Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards Winners 2016   18 Nov 2016

Media release
17th November 2016

VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS 2016
Broods lead the pack with five Tuis

Broods have won five Tuis at the 2016 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, rounding out another incredible year for the brother and sister duo who took home four awards in 2015.

The Nelson born LA locals have topped the award categories for Godfrey Hirst Album of the Year for their sophomore effort Conscious and Vodafone Single of the Year for their track ‘Free’, as well as winning Best Group and The Edge Best Pop Album.

They also won the Vodafone People’s Choice Award, beating out their record of four tuis received at last year’s Music Award ceremony.

Aaradhna earned Tuis for Fiji Airways Best Female Solo Artist and Best Urban/Hip Hop Album for Brown Girl, which fired to the top of the Official New Zealand Top 40 chart earlier this year.

The Best Male Solo Artist award was received by MAALA, who has had a year of strong releases and singles – including the smash hit ‘Kind of Love’ off his debut album Composure.

There was a lot of fresh talent making the rounds throughout 2016 including KINGS who won Breakthrough Artist of the Year. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard his hit single ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout It’ on the airwaves across New Zealand.

When it comes to making a splash on the global stage, New Zealand is the home of top quality exports. This year, we celebrate Fat Freddy’s Drop and the impact they’ve had globally with the 2016 International Achievement Award.

Singer songwriter Bic Runga received the NZ Herald Legacy Award for her contributions to Kiwi music and was welcomed into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. She punctuated the point with a phenomenal rendition of her breakthrough song ‘Sway’.

For the second year running, Sol3 Mio have surpassed every other artist nationwide to secure the THREE Highest Selling Album with On Another Note. So far, the album has been certified double platinum and shows no signs of slowing down in the waning months of 2016.

Six60 are also celebrating two accomplishments tonight. Their single ‘White Lines’ is 2016’s Vodafone Highest Selling Single, as well as the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year.

For their album Dead Sight, Villainy have taken home the Tui for Best Rock Album, while Lawrence Arabia achieves Best Alternative Album of 2016 with Absolute Truth – adding another award to his growing collection.

The Te Mangai Paho Best Maori Album was a strong category this year, with all three finalists bringing something refreshing and unique to the table. Rob Ruha received the award for Pumau,

Other awards included Best Electronic Album and Best Roots Album, which were awarded to Pacific Heights for The Stillness and Unity Pacific for Blackbirder Dread, respectively.

Edge Kingsland won Best Worship Album for Edge Kingsland Vol 3: The Common Good, while Best Classical Album was awarded toAnthony Ritchie and Ross Harris for Fjarran.

Recorded Music New Zealand Chief Executive Damian Vaughan says it’s been another sensational year for music across the country.

“The records that our musicians are making are absolutely world class, and this year’s selection is outstanding. Our sincere congratulations to all of the 2016 finalists and Tui award winners”

The event was hosted by comedians Jono & Ben and featured live performances from MAALA, Shapeshifter, Tami Neilson, KINGS, Aaradhna and Fat Freddy’s Drop – as well as a special performance by 2016’s NZ Herald Legacy Award winner Bic Runga with special guests Boh Runga, Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins) and Kody Nielson (The Mint Chicks, OPOSSUM, Silicon).

Tui recipients who have received their awards during the year are:

Best Jazz Album: Phil Broadhurst Quintet - ‘Panacea’
Best Folk Album: Holly Arrowsmith - ‘For The Weary Traveller’
Best Pacific Music Album: Te Vaka - ‘Amataga’
Best Country Music Album: The Warratahs - ‘Runaway Days’
Best Album Cover: Anns Taylor - Absolute Truth (Lawrence Arabia)
Best Engineer: Joel Little - Conscious (Broods)
Massey University Best Producer: Joel Little - Conscious (Broods)
NZ On Air Best Music Video: Chris Lane - ‘Inside Out’ (Avalanche City)
Best Children’s Music Album: Itty Bitty Beats - ‘Lay Your Head Down’
NZ On Air 2016 Critics’ Choice Prize – Scuba Diva