Labels, it’s time to nominate your artists’ albums of 2016 for this year’s Taite Music Prize.

Determined by industry judges, the award is all about the originality, artistic merit, creativity, innovation and excellence of each album in its entirety. Any qualifying NZ albums released during 2016 (Jan 1 – Dec 31) are eligible. The deadline for nominations is February 7.

Responding to that awkward silence in the room when the winning act is obviously elsewhere and unable to front for the trophy (while the other finalists look for the bar), the rules this year state that nominated artists have to be able to attend the Taite Music Prize event in Auckland on April 18 2017. The winner will be awarded $10,000 in cash as well as studio time and a year’s supply of energy drinks.

Previous winners are Ladi6, Lawrence Arabia, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, SJD, Lorde, Jakob and Silicon.

More details on eligibility and the nomination process here.

IMNZ have also announced that a new award, for the Best Independent Debut release, exclusive to their members, will be introduced this year.