NZ On Air Congratulates The Winners Of The 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards
As a longstanding partner of AMA, NZ On Air is honoured to support this iconic event and to celebrate the depth of artistry that defines our local music scene.
'This year's winners reflect the incredible breadth of talent in Aotearoa – from genre-defying newcomers to established icons who continue to push boundaries,' says NZ On Air Head of Music, Teresa Patterson. 'We are proud to support AMA and this important celebration of local music that resonates with audiences here and around the world.'
NZ On Air acknowledges the many artists supported through its music funding and initiatives, who were recognised across multiple categories at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards. 80% of winners have been supported by NZ On Air.
'Their success is a testament to the power of authentic storytelling, hard work and dedication to craft and the importance of funding and support across the music ecosystem to ensure a diversity of quality local music for audiences,' says Patterson.
NZ On Air also extends its warmest congratulations to the following NZ On Air-sponsored awards recipients:
NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year–FazerdazeforSoft Power
NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content–Oscar Keys, Ezra Simons, Kristin Li – 'Paradise' (DARTZ)
NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Horapa | Radio Airplay Record of the Year–L.A.B
For more information about NZ On Air's music funding and support, visit the NZ On Air website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
L.A.B., Stan Walker team up for outdoor summer gigs in NZ and Gold Coast
Stan Walker on the red carpet of the Aotearoa Music Awards, where he won Best Māori Artist. Photo / New Zealand Herald photography by Sylvie Whinray For Walker, 'heavy prep', like an Olympic athlete or an All Black might do, is a necessity for lead vocalists preparing to tour, as they have nothing to hide behind on stage. 'We are the only ones that can't just pick up the drumsticks and go hard or start playing the bass or whatever.' Psychologically, Walker has also learned to automatically put up 'walls' to protect himself, his family, and his creative process from 'outside noise'. Sometimes this can get in the way of connecting with an audience, Walker says, but performing in the USA and Hawaii last year, the locals' unguarded enthusiasm was so inspiring he felt the walls came down. Raised on gospel music, Walker especially loves connecting with Black fans and friends in the States. 'They're like, 'man, you need to lead us, brother!' So you get like a fire.' Auckland reggae band Corrella will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at their Tauranga show. Photo / Supplied Hawaiian music fans, he says, aren't held back by 'tall poppyness' like many New Zealanders. 'They're like, 'I love you. You changed my life. I want to follow you for the rest of my days'.' A Kiwi who recognises him is more likely to say something like 'Yeah, my mum is a fan', Walker says. 'It's really backhanded, and I think it's our like, defence mechanism. We don't want to get rejected or whatever. I get it, but at the same time, it's ugly.' L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt 'resonates hard' with Walker's insight on this cultural difference – 'Oh, preach, brother. Holy moly… Don't be a second-hand fan, be first-hand.' His band has also played some amazing shows in the States, he says, and American audiences are a lot more encouraging of guitar solos. L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt says American audiences are a lot more into guitar solos than Kiwis. Photo / Alex Cairns 'My roots are blues, so it comes from the south, and I know that feeling, I know that music, it's in me. When I play in the States, I feel that, man. Far out, I feel it. It's magic.' Back home in Aotearoa, Shadbolt and Walker agree Christchurch is one place where people really know how to show appreciation. Although he's had 'some very opposite experiences' offstage in the South Island city, Walker says he's always felt recharged by performing there, which he first did at 16. '[Christchurch audiences] show me why I do what I do, if that makes sense. It's electric.' In the lead-up to an L.A.B. show, the members gather to make sure they're 'on the same kind of buzz', Shadbolt says, and sing a karakia and some harmony-driven songs before hitting the stage. 'We all get locked in, you know?' L.A.B will be performing in Tauranga this summer. Photo / Supplied Artists give so much and love doing it, but they also really need to refuel, Shadbolt says. When he starts feeling like he's living 'in a weird alternate reality', the remedy is going home to visit whānau. 'Hanging out with my Nan is all I need for half an hour.' As a touring vocalist, performing shows back to back, you become hyper-aware of how your body feels, Shadbolt says. Sleep, hydration, nutrition and movement are his 'four pillars'. 'You get those right, and then the voice is magic. Any of those fall down, it's like 'Oooh, should have had a feed' or 'Oooh, ate too much'.' For Walker, it's 'buzzy' that alongside R&B singer Aaradhna, the up-and-coming musician Liam Te Wehi (Te Wehi) is supporting his three shows with L.A.B. this summer. R&B singer Aaradhna will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at all three of their outdoor summer shows. Photo / Stijl, James Ensing-Trussell Although he's been listening to his music and enjoying his TikTok for ages, the two haven't yet met. 'He looks like my dad, bro!' For Shadbolt, it's really special that pioneering hip-hop group Nesian Mystic are supporting the Stan Walker / L.A.B. show at Auckland's Outer Fields festival on January 31. It's his band's first headlining Auckland gig in over four years, and the first time Nesian Mystic have hit the stage there in about 15 years. 'I listened to some of these songs in the car before, and I was like, 'Man, it's gonna be so nostalgic hanging out and playing their stuff live'. 'We're kind of buzzing for the show up there.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Frankie Venter Is ‘Talking To The Walls' In New Single Out Today
Fresh off her international festival slot debut at Starburst in Sydney and Best Pop Artist nomination at the Aotearoa Music Awards, 18-year-old pop sensation, Frankie Venter, releases her latest single 'talking to the walls' today. Disguised by a catchy beat and soothing guitar, Venter delves into her own heartbreak from an emotionally unavailable relationship. With 'talking to the walls', Venter unveils a deeply vulnerable side of her songwriting, displaying her creative versatility to be able to produce introspective tracks and anthems that still carry the infectious pop energy Venter is known for. 'This is a song I wrote about breaking up with someone who was emotionally unavailable. I often found myself literally talking to the walls during this relationship, when the person I was with should've been the first person I could speak to about what was happening in my life,' says Venter. Co-written by collaborator Dan Martin and close friend Indyah, 'talking to the walls' was one of their earliest creations, but had been sitting unreleased for almost a year. The track also features production credits from LA-based Australian producer M-Phazes who has worked with heavy weights such as Eminem, Ruel, Teezo, Touchdown and Lucky Daye. Venter says it was time to release the song now that she's healed from the breakup. 'When I listen back to the song it's like opening a little time capsule into heart-broken Frankie's life at the time. Now that I'm over it, I think it's time to share this super vulnerable part of my life.' Venter will perform at BIGSOUND 2025 in Brisbane this September, joining Aotearoa and Australia's premier festival for emerging talent. Her new release 'talking to the walls' marks the beginning of the lead-up to her upcoming EP and is further proof of Venter's ever evolving gift at crafting superb pop hits. 'talking to the walls' is available now.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
L.A.B And Stan Walker Announce Summer Tour With Special Guests
Press Release – NikNak Media After tearing up stages across New Zealand and Australia this past summer, the incredible combination of L.A.B and Stan Walker will again join for three memorable outdoor shows this summer – including a return to L.A.B and Stan Walker's home of theBay Of Plenty; a one-off Australian show on the Gold Coast; and L.A.B's first Auckland show in over four years. Presented by Loop, the first show will take place on Saturday December 27, 2025 at Wharepai Domain in Tauranga followed by Saturday January 3, 2026 at Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast. The final show will take place on Saturday January 31, 2026 at Auckland's Trusts Arena Outer Fields. These three special shows will see massive line-ups including: L.A.B, Stan Walker, Aaradhna & Te Wehi (All Shows). Corrella (Tauranga only). Tiki Taane (Gold Coast only). Nesian Mystik (Auckland only, first show in Tāmaki Makaurau in over 15 years). Tickets for all three shows go on sale Thursday, July 31 at 12pm from with Afterpay available for all shows. Sign up for pre-sale access for all shows from These three outdoor shows will be the perfect summer day out, with a collection of acts who represent Aotearoa summertime all in one place. As a special treat, each show will see a different artist added to the line-up, giving each city a unique line-up not seen anywhere else. Tauranga will see Corrella on the line-up, bringing with them their high-energy brand of reggae/soul. Auckland will see the legendary Nesian Mystik performing their first show in Auckland in over 15 years. Gold Coast gets the ultimate party-starter Tiki Taane, bringing his epic One Man Band set up on the road back to the GC. These shows will be L.A.B's first headline shows since winning the Te Manu Mātārae Award at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, an award acknowledging an artist's impact on the music landscape. Their most recent album L.A.B VI included the hits 'Take It Away' and 'Casanova', and 2025 has seen them already touring across the globe. This will be their only headline shows in NZ and Australia this coming summer, so expect three massive days out. Tauranga will be a return home for L.A.B for the first time in over two years, while their Auckland performance will be the first in Tāmaki Makaurau in over four years. Stan Walker is an artist who continues to go from strength to strength. Taking home the Best Māori Artist and Mana Reo awards at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, Stan's captivating live show sees him combine with his longtime band, The Levites, creating a powerful experience with every performance. Fresh off of multiple visits to the United States through 2025, and with new music on the way, Stan will bring his ever-expanding catalogue of hits to the stage at these shows. All three shows will see L.A.B and Stan Walker joined by Aaradhna and Te Wehi. One of the most stunning voices in Aotearoa, Aaradhna announced her return with her acclaimed 2024 album SWEET SURRENDER. The album saw her take home Best Soul/RnB Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards, with select live performances over the past 12 months reminding audiences why she is a true legend of the scene. Each show will be opened up by the fast-rising Te Wehi. The Bay Of Plenty native has quickly become one of the most sought-after artists in the country, already boasting three #1's on the Aotearoa Hot Singles Chart. His unique blend of country-tinged reggae will be the perfect stage setter for a massive day of live music. These three shows see a line-up of the finest Māori/Pasifika artists in Aotearoa combine for a series of summer shows that aren't to be missed. Be sure to secure tickets for L.A.B's NZ summer tour. Presented by Loop, thanks to Kirin Hyoketsu, Corona, Mānuka Phuel & Mai FM.
