NEWS: New Categories Added To The Vodafone NZ Music Awards

The music event of the year is set to kick off for 2011 – with nominations for the 46th annual RIANZ Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards opening this week and a new award announced.

Organiser the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand says it is introducing a new category this year for Best Alternative Album.

“With the introduction of this new genre award we are recognising a category that has long been a cornerstone of New Zealand music", says RIANZ managing director, Chris Caddick. “The Best Alternative Album award inherently broadens the range of artists who can potentially take home a Tui in November”.

Details on how to submit a nomination can be found at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz. Unless otherwise specified, awards are open to New Zealand artists who have had recordings commercially released between 1 June 2010 and 31 May 2011. Nominations stay open until 5pm on Tuesday 31 May, 2011.

Nominations are being accepted for Album and Single of the year, Best Group, Best Male and Female Solo Artists, Breakthrough Artist, Best Music Video, Best Maori, Rock, Urban / Hip Hop, Electronica, Roots, Pop, Alternative, Gospel / Christian and Classical albums. There are also technical award categories of Best Producer, Best Engineer & Best Album Cover.

The awards finalists - together with the Technical Award winners - will be announced at the Finalists Announcement and Technical Awards presentation in Auckland on Wednesday 7 September. The announcement of the 2011 Legacy Award recipient and New Zealand Music Hall of Fame inductee - presented last year to legendary rockers Shihad - will also be made at that time.

The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards ceremony will be held slightly later this year on 3 November, 2011 because of the Rugby World Cup.
 

Who do you think should be nominated for the Best Alternative Album award?