14 November 2019 - 0 Comments

Steve Shyu from Muzic.net.nz reported live from the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards on 14 November 2019!
Photos were also be provided during the night courtesy of Chris Morgan -  Morgan Creative.

Music Awards News

Hosts: Jon Toogood and Laura Daniel
NZ Music Awards: Finalists
NZ Music Awards: Artisan Awards  

Music Awards Photos

NZ Music Awards: Red Carpet Photos
NZ Music Awards: Winners and Presenters Photos

Performances on the night: BENEE, Mitch James, Troy Kingi, Teeks & Hollie Smith, The Beths, Villainy and Avantdale Bowling Club, plus a special performance from Th' Dudes.

6:35 - The red carpet is underway! As usual, the kapa haka welcoming committee is boisterous and creating a vibrant atmopshere outside Auckland City's Spark Arena.

6:39 - Sweet Mix Kids are here. In a huge, furry, blood-red coat! And big Pharrell Williams hat? Plus a bouquet on a chain?? Cool.

6:45 - So warming to see Matt of Beastwars back in action after his cancer treatment. His iconic beard is back, too - Bold and grey as ever!

7:12 - Rising star Benee getting tonnes of attention from fans on the red carpet. Looking adorable dressed in all black with a blue streak through her bob cut.

7:19 - JessB, who blew audiences away at 2018's VNZMA, has arrived, complete with braids and a cool blue Adidas...What I would call a tracksuit-dress?

7:24 - Jacinda Ardern has joined us! In a fitting, deep-grey gown, our Prime Minister is looking vibrant and upbeat, casually hanging out with kiwi pop favourites Six60.

7:45 - Everyone to their stations, time to hunker down - The show is rolling!

8:36 - The Beths begin the night with their single Little Death. Used to go to school with frontwoman Liz. True story. Go Liz!

8:41 - Hosts for the night Jon Toogood and Laura Daniel strut DRAMATICALLY to the stage.

8:46 - Jon, in true rock n' roll fashion, drops three F-bombs in a row! Boh Runga brought to stage to present the NZ on Air Radio Airplay Award.

8:49 - Six60 is first band to take an award, the NZ on Air Radio Airplay Award. Already!

8:50 - Best Rock Artist goes to Villainy! Booyah! Turns out everybody gives a f*** about your dreams.

8:53 - Luke Bird presents Best Classical Artist! And the award goes to... Simon O'Neill!

8:57 - Benee welcomed back to stage to perform her hit song Soaked. 

9:01 - UFC fighter Israel Adesanya hops up to present the award for Best Group. It goes to The Beths! Good on ya, Liz.

9:06 - Best Maori Artist Award is won by the mighty Troy Kingi! An incredible haka is then delivered in celebration by Kingi's whanau, males and females included. Kingi, in turn, thanks all indigenous peoples for their support.

9:11 - Now time for the Best Soul/R&B Artist. And it's uplifted by Bailey Wiley!

9:15 - Dom, Meg & Randal brought on under the lights to present Best Pop Artist Award. It goes to Benee again - The second for the young pop star.

9:20 - Best Electro Album Award is presented by duo Hermitude. Aaannnd it goes to... TALI! A deeply emotional Tali acknowledges this is her first ever New Zealand award in her eighteen year career, and gave thanks to the kiwi drum & bass scene, calling on more females to join her. Big ups, Tali.

9:27 - Avantdale Bowling Club present their live rendition of Home, supported by the Avondale Intermediate School. Badass! 

9:32 - Time for the Best Roots Artist... Welcome back to the stage, Mr Troy Kingi! That now brings his Awards tally to two.

9:37 - Now for Jesse Mulligan and JessB to present Vodafone Highest Selling Artist Award. It goes to the one and only Six60, of which they've now accrued six.

9:41 - Benee wins yet again! This time at for the Best Solo Artist time! Her acceptance speech again is even more awkward and has more "okay"s than a snapper has scales.

9:44 - The expletive-lade Dreams is delivered live by Aoteroa's alternative-rock heroes Villainy. No censoring here!

9:50 - Kiwi superstar Melowdownz hops up to deliver the award for Best Hip-Hop Artist Avantdale Bowling Club, with which the frontman took playful pot-shots at Vodafone, Prime Minister Ardern, and even Jon Toogood!

9:54 - The splendid Hollie Smith and Teeks team up for a fantastic duet, while honouring some of Aotearoa's fallen heroes over the past year.

10:00 - Here comes the hugely prestigious award for International Achievement Award... Take a big bow, Drax Project!

10:05 - Mike McRoberts and Hollie Smith share the podium in presenting the Breakthrough Artist of the Year. You just get used to that stage Benee, and we'll get used to more awkward thanks, "Holy crap"s, "Oh my gosh"s!

10:09 - Award for Best Alternative Artist is The Beths, take another bow! And I thought Indie Pop Rock was on its way out?!

10:14 - Laura Daniel and Jon Toogood give a rap tribute to Dave Dobbyn. Yeah... It's about as high-quality as you'd expect.

10:16 - Here comes the reggae hit Mighty Invader by Troy Kingi. Backed by singers, costumed dancers bearing flags, signifying their heritage, highlighting the impact of Western influence. Probably even more controversial than Jon and Laura's rap?

10:20 - Prime Minister Ardern presents the biggest award of the year, Artist of the Year, to Benee.

10:24 - Best Worship Artist Award goes to Harbourside Worship!

10:30 - Vodafone People's Choice Award goes to, of course, Six60. Choooiiice indeed.

10:32 - Would yo look at the time, it's Mitch James o'clock! Armed with an acoustic guitar and backed by a drummer, second guitarist, and flamethrowers(???) he delivered his major single Bright Blue Skies, Old News.

10:38 - Six60 is back on the stage, this time NOT to pick up an award, but to give an award to the inspiring and massively creative Th' Dudes for the Legacy Award. 

10:41 - Peter Urlich of Th' Dudes delivers a rousing speech, thanking Recorded Music NZ, acknowledged the thirty-nine years that have passed since their heyday, because of course, good things take time.

10:50 - Hip-hop giant Savage gets the honour of presenting the award of Album of the Year. And it's given to... Avantdale Bowling Club! Kia haha.

10:57 - To close off the evening, the full band of Th' Dudes rises to the stage to give an energising medley of kiwi hits Be Mine Tonight and, of course, Bliss. 

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