Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) with the support of Founding Partner Recorded Music NZ announces the return Taite Music Prize for 2024. This event continues to celebrate the vibrant and diverse voices of Aotearoa’s music community. We are now welcoming nominations for various prestigious categories: the Taite Music Prize, the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, and the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award.
As we look forward to the 15th year of the Taite Music Prize in 2024, we remember Dylan Taite, not only as an inspirational figure in the music industry but also as a beloved TV personality who captured the hearts of 80’s-early 2000’s audiences with his coverage of local happenings. He left an indelible mark on the music scene, from playing soccer with Bob Marley during his visit to NZ to breaking stories about rising Kiwi artists including The Datsuns.
Dylan’s son, John Taite, reflects on this significant anniversary: “Dylan may have left the building, but his legacy lives on thanks to the Taite Music Prize. As we hit the 15th Anniversary, the Taite family are incredibly grateful that his passion for music and rebellious spirit continue to inspire.
There’s really nothing in the world quite like these Awards. They’re a true celebration of Aotearoa’s vibrant musical community and year after year they remain as unique and unpredictable as the man they’re named after. My dad celebrated the characters, chancers and geniuses within New Zealand’s music scene in equal measure. He was drawn to rock ‘n roll weirdos and brave souls kicking against conformity because they reminded him he wasn’t alone.
If there was a message within Dylan Taite’s work, it was simply ‘believe in the long shots’. And he always did. Here’s to the next 15 years!”
IMNZ remains committed to showcasing the exceptional talent across Aotearoa’s music scene. This award recognises albums from all genres, focusing solely on artistic excellence, without regard for genre, sales, or label affiliations. Any album released by Aotearoa/New Zealand artists during the 2023 calendar year is eligible. The recipient will be awarded a $12,500 cash prize, generously provided by our Founding Partner, Recorded Music NZ. Last year, the Taite Music Main Prize was awarded to Princess Chelsea for her album Everything Is Going to Be Alright released on Lil Chief Records.
Reflecting on the previous year, IMNZ’s Chairperson, Pippa Ryan-Kidd, remarks, “2023 was a year of significant achievements for our independent musicians, who excelled in their musical releases, awards, and tours. The 2024 Taite Music Prize jury is set for an exciting challenge in choosing this year’s winner from such a talented pool of artists. IMNZ is immensely proud to support and contribute to, our diverse and vibrant music culture.”
As a founding partner of the Taite Music Prize, Recorded Music NZ CEO Jo Oliver says, “We are very proud to continue to support the Taite Music Prize and celebrate the artistic excellence of the independent music sector in Aotearoa.”
In 2024, the awards ceremony will once again usher in NZ Music Month in May. This event, deeply entrenched in celebrating artistic talent, invites the Aotearoa music community to join in the festivities.
Nominations are now open
www.indies.co.nz
Auckland Live Best Independent Debut
Nominations now open
www.indies.co.nz
2024 NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism
Nominations now open
www.indies.co.nz
Taite Music Prize ceremony is confirmed for April 23rd, 2024
Q Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland
For the full detail on specific eligibility and nomination forms please visit:
www.indies.co.nz
Nominations for the Taite Music Prize close at 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 31st January 2024.
The Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award recognises emerging talent in Aotearoa. It is awarded to debut albums or EPs (minimum four tracks and/or over 20 minutes) released by IMNZ members in the preceding year. The 2023 award went to Te Kaahu for their te reo Māori project, Te Kaahu O Rangi. The winner of the 2024 award will receive a $2000 cash prize and a chance for performance or technical upskilling, courtesy of Auckland Live.
The selection process for these awards involves a diverse academy of IMNZ members, musicians, and industry experts who shortlist the finalists. An independent panel then determines the winners after a thorough deliberation.
Last year’s NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award celebrated Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman for their Eastern Sound Stories Podcast in conjunction with Radio Active FM. This award recognises those who have made significant contributions to the Aotearoa music industry through innovative and truthful journalism.
The ceremony will also feature the Independent Music NZ Classic Record award, which in 2023 was presented to the electronic music act micronism for the 1998 album, inside a quiet mind, on Kog Transmissions. Denver McCarthy as micronism delivered an exhilarating live performance that had the entire audience out of their seats dancing! This award acknowledges a New Zealand record released over two decades ago on an independent label that has become an essential part of our musical heritage.
The Independent Spirit Award, which in 2023 honoured Paul Huggins for his remarkable contributions to the industry, will continue to recognise individuals who passionately support and inspire growth in the NZ music scene.
For complete details on eligibility and nomination forms, please refer to the information provided at the end of this page.
Nominations for the 2024 Taite Music Prize close at 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 31st January 2024.
Editors Notes:
The eponym for the awards is the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected TV music journalists. He became known for his Liverpudlian wry wit and his unabashed chutzpah-love of music. Dylan’s unique style captured some rare interviews over the decades. Interviews with The Sex Pistols, Deep Purple, and the career-defining Bob Marley are still referenced today.
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/dylan-taite
The Taite Music Prize
Presented by: Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ)
Founding Partner: Recorded Music NZ
Official Partners: NZ On Air / The Taite Family
Award Partners: Auckland Live
Event Partners: Q Theatre
Supporting Partners: FUGA / Panhead Breweries / NZ Music Commission / APRA AMCOS / Media Arts Lawyers / McCarthy Design / Merlin / Oceania / ToneDeaf / College Hill / Loop
Media Partners: RNZ Music / 95bFM
Charity Partners: MusicHelps
Previous winners of The Taite Prize:
2010 – Lawrence Arabia – Chant Darling (Honorary Bedouin Records)
2011 – Ladi6 – The Liberation Of (What? Music)
2012 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Seeing Records)
2013 – SJD – Elastic Wasteland (Round Trip Mars)
2014 – Lorde – Pure Heroine (Universal Music NZ)
2015 – Jakob – Sines (Shoot The Freak)
2016 – Silicon – Personal Computer (Weird World/Domino Recordings)
2017 – Street Chant – Hauora (Arch Hill Recordings)
2018 – Aldous Harding – Party (Flying Nun Records / 4AD)
2019 – Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club (Years Gone By)
2020 – Troy Kingi – Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)
2021 – Reb Fountain – Reb Fountain (Flying Nun Records)
2022 – Anthonie Tonnon – Leave Love Out Of This (Slow Time Records)
2023 – Princess Chelsea – Everything Is Going To Be Alright (Lil Chief)
Previous Winners of the Independent Music NZ Classic Record:
2013 – Gordons – Gordons (Flying Nun)
2014 – Various Artists – AK79 (Ripper Records)
2015 – Herbs – What’s Be Happen? (Warrior Records)
2016 – Upper Hutt Posse – E Tū (Jayrem Records)
2017 – The Clean – Boodle Boodle Boodle (Flying Nun)
2018 – Headless Chickens – Stunt Clown (Flying Nun)
2019 – Moana and the Moahunters – Tahi (Southside)
2020 – Shona Laing – South (Pagan Records)
2021 – Patea Māori Club – ‘Poi E’ (Maui Records)
2022 – PROUD – An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation (Second Nature)
2023 – micronism – inside a quiet mind (Kog Transmissions)
Previous Winners of the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut:
2017 – Merk – Swordfish (self released)
2018 – The Miltones – The Miltones (Self-released)
2019 – Alien Weaponry – Tū (Self-released)
2020 – Repulsive Woman – Relief (Independent)
2021 – Na Noise – Waiting For You (1:12 Records)
2022 – Jazmine Mary – The Licking of a Tangerine (Flying Nun)
2023 – TE KAAHU – Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd.)
Independent Spirit Award
2019 – Bernie Griffin
2020 – Murray Cammick
2021 – Pete Rainey and Glenn Common of Smokefree Rockquest
2022 – Karyn Hay – ONZM
2023 – Paul Huggins
NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism
2022 – Tony Stamp – RNZ Journalist
2023 – Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman – Eastern Sound Stories Podcast
Dylan Taite online:
http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/dylan-taite
https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/dylan-taite
Interview – Darcy Clay – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZLpK-ZDeJ8&list=RDCZLpK-ZDeJ8&t=13
RIP from ONE and TV3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4LcZbJt6zw
Interview – Bob Marley Doco – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XI3WKssghk
Interview – Go West (1980) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcR0CGEpcdo
Interview – Deep Purple – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WPZFJ1E2rc (1975)
NZ Herald Obituary – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=3097762
NZ ON SCREEN LINKS:
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/radio-with-pictures-the-clash-1982
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/radio-with-pictures-sweetwaters-1980
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/top-half-excerpts-1989 (Warratahs clip)
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/kaleidoscope-decade-of-the-enz-1983
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/nightline-20th-anniversary-episode-2010 (clip 3)
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/holmes-johnny-the-maori-cowboy-cooper-1990
For more information, interview times, please contact The Label:
Lisa Paris | lisa@thelabel.co.nz
