Vodafone NZ Music Awards Finalists Announced: Bic Runga Receiving Special Award

Just a year after they dominated the Vodafone NZ Music awards with their debut album Evergreen, Broods lead the pack with five nominations for their follow-up album, Conscious.

Nominated for album of the year, single of the year, best group, best pop album and people's choice, the Nelson siblings have set a new gold standard for Kiwi music productivity.

They'll face off against perennial favourites Fat Freddy's Drop, whose album Bays sees them up for four awards. Likewise, Aaradhna's Brown Girl has earned her four nominations, as has Composure for newcomer Maala.

They'll be joined on awards night by Kings, Tami Neilson and Shapeshifter, who are all set to perform at the ceremony, being broadcast live on TV3.

Singer-songwriter and national treasure Bic Runga will receive the NZ Herald Legacy Award and be inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame at this year's VNZMAs. 

Her first three albums, Drive, Beautiful Collision and Birds, sold a remarkable half million copies between them. Her hit single Sway went seven times platinum. Second album Beautiful Collision went 11 times platinum.

She's our most awarded solo artist, having picked up 20 Tui awards, including Best Album for debut Drive and Best Female Vocalist four times.

She has featured on soundtracks of two major American motion pictures (the 90s faves American Pie and Cruel Intentions). She has taken home the Tui for Single of the Year. She has won APRA's prized Silver Scroll. She has been awarded the important New Zealand Order of Merit.

Full list of VNZMA Nominees:

Album of The Year

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Broods, Conscious
Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Hollie Smith, Water Or Gold
Tami Neilson, Don't Be Afraid
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Single of the Year

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Broods, Free
Kings, Don't Worry Bout' It
MAALA, Kind Of Love
Shapeshifter, Stars
The Naked And Famous, Higher

Best Group

Broods, Conscious
Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Sol3 Mio, On Another Note
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Best Male Solo Artist

Avalanche City, We Are For The Wild Places
Dave Dobbyn, Harmony House
Lawrence Arabia, Absolute Truth
MAALA, Composure

Best Female Solo Artist

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
Hollie Smith, Water Or Gold
Ladyhawke, Wild Things
Tami Neilson, Don't Be Afraid

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Kings, Don't Worry Bout' It
LEISURE, All Over You
nomad, Oh My My

Best Rock Album

Beastwars, The Death of All Things
Jordan Luck Band, Not Only ... But Also
Villainy, Dead Sight

Best Pop Album

Avalanche City, We Are For The Wild Places
Broods, Conscious
MAALA, Composure

Best Alternative Album

Lawrence Arabia, Absolute Truth
Silicon, Personal Computer
The Phoenix Foundation, Give Up Your Dreams

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album

Aaradhna, Brown Girl
PNC, The Luke Vailima EP
SmokeyGotBeatz, SmokeyGotBeatz Presents: SWIDT vs EVERYBODY

Best Roots Album

Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays
Rob Ruha, Pumau
Unity Pacific, Blackbirder Dread

Best Electronic Album

Electric Wire Hustle, Aeons
Opiuo, Omniversal
Pacific Heights, The Stillness

Best Maori Album

Dennis Marsh, Maori Songbook 2
Kirsten Te Rito, Aiotanga
Rob Ruha, Pumau

Best Worship Album 

Edge Kingsland, Edge Kingsland Vol.3: The Common Good
Grace Vineyard Music, Seek You
LIFE Worship, By My Spirit

Best Classical Album

Anthony Ritchie and Ross Harris, Fjarran
Kenneth Young, Shadows and Light
Zephyr, Zephyr

People's Choice Award

Broods
Fat Freddy's Drop
Kings
MAALA
Sol3 Mio

Critics' Choice Award

Kane Strang
Scuba Diva
Spycc & INF

What: Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
When: Thursday, November 17
Where: Vector Arena and broadcast live on TV3
Tickets: GA tickets $25 from Ticketmaster