Finalists for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards have been announced, with the ceremony for the 21st anniversary of the event scheduled to take place on Thursday 21st August, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.
With the highest ever number of entries to the awards, this year sees a record 34 finalists across 13 categories, with 15 of the finalists first-time nominees, alongside lots of regular faces. In most categories entrants could optionally submit singles or ‘albums’ released during 2024.
Leading the way with four nominations is Cook Island and Māori songwriter Shane Walker (pictured) who is a finalist for Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Gospel Artist, Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist, and Best Pacific Song for Believe.
Winner of the Best Soul/RnB Artist Tūī at the recent 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards (and a four-time PMA winner last year), Aaradhna is also a finalist in four categories: Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist and Best Pacific Music Album for ‘Sweet Surrender’, along with Best Pacific Music Video for Mango Tree, directed by Prasenjit Das. Jordan with a Why joins Aaradhna as a triple-finalist for Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist and Best Pacific Music Album for ‘Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice’.
David Dallas, who claimed the Best Hip Hop Artist Tūī, is also a finalist for the Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist award, while other 2024 Pacific Music Awards winners SWIDT and Sam V feature repeatedly again in 2025. Here’s the PMA 2025 Finalist Playlist.
Adeaze – Forever I Am Yours
A.R.T – When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy
SWIDT – ‘Taking Care of Business’
Village90 – U & Me
Aaradhna – ‘Sweet Surrender’
Jordyn with a Why – ‘Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice’
Kenzie from Welly – Hold Ya Head, Queendom
Diggy Dupé – Request Line
Melodownz – Broke, Calm and Chill, When I, High Vibration, MeloDub (828), Directions
Myshaan – Power of Love (Reggae), Carry My Heart, Wrapped, I Do
Sam V – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes
Shane Walker – Maori in Me, Iesu, Let Me Be Your Man, The Lord is Watching You, Believe, Coasty Girl
Fejoint, Lomez Brown – Switch.E Stay – Written by Fejoint, Norman, Brown Sione Eliesa
Shane Walker – Believe – Written by Shane Walker
T’NAY – Penina O Le Vasa ft Wayno – Written by Sililo Tapuitima
Tree – Tupulaga Samoa ft Wayno – Written by Juliana Sopoaga Lologa & Joyce Lonise Toleafoa
Aaradhna – ‘Sweet Surrender’
Jordyn with a Why – ‘Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice’
Lomez Brown – ‘Under-Rated’
SWIDT – ‘Taking Care of Business’
Aaradhna – ‘Sweet Surrender’
Jordyn with a Why – ‘Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice’
Sam V – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes
David Dallas – ‘Vita’
Kenzie from Welly – Hold Ya Head, Queendom
Melodownz – Broke, Calm and Chill, When I, High Vibration, MeloDub (828), Directions
SWIDT – ‘Taking Care of Business’
Lomez Brown – ‘Under-Rated’
Rubi Du – Calling, Day Dreaming
Shane Walker – Let Me Be Your Man, The Lord is Watching You
Astro and EDY – 90’s Fine, Rolling Your Eyes, Sam V
Canaan Ene – The Way It Is, Handyman., You’ve Got A Friend, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You and various artists
Feagaigafou Tupa’i, Logovi’i Tupa’i, Astro, EDY Forever I Am Yours, Adeaze
Ikon Music When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy, A.R.T
Aaradhna – Mango Tree – Director Prasenjit Das
Haanz Fa’avae-Jackson – Mavehe -Directors Mario Faumui & Ben Mikha
Shepherds Reign Ala Mai – Director: Bahador Borhani
Tha Movement – The Lecture – Director Samson Rambo
TheWesternGuide – Bottom of the Bed – Director Esther Mauga
Brotherhood Musiq – Open These Eyes of My Heart
Saia Frank Sola – E Le Galo Le Mativa (feat. DJ Twitch), Fai Oe Ma Leleiga, Sili Ai Lou Alu Eke Moe, E Le’o Se Mea Ta’alo Lo’u Alofa, Aisea,
Shane Walker – Iesu
Sire – Temporary
A.R.T – When He Was Mine (Pele Fo’i Mai), Easy
Junior Soqeta – Moni Meke, Senituli Oe Tau’ataina, Buna Na Isa Lei Buna
Opetaia Foa’i & Moana 2 Artists – Tulou Tagaloa (Sei e Va’ai Mai), My wish for you (Innocent Warrior), Finding the Way, Mana Vavau,
Tree – Tupulaga Samoa ft Wayno
Wayno – Siva Samoa 2K24, Fafine Faitala, Tama O Le Faifaiaso
Jaro Local
Kuki
Paradise Rootz
Seven Suns
The 046