Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) have announced the 10 finalists for the 2025 Taite Music Prize.

Open to all genres and drawn from albums released in Aotearoa over the 2024 calendar year, there was a record-breaking 80 submissions for the Taite Music Prize 2025 which celebrates creative merit. The winning album will secure a cash prize of $12,500 courtesy of Recorded Music NZ.

The 2025 Taite Music Prize finalists are: (click here for Youtube Music finalist playlist)

Anna Coddington – Te Whakamiha (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)

DARTZ – Dangerous Day To Be A Cold One (Flying Nun Records)

Delaney Davidson – Out Of My Head (Rough Diamond)

Earth Tongue – Great Haunting (In The Red Records)

Fazerdaze – Soft Power (Buttrfly Records) 

Georgia Lines – The Rose Of Jericho (independent)

Holly Arrowsmith – Blue Dreams (Leather Jacket Records)

Mel Parsons – Sabotage (Cape Road Recordings)

Mokotron – Waerea (Sunreturn)

Troy Kingi – Leatherman & the Mojave Green (AAA Records)

The 2025 Taite Music Prize award will be presented on April 15, at the Q Theatre, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, alongside the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award,  NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, IMNZ Classic Record, and the Independent Spirit Award.