RIANZ Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards adds Pop category

Nominations for the 45th annual RIANZ Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards are set to open – and for the first time a Tui is being awarded for the best Pop album.

RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith says the addition of the new category mirrors the growth of the awards and broadens the scope of the genre-based award categories, reflecting the continuing growth of New Zealnd music.

“We are constantly reviewing the awards to keep the event current and particular attention is paid each year to ensuring the genre categories cover the music we are making. In 2010 we feel that Pop music artists need to be recognised with their own category, alongside Rock, Urban/Hip Hop, Electronica, Aotearoa Roots, Gospel/Christian, Jazz, Folk, Country and Classical.

“New Zealand is producing some great Pop artists and records at the moment and while it is a new category, I expect it will be heavily contested.”

From Monday 19 April entries can be made online at www.nzmusicawards.co.nz, and unless otherwise specified, are open to New Zealand recordings commercially released between 1 June 2009 and 31 May 2010.

Nominations are 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, Aotearoa Roots, Pop, Gospel / Christian and Classical albums, as well as the Technical award categories of Best Producer, Best Engineer & Best Album Cover.

The awards finalists - together with the Technical Award winners - are announced at the Finalists Announcement and Technical Awards presentation in Auckland on Wednesday 1 September.

The announcement of the 2010 Legacy Award winner - presented last year to the legendary group Ray Columbus and The Invaders - is also made then.

The main awards are held on October 7. Check out the video below from Kiwi FM with Wammo speaking to Campbell Smith about the new pop category.