New Zealand Music Awards - History and Overview

History and Overview

The first awards for New Zealand recorded music were the Loxene Golden Disc awards, launched in 1965. The awards were co-founded by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) and soap powder manufacturer Reckitt & Colman, with the awards named after Reckitt & Colman's anti-dandruff shampoo, Loxene.

While initially only one prize was given, other awards were added, including categories for record cover, recording artist of the year, and a producer award. From 1970, two awards were given - one to a solo artist, the other to a group.

The Loxene Golden Disc awards continued until 1972 when the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industry decided to institute its own system; these awards became known as the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA). From 1978 the awards became known as the RIANZ Awards after the NZFPI changed its name to the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).

In 1996 and 1997 the awards were known as the Clear Music and Entertainment Awards, sponsored by Clear Communications, and in 1999 the name of the awards was finally changed to the New Zealand Music Awards, with the award trophy nicknamed the Tui. Also in 1999 Coca-Cola New Zealand became the naming rights sponsor of the awards, known as the Coca-Cola New Zealand Music Awards for one year only.

Since 2004, the show's principal sponsor has been Vodafone New Zealand. With Vodafone's sponsorship, the awards became known as the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards (VNZMAs).

In 2008 the awards ceremony moved to Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to this move the event was primarily invitation only, and the increased size of the Vector Arena enabled the event to be attended both by invitation and by the public through sale tickets. While the Loxene Golden Disc award was televised in the 1970s, broadcasting of the contemporary award ceremony started in 2004.