Recording Arts Talent Awards
The Recording Arts Talent Awards were an annual award honouring excellence in recorded New Zealand music. The RATAs ran from 1973 to 1976, before being replaced by the RIANZ Awards.
History
The RATAs were founded in 1973 when the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industry decided to institute a new award to replace the Loxene Golden Disc award. Federation member Fred Smith claimed that block voting in the Loxene Golden Disc's public vote was "making a farce" of the awards, so the RATAs were determined by a panel of judges. Despite the state monopoly on radio stations being broken in 1970, in order to qualify for the RATA awards, all nominated songs had to have been broadcast by the NZBC.The final RATA was held in 1976. After a year off in 1978, the awards became known as the RIANZ Awards after the NZFPI changed its name to the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
Winners
1973 winners
| Award | Winner |
| Album of the Year | John Donoghue - Spirit of Pelorus Jack |
| Recording Artist/Group of the Year | Shona Laing |
| Best Single/Single of the Year | John Hanlon – "Damn the Dam" |
| Best New Artist | Shona Laing |
| Best New Zealand Recorded Composition | Anna Leah - "Love Bug" |
| Producer of the Year | Keith Southern - "Join Together" |
| Engineer of the Year | Peter Hitchcock - "Only Time Could Let Us Know" |
| Arranger of the Year | Mike Harvey – "Damn the Dam" |
1974 winners
| Award | Winner |
| Best New Artist | Bunny Walters |
| Best male vocalist | Bunny Walters |
| Recording Artist/Group of the Year | Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Band |
| Best New Zealand Recorded Composition | John Hanlon - "Is It Natural" |
| Producer of the Year | Mike Harvey - "Is It Natural" |
| Arranger of the Year | Mike Harvey - "Is It Natural" |
1975 winners
| Award | Winner |
| Album of the Year | John Hanlon – Higher Trails |
| Best Single/Single of the Year | Rockinghorse – "Through the Moonlight" |
| Recording Artist/Group of the Year | Mark Williams |
| Best New Artist | Space Waltz |
| Producer of the Year | Alan Galbraith – "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of my Life" |
| Engineer of the Year | Phil Yule – "Higher Trails" |
| Arranger of the Year | Mike Harvey – "Higher Trails" |
| Composer of the Year | John Hanlon – "Higher Trails" |
1976 winners
| Award | Winner |
| Album of the Year | New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - Symphony #2 |
| Recording Artist/Group of the Year | Dr Tree |
| Best New Artist | Dr Tree |
| Producer of the Year | Alan Galbraith - "Taking it all in Stride" |
| Engineer of the Year | Peter Hitchcock - "Taking it all in Stride" |
| Arranger of the Year | David Frazer - "Taking it all in Stride" |
| Composer of the Year | John Hanlon - Night Life |