A brand new Tui trophy design is just one of a swathe of changes in train for this year’s NZ Music Awards – but it most certainly is an eye-catcher. Scheduled for 15 November at Auckland’s Spark Arena, the 2018 NZ Music Awards will establish a new sense of purpose backed with a widely revamped presentation – all the way from branding to event production.

Event organisers Recorded Music NZ revealed the new direction with a fresh programme of build-up events and the new look Tui designed by Dick Frizzell. His brief was to revamp the familiar all-gold coloured Tui design which has served for over a decade.

“I jumped at the chance to put my own spin on the iconic Tui! It’s an honour to be a part of celebrating the achievements of the amazingly talented artists of Aotearoa,” Frizzell said.

The renowned artist joked with the launch audience that he excitedly jumped straight into the project and admitted he’s rather pleased with the result, a filled-in and coloured up version of the previous design. Frizzell’s new trophy was created as a piece of art in its own respect to reward the creativity of artists in the music industry. In one of the most exciting developments for the awards, the new Artists’ Tui initiative will see a prominent NZ creative putting their own twist on the familiar old trophy each year.

The 2018 hosts will be singer/songwriter Stan Walker and The Project presenter Kanoa Lloyd. This year Mediaworks will also produce the event which will be broadcast live on TV3. The launch also highlighted the new look and feel of the awards brand, originated and crafted by Designworks Auckland. The new direction aims to honour the great musicians of past, celebrate the present, and also nurture the artists of the future.

Recorded Music NZ CEO Damian Vaughan said the awards are the biggest platform to honour NZ recording artists and the changes were the next step in the evolution of the ceremony.

“This year we want to connect back to the wairua of why the event exists, and that is to celebrate our musicians and their music.”

Sixteen categories will be awarded on the night with the Artisan Awards this year presented in Wellington on 5 November by the Massey University College of Creative Arts Toi Rauwharangi.

Another innovation for 2018 is the inaugural Tui Music Series, a two-week programme of events leading up to the main ceremony that will include the NZ Music Producers’ Series, Music Designers’ Series and Music Filmmakers’ Series, to be held in Auckland and Wellington from 29 October to 11 November. The Tui Music Series offers an opportunity for knowledge exchange and networking for those working or wishing to work in these fields. Applications for the NZ Music Producers’ series open on 6 September, accessible via nzmusicawards.co.nz.