Aotearoa Music Awards 2021 finalists announced

07:45 am on 11 November 2021

Today the Aotearoa Music Awards | Nga Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa have announced a list of 2021 finalists as well as key details for this year’s event.

The 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards will be a live television event screened on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ OnDemand from the Aotea Centre. The event will take place in December and will be rescheduled to a date in early 2022 if Covid-19 restrictions prevent the ceremony from going ahead.

Recorded Music New Zealand CEO Damian Vaughan says he is incredibly pleased that he and his team are able to deliver the 56th annual Aotearoa Music Awards, and acknowledged challenges faced by the music industry due to COVID-19. 

“Our artists and our industry have endured massive disruption over the last 18 months. The uncertainty around live music performance has affected livelihoods and has impacted every part of our music industry which is predicated on bringing people together,” says Vaughan.

See the full list of nominees below, congratulations to all of this year's nominees. 

 

Te Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year 

BENEE – Hey u x 
Crowded House – Dreamers are Waiting
L.A.B. – L.A.B. IV 
The Phoenix Foundation – Friend Ship 
TEEKS – Something to Feel 
Troy Kingi – The Ghost of Freddie Cesar

Te Waiata Tōtahi o te Tau | Single of the Year 

Harper Finn – ‘Dance Away These Days’
L.A.B. – ‘Why Oh Why’ 
Lorde – ‘Solar Power’ 
Six60 – ‘All She Wrote’ 
TEEKS – ‘Remember Me’ 
Troy Kingi – ‘Sleep (Slumber)’

Te Roopu Toa | Best Group 

Crowded House – Dreamers are Waiting
L.A.B. – L.A.B. IV 
The Phoenix Foundation – Friend Ship 
Shapeshifter – Rituals

Te Kaipuoro Takitahi Toa | Best Solo Artist

Anna Coddington – Beams 
BENEE – Hey u x 
TEEKS – Something to Feel 
Troy Kingi – The Ghost of Freddie Cesar

Te Kaituhura Puoro Toa o te Tau | Breakthrough Artist of the Year 

Foley 
Harper Finn
Muroki 
Niko Walters

Te Māngai Pāho Te Kaipuoro Māori Toa | Best Māori Artist

Mara TK 
Teeks 
Troy Kingi

Te Kaipuoro Arotini Toa | Best Pop Artist 

BENEE 
Foley 
LA WOMEN

Te Kaipuoro Manohi Toa | Best Alternative Artist 

Anthonie Tonnon
Na Noise 
Wax Chattels

Te Kaipuoro Awe Toa | Best Soul/RnB Artist 

Mara TK 
Teeks 
Troy Kingi

Te Kaipuoro Hipihope Toa | Best Hip Hop Artist 

Diggy Dupè 
SWIDT 
Team Dynamite

Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa | Best Roots Artist 

Grove Roots
L.A.B 
Tomorrow People

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo Award 

Rei 
Te Nūtube 
The Nudge & Troy Kingi

Te Kaipuoro Tāhiko Toa | Best Electronic Artist 
Paige Julia 
Shapeshifter 
Sola Rosa

Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa | Best Rock Artist 

Dead Favours 
Ekko Park 
Mako Road

Te Kaipuoro Inamata Toa | Best Classical Artist 

Claire Cowan 
Justin DeHart 
Tony Yan Tong Chen

Other awards presented on the night: 
Te Kōwhiri o te Nuinga | People’s Choice Award
Tohu Whakareretanga | Recorded Music NZ Legacy Award
Te Toa Hoko Teitei | Highest Selling Artist
Te Rikoata Marakerake o te Tau | NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year

Ticket details to be announced soon, click here for more info.