2015 New Zealand Music Awards


The 2015 New Zealand Music Awards was the 50th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. It took place on 19 November 2015 at Vector Arena in Auckland and was hosted by Taika Waititi. The awards show was broadcast live on TV3. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the awards from its origins in 1965 as the Loxene Golden Disc.
The awards were dominated by Broods, who won Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Pop Album, and Radio Airplay Record of the Year. Marlon Williams won two awards, Best Male Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Lorde won Single of the Year and shared the International Achievement award with Savage.

Early awards

While most of the awards will be presented at the main awards ceremony held in November, five genre awards were presented earlier in the year at ceremonies of their field.
The nominees for the three technical awards were announced on 1 October, and the technical award winners, legacy award recipient and the Critics' Choice Prize shortlist were announced on 13 October. The Critics Choice showcase and award presentation will be held on 5 November.

Controversy

During the live broadcast of the main awards ceremony, six awards - including Best Maori Album - were presented during the ad breaks and omitted from the television broadcast. This was criticised by previous NZMA winner Tama Waipara, who described the incident as "disgusting and it's not surprising but it is extremely disappointing and moreover, it's unconstitutional." A Mediaworks spokesperson responded, saying, "We can't broadcast the entire awards ceremony without commercial breaks, so many awards aren't televised."

Nominees and winners

The main nominees were revealed on 13 October 2015. The Best Gospel / Christian Album category was renamed Best Worship Album.
Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.
;Key
Album of the YearSingle of the Year
Sponsored by Mentos
Sponsored by Vodafone
  • Lorde – "Yellow Flicker Beat"
  • * Avalanche City – "Inside Out"
  • * Marlon Williams – "Dark Child"
  • * Six60 – "White Lines"
  • * Unknown Mortal Orchestra – "Multi-Love"
    • Best GroupBreakthrough Artist of the Year
    Sponsor
  • Broods – Evergreen
  • * Shihad – FVEY
  • * Six60 – Six60
    		• Sponsor
  • Marlon Williams
  • * Devilskin
  • * Ginny Blackmore
    • Best Male Solo ArtistBest Female Solo Artist
    Sponsor
  • Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams
  • * Stan Walker – Truth & Soul
  • * Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
    		• Sponsor
  • Gin Wigmore – Blood to Bone
  • * Anika Moa – Queen at the Table
  • * Brooke Fraser – Brutal Romantic
    • Best Rock AlbumBest Pop Album
    Sponsor
  • Shihad – FVEY
  • * Cairo Knife Fight – The Colossus
  • * Devilskin – We Rise
    		• Sponsored by The Edge
  • Broods – Evergreen
  • * Benny Tipene – Bricks
  • * Six60 – Six60
    • Best Urban/Hip Hop AlbumBest Roots Album
    Sponsor
  • Janine and the Mixtape – XX
  • * Diaz Grimm – Osiris
  • * The Doqument]– Black Canvas – Wall & Piece
    		• Sponsor
  • TrinityRoots – Citizen
  • * Latinaotearoa – Latinaotearoa in Latinoamerica
  • * Moana and the Tribe – Rima
    • Best Alternative AlbumBest Māori Album
    Sponsor
  • Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
  • * Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams
  • * She’s So Rad – Tango
    		• Sponsor
  • Ranea – Tihei Mauri Ora
  • * Moana and the Tribe – Rima
  • * Whaia and the Mahician – Whaia
    • Best Music VideoBest Electronica Album
    Sponsored by NZ On Air
  • Shahir Daud – "Cymatics"
  • * Reuben Bonner – "Her Heart Breaks Like a Wave"
  • * Shae Sterling – "Aotearoa"
    		• Sponsor
  • Electric Wire Hustle – Love Can Prevail
  • * Shapeshifter vs The Upbeats – SSXUB
  • * Sola Rosa – Magnetics
    • Best Worship AlbumBest Classical Album
    Sponsor
  • LIFE Worship – Through the Fire
  • * Edge Kingsland Presents – Seven Days
  • * We, The Revival – We, The Revival
    		• Sponsor
  • Michael Houstoun – Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas
  • * Jack Body – Passing By
  • * Jack Body – Songs Of Death and Desire
    • People's Choice AwardCritics' Choice Prize
    Sponsored by Vodafone
  • Six60
  • * Broods
  • * Lorde
  • * Sol3 Mio
  • * Stan Walker
    		• Sponsored by NZ On AirPresented 5 November 2015
    • Bespin
    • * Boycrush
    • * New Gum Sarn
    Highest selling New Zealand SingleHighest selling New Zealand Album
    Sponsor
  • Savage and Timmy Trumpet - "Freaks"
  • * Broods - "Mother & Father"
  • * Lorde - "Yellow Flicker Beat"
  • * Six60 - "Special"
  • * Six60 - "So High"
    		• SponsorNo finalists are announced in this category.
    • Sol3 Mio - Sol3 Mio
    • * Broods – Evergreen
    • * Devilskin – We Rise
    • * Lorde - Pure Heroine
    • * Six60 – Six60
    Radio Airplay Record of the YearInternational Achievement Award
    Sponsored by NZ On AirNo finalists are announced in this category.
    • Broods - "Mother & Father"
    • * Benny Tipene - "Step On Up"
    • * Broods - "L.A.F."
    • * Lorde - "Yellow Flicker Beat"
    • * Six60 - "Special"
    		SponsorNo finalists are announced in this category.
    • Lorde
    • Savage
    Legacy AwardBest Album Cover‡
    Sponsored by The New Zealand HeraldNo finalists are announced in this category.
    Announced 13 October 2015
    • The Exponents
    		Presented 13 October 2015
  • Kelvin Soh for Broods - Evergreen
  • * Alt Group for Shihad - FVEY
  • * Barny Bewick for Cairo Knife Fight - The Colossus
    • Best Engineer‡Best Producer‡
    Presented 13 October 2015
  • Lee Prebble and Oliver Harmer for Mel Parsons - Drylands
  • Clint Murphy for Devilskin – We Rise
  • Evan Short for Shihad - FVEY
    		• Sponsored by Massey UniversityPresented 13 October 2015
    Best Folk AlbumBest Jazz Album
    Presented 28 January 2015
  • Great North – Up In Smoke
  • * Flip Grater – Pigalle
  • * Rachel Dawick – The Boundary Riders
    		• Presented 6 April 2015
  • DOG – DOG
  • * The Jac – Nerve
  • * Jonathan Crayford – Dark Light
    • Best Country Music AlbumBest Pacific Music Album
    Presented 23 May 2015
  • Tami Neilson – Dynamite!
  • * Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams – Sad But True Volume 3
  • * Glen Moffatt – Superheroes and Scary Things
    		• Presented 13 June 2015
  • Cydel – Memoirs of a Midnight Cowboy
  • * Team Dynamite – Shepherds Delight
  • * Fiafia Band – Siva Siva Maia
    • Best Children's Music Album
    Presented 2 August 2015
  • fleaBITE – The Jungle is Jumping
  • * Itty Bitty Beats – Bath Time
  • * Poppet Stars – Poppet Stars