There are a number of very positive changes to the 2003 NZ Music Awards - known as the Tuis - that are being held on April 30 2003.
The main changes are in the awards categories with four new awards and two that recognise commercial success. The new awards are for best Urban, Dance, Roots, Pacific Island albums and highest selling single and highest selling album.
Mark Ashbridge, CEO, Festival Mushroom Records says "These changes are a first step in a fresh direction. New Zealand music constantly evolves and it is important that the national awards reflect this evolution as the annual 'best of' in the profession."
In addition to the changes to the awards, the judging criteria has been altered to bring the New Zealand Music Awards more in line with the way judging works at The Brits in the UK.
Specific changes include:
- a three-fold increase in the number of judges from 30 to more than 100;
- 11 categories to be judged by a ‘voting academy’ comprising 90 representatives from various sectors of the industry;
- nine categories to be judged by ‘voting schools’ comprising experts in the different music genres being judged;
- two sales categories judged by company audit.
This year the awards evening will be an industry-only affair, in line with other major international awards evenings.
There are a number of very positive changes to the 2003 NZ Music Awards - known as the Tuis - that are being held on April 30 2003.