Year Single of the Year
Sponsored by Mentos Sponsored by Vodafone
Best Group Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Sponsor Sponsor
Best Male Solo Artist Best Female Solo Artist
Sponsor Sponsor
Best Rock Album Best Pop Album
Sponsor Sponsored by The Edge
Best Urban/Hip Hop Album Best Roots Album
Sponsor
  • Janine and the Mixtape – XX
    • Diaz Grimm – Osiris
    • The Doqument]– Black Canvas – Wall & Piece
Sponsor
Best Alternative Album Best Māori Album
Sponsor Sponsor
Best Music Video Best Electronica Album
Sponsored by NZ On Air Sponsor
  • Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail
    • Shapeshifter vs The Upbeats – SSXUB
    • Sola Rosa – Magnetics
Best Worship Album Best Classical Album
Sponsor
  • LIFE Worship – Through the Fire
    • Edge Kingsland Presents – Seven Days
    • We, The Revival – We, The Revival
Sponsor
  • Michael HoustounBeethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
    • Jack Body – Passing By
    • Jack Body – Songs of Death and Desire
People's Choice Award Critics' Choice Prize
Sponsored by Vodafone Sponsored by NZ On Air

Presented 5 November 2015

  • Bespin
    • Boycrush
    • New Gum Sarn
Highest selling New Zealand Single Highest selling New Zealand Album
Sponsor Sponsor

No finalists are announced in this category.

Radio Airplay Record of the Year International Achievement Award
Sponsored by NZ On Air

No finalists are announced in this category.

Sponsor

No finalists are announced in this category.

Legacy Award Best Album Cover‡
Sponsored by The New Zealand Herald
No finalists are announced in this category.

Announced 13 October 2015

Presented 13 October 2015
Best Engineer‡ Best Producer‡
Presented 13 October 2015 Sponsored by Massey University
Presented 13 October 2015
Best Folk Album[3] Best Jazz Album[4]
Presented 28 January 2015
  • Great North – Up In Smoke
    • Flip Grater – Pigalle
    • Rachel Dawick – The Boundary Riders
Presented 6 April 2015
  • DOG – DOG
    • The Jac – Nerve
    • Jonathan Crayford – Dark Light
Best Country Music Album[5] Best Pacific Music Album[6]
Presented 23 May 2015
  • Tami NeilsonDynamite!
    • Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams – Sad But True Volume 3
    • Glen Moffatt – Superheroes and Scary Things
Presented 13 June 2015
  • Cydel – Memoirs of a Midnight Cowboy
    • Team Dynamite – Shepherds Delight
    • Fiafia Band – Siva Siva Maia
Best Children's Music Album[7]
Presented 2 August 2015
  • fleaBITE – The Jungle is Jumping
    • Itty Bitty Beats – Bath Time
    • Poppet Stars – Poppet Stars

References

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  1. ^ "Taika Waititi to host Vodafone NZ Music Awards". Stuff. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  2. ^ Jenkin, Lydia. "Broods clean up at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards". The New Zealand Herald. NZMA. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Great North Awarded Tui For Best Folk Album 2015". Under The Radar. Under The Radar. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b "NZ's best jazz album announced". Bay of Plenty Times. NZME. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Tami Neilson wins country album Tui in Gore". The Southland Times. NZME. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Pacific blues duo Cydel top Vodafone Pacific Music Awards". Stuff. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Winners announced for the 2015 Children's Music Awards". Scoop. Scoop. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  8. ^ "NZ Music Awards 2015 Tech Finalists Announced". Under the Radar. UTR. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  9. ^ "50 Years of Vodafone NZ Music Awards". Scoop. Scoop. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  10. ^ Brown, Harata. "Māori artists upset after not making airtime during VNZMA". Maori Television. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Newcomer dominates nominees for NZ Music Awards". The New Zealand Herald. NZMA. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
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