Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) has announced 10 finalists for the 2024 Taite Music Prize.

The prize acknowledges outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained in one recording, and highlights outstanding albums from Aotearoa, released in the past year. The award is open to all genres of music and judged on artistic merit regardless of genre, record label or sales, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $12,500.

Current members of IMNZ, musicians and music industry personnel voted to produce the short-listed finalist albums. The award will be presented on April 23 along with the Best Independent Debut Award, Outstanding Music Journalism Award, IMNZ Classic Record and the Independent Spirit Award.

The 2024 Taite Music Prize finalists are:

• Dick Move – ‘Wet’
• Ebony Lamb – ‘Ebony Lamb’
• Erny Belle – ‘Not Your Cupid’
• Home Brew – ‘Run It Back’
• Mermaidens – ‘Mermaidens’
• Shepherds Reign – ‘Ala Mai’
• Tiny Ruins – ‘Ceremony’
• Tom Lark – ‘Brave Star’
• Unknown Mortal Orchestra – ‘V’
• Vera Ellen – ‘Ideal Home Noise’

IMNZ Classic Record

Look Blue Go Purple – ‘Compilation’

Best Independent Debut Award

• DC Maxwell: ‘Lone Rider’
• Jujulipps: ‘Get That Shot’
• Soft Plastics: ‘Saturn Return’

NZOA Outstanding Music Journalism Award

• Cushla Dillon & Andrew Moore
• So’omālō Iteni Schwalger
• Tony Stamp