The finalists for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards were announced last night at an event hosted at the recording studio, live music venue and community space Big Fan in Morningside, Auckland.
Across 13 awards categories, this year’s 24 finalists encompass a wide range of new artists and established musicians. At the 2023 Pacific Music Awards, there are 10 first time finalists, alongside 13 previous award winners.
Congratulations to the finalists for the 2023 APRA Best Pacific Song Award:
This year’s lead finalists including MELODOWNZ, Olivia Foa’i and Sam V who are each nominated for four award categiries at this year’s awards.
Dancer, director and musician Olivia Foa’i is nominated for Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist, SunPix Best Pacific Language and APRA Best Pacific Song for her song ‘Sunlight’, as well as NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video alongside director Shae Sterling.
Contemporary RnB artist Sam V is also nominated for four categories at this year’s awards, including NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist for The one, the lonely EP, and APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Come Through’. He’s also nominated for MPG/SAE Best Producer for his tracks ‘Come Through’, ‘Sex & Pain’, ‘Love Again’ and ’I Tried To Tell U’ alongside producer Edward Liu.
Polynesian singer-songwriter Victor J Sefo is nominated for three categories as well, including NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song and MPG/SAE Best Producer for the self-produced tracks ‘685’ and ‘685 Remix’.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua said: “Pacific Music Awards has the unique distinction of being the only Music Awards for over a decade hosting a Finalist Night where all the Finalist are Winners. The Fa'ave Tikanga principle was to honour the parents, families, communities and nations. Our Pasifika artists bring their families and share this historic musical moment but it is also now their family, community, and nation's history."
Alongside the 13 award categories, there will be eight additional awards presented on the night including the Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Pacific Artist, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award, NZ On Air Streaming Award, SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist, Creative New Zealand Award, Arch Angel Independent Artist Award, Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award, and Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award.
The APRA Best Pacific Song Award recipient will also be recognised at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards. The winner of the Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with an official Tūī and recognised at the next Aotearoa Music Awards.
Once again, the SunPix People’s Choice Award is open to the public, with all artists nominated for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards eligible. The winner is solely determined by public vote, with voting only available through the voting poll here on the PMA website. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is now open and will close Wednesday 26 July (11:59pm).
This year’s Pacific Music Award winners will be celebrated at an event on Wednesday 9th August at the Due Drop Events Centre (formaly named the Vodafone Events Centre) in Manukau. Tickets for the 2023 Pacific Music Awards will go on sale in early July through Eventfinda.
2023 Pacific Music Awards finalists:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist:
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist:
Flava Best Pacific Group:
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video:
APRA Best Pacific Song:
SunPix Best Pacific Language:
Matai Watches Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist:
Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist:
Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist:
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist:
Niu FM Best International Pacific Artist:
MPG/SAE Best Producer
Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album
For more information: www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz