Overview
The Taite Music Prize aims to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album, regardless of sales figures or genre.
The annual event, which is now in its sixth year, is named after late music journalist and broadcaster Dylan Taite and takes its lead from successful international prizes such as the Mercury Prize in the UK and the Australian Music Prize.
Established in 2009 by local indie record label association Independent Music New Zealand, the Taite has previously been won by the likes of Lawrence Arabia, Ladi6, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, SJD and Lorde, who generously gave her winnings to the other nominees.
The ten finalists for this year's prize have been announced and include a vast range of albums, spanning genres: intergalactic hip hop, future-soul, intimate folk, thunderous instrumental rock and country.
The winner of the prize will be decided by a panel of music media and industry specialists. It will be announced at a invite-only ceremony in Auckland on Wednesday 15 April, with the winner walking away with a cash prize of $10,000 to spend as they wish, recording time at Auckland's Red Bull Studio and a year’s supply of wings.
From a long-list of 65, the ten finalists include:
@peace – @peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony
Aldous Harding - Aldous Harding
Delaney Davidson – Swim Down Low
Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail
Grayson Gilmour – Infinite Life!
Jakob - Sines
Kimbra – The Golden Echo
Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One
Mulholland – Stop & Start Again
Tami Neilson – Dynamite