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Aotearoa Music Awards Nominations for 2022 Now Open

Published Wednesday 22 June 2022

The call is out to artists across the country with nominations now open for the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards.

From today, musicians, producers, engineers, and visual artists who have contributed to the local music industry can be put forward for a 2022 Tūī.

Nomination details can be found on the Aotearoa Music Awards website. Unless otherwise specified, awards are open to New Zealand artists who have recordings commercially released between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022 (12 months).

This also includes country music artists, with the inclusion of the Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa | Best Country Music Artist presentation announced in February.

Please note the eligibility period for Best Country Music Artist is recordings commercially released between 1 January 2021 and 31 July 2022. Nominations stay open until 5pm, Monday 1 August.

Changes to the Aotearoa Music Awards for 2022

Sarah Owen, Recorded Music NZ Kaiwhakahaere o Ngā Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa, says the awards will look a bit different this year.

There will be nominations, finalists, and Tūī winners as usual, with a special invite-only celebration later in the year - but no televised awards ceremony.

“Recorded Music NZ is proud to be kaitiaki and host of the Aotearoa Music Awards, the country’s longest standing awards show which has continually evolved over the years,” says Sarah.

“In 2022, the traditional awards show format is under pressure around the world, and event organisers are facing a different market for commercial sponsorship post COVID-19. Against the backdrop of social change, the pandemic and audience shifts, we feel the time is right to pause our annual awards ceremony for a year.

“This will give us the time and space to reflect and review the Aotearoa Music Awards and make a plan for 2023 and beyond. As part of this process, we will be engaging with artists, partners and the music community to find out what’s important to them.

“In the meantime, we encourage everyone to submit their nominations for the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards. While it’s been a challenging 12 months, the creative talent across Aotearoa has shone through and we can’t wait to once again celebrate recording artists, their recordings, and the achievements of the hapori puoro across Aotearoa.”

2022 Nominations

The Tūī presented at the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards are:

  • Te Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year
  • Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau | Single of the Year
  • Te Roopu Toa | Best Group
  • Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa | Best Solo Artist
  • Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year
  • Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa | Best Māori Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa | Best Pop Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa | Best Alternative Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa | Best Soul/RnB Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa | Best Hip Hop Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa | Best Roots Artist
  • Mana Reo Award
  • Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa | Best Electronic Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa | Best Rock Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa / Best Country Music Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa | Best Classical Artist
  • Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa/Best Producer
  • Te Kaipukaha Toa /Best Engineer
  • Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi Toa /Best Album Artwork
  • Te Kiko Puoro Ataata Toa | Best Music Video Content

The finalists will be announced in September.

Other ngā Tūī presented during the year include:

  • Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa/Best Folk Artist
  • Te Kaipuoro Tautito Toa/Best Jazz Artist
  • Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa/Best Pacific Music Album
  • Te Kaipuoro Waiata Tamariki Toa/Best Children’s Music Artist.

About Recorded Music New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ® represents recording artists and right holders in Aotearoa through licensing, advocacy and promotion.  Recorded Music NZ collects broadcast and public performance income from music users and distributes it to right holders and recording artists, advocates to government and others on behalf of recording artists and right holders and promotes artists and recorded music through initiatives such as the Aotearoa Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ also operates The Official NZ Music Charts® and data analysis services and supports the wider music community through collaborations and its music grants programme.

About the Aotearoa Music Awards / Nga Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa: The Aotearoa Music Awards is the country’s longest standing awards show, owned and hosted by Recorded Music NZ. https://www.aotearoamusicawards.nz