ENTRIES FOR THE 2025
PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS NOW OPEN
ENTRIES FOR THE 2025
PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS NOW OPEN
Entries for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards are open and due by
Tuesday 15 April 2025.
Here we are providing the information that will assist artists and nominators with their nominations for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards. The details will confirm the steps involved in submitting a nomination, with information about the awards, entries and the judging process. For any questions about submitting a nomination, please email: [email protected]
NOMINATION PROCESS FOR ENTRIES
- Read and review the Terms & Conditions document – to confirm the eligibility details and overall conditions of entry
- One nomination is required per artist – which confirms all the categories you wish to enter
- All artists will be eligible for multiple categories and are encouraged to enter all the categories they are eligible for
- Prepare the entry details for your nomination in advance – such as full names of all group members, NZ citizenship/residency info for each artist, artist bio, recording info (title and release date for the song, EP or album being submitted, social media links, high res photo, audio files and video links
- Artists who are being nominated by their representative, will be contacted to confirm the details of the nomination, before it can be finalised
- The nominator will be the main point of contact and will be notified if more details are required or to confirm the nomination is complete
- All nominations are completed through an online system and can be submitted directly by artists and/or their representatives – here is a link to the online nomination form:
Nominations for entry to the Pacific Music Awards must be submitted by 5pm, Tuesday 15 April 2025.
ENTERED CATEGORIES
The entered categories for 2025 are confirmed as the following:
- Best Pacific Female Artist
- Best Pacific Male Artist
- Best Pacific Group
- Best Pacific Language
- Best Pacific Gospel Artist
- Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
- Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist
- Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
- Best Pacific Song
- Best Pacific Music Video
- Best Producer
- Best International Pacific Artist
- Best Pacific Music Album (nb: Aotearoa Music Award ‘Tui’)
One nomination form is required for each artist being nominated and this provides all the information required about the artist and recordings being nominated. The nomination will also confirm all the categories each artist wishes to enter.
Artists are encouraged to enter as many categories as possible and all artists will be eligible to enter multiple categories. For example: If you are a group, creating gospel music in a Pacific language, who have released a music video and an album; you could enter the following categories: Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Gospel Artist, Best Pacific Language, Best Pacific Song, Best Pacific Music Video, Best Producer, and Best Pacific Music Album.
ELIGIBILITY
For the full details in regards to eligibility for nominees and recordings; and the conditions of entry for the Pacific Music Awards, please read the 2025 PMA Terms and Conditions document.
For the full details in regards to eligibility for nominees and recordings; and the conditions of entry for the Pacific Music Awards, please read the 2025 PMA Terms and Conditions document.
The key elements for eligibility for NZ Pacific artists are:
- The artist nominees must be of Pacific descent
- The artist nominees must be New Zealand citizens or granted permanent residency in New Zealand
- The recordings, singles, EPs or albums, must have been first released for public sale, during the eligible period of 1 January – 31 December 2024
- The artist nominees must be of Pacific descent
- This category is open to Pacific artists who are citizens or permanent residents of any country other than New Zealand
- Recordings can be released for sale in NZ and/or anywhere outside of New Zealand, during the eligible period of 1 January – 31 December 2024
JUDGING
The Pacific Music Awards Trust selects and confirms an independent judging panel, to judge all the nominations for the entered categories. The panel is comprised of representatives from the music industry and may include artist, producers, songwriters, music media and radio/TV/online representatives. The identity of the judges will remain confidential. Please note the Pacific Music Awards Trustees are not part of the judging panel.
The nomination details provided through the online system will be provided to the judging panel. Each judge will complete and submit their individual judging results through an online system. The judges are asked to consider a number of elements in the judging process, with emphasis placed on artistic merit, use of Pacific language, content, ethnicity and originality.
The collated results from the judging panel, will determine the finalists and winners for all of the entered categories. All nominators will be advised of the outcome of the judging process, to confirm if their artist has or has not been confirmed as a finalist.
The Pacific Music Awards Trust selects and confirms an independent judging panel, to judge all the nominations for the entered categories. The panel is comprised of representatives from the music industry and may include artist, producers, songwriters, music media and radio/TV/online representatives. The identity of the judges will remain confidential. Please note the Pacific Music Awards Trustees are not part of the judging panel.
The nomination details provided through the online system will be provided to the judging panel. Each judge will complete and submit their individual judging results through an online system. The judges are asked to consider a number of elements in the judging process, with emphasis placed on artistic merit, use of Pacific language, content, ethnicity and originality.
The collated results from the judging panel, will determine the finalists and winners for all of the entered categories. All nominators will be advised of the outcome of the judging process, to confirm if their artist has or has not been confirmed as a finalist.
FINALISTS
Finalists will be confirmed for each award category, determined by the collective results of the judging panel. At least three finalists will be confirmed per category.
All finalists will be announced at the Finalist Announcement event, which will be hosted by the Pacific Music Awards Trust in advance of the awards ceremony. The finalists will also be announced within an official press release.
All finalists will also be acknowledged and celebrated at the awards ceremony. We ask and encourage all finalists to attend both the Finalist Announcement and Pacific Music Awards event.
OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED
At the awards ceremony, the following awards may also be presented – with the recipients being selected by the Pacific Music Awards Trust, in consultation and collaboration with the sponsor for the award; or the recipients are based on statistical data:
Please note, the sponsors for the award categories above are based on our 2024 sponsors and the 2025 sponsors are still being confirmed.
Finalists will be confirmed for each award category, determined by the collective results of the judging panel. At least three finalists will be confirmed per category.
All finalists will be announced at the Finalist Announcement event, which will be hosted by the Pacific Music Awards Trust in advance of the awards ceremony. The finalists will also be announced within an official press release.
All finalists will also be acknowledged and celebrated at the awards ceremony. We ask and encourage all finalists to attend both the Finalist Announcement and Pacific Music Awards event.
OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED
At the awards ceremony, the following awards may also be presented – with the recipients being selected by the Pacific Music Awards Trust, in consultation and collaboration with the sponsor for the award; or the recipients are based on statistical data:
- Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Pacific Artist
- NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award
- NZ On Air Streaming Award
- Arch Angel Independent Music Award
- Creative New Zealand Award
- SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist
- Special Recognition – Outstanding Achievement
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award
Please note, the sponsors for the award categories above are based on our 2024 sponsors and the 2025 sponsors are still being confirmed.
WINNERS
The winners of all the award categories will be announced and confirmed at the Pacific Music Awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday 21 August 2025, at the Due Drop Events Centre, in Manukau, Auckland, Aotearoa. Each award winner will be presented with the coveted Pacific Music Awards trophy. The winners will also be announced by press release, issued the night of the awards ceremony.
The winners of all the award categories will be announced and confirmed at the Pacific Music Awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday 21 August 2025, at the Due Drop Events Centre, in Manukau, Auckland, Aotearoa. Each award winner will be presented with the coveted Pacific Music Awards trophy. The winners will also be announced by press release, issued the night of the awards ceremony.
CONTACT
For any questions about submitting a nomination or the awards ceremony, please contact:
Petrina Togi-Sa’ena
Pacific Music Awards Trustee and Event Producer
Mobile: +64 272 451 898
Email: [email protected]
Post:
Pacific Music Awards Trust,
c/- Recorded Music NZ Ltd,
Private Bag 78850,
Grey Lynn,
Auckland 1245
Courier / Personal delivery:
Pacific Music Awards Trust,
c/- Recorded Music NZ Ltd,
Level 1, 2A Hakanoa Street,
Grey Lynn,
Auckland 1021
For any questions about submitting a nomination or the awards ceremony, please contact:
Petrina Togi-Sa’ena
Pacific Music Awards Trustee and Event Producer
Mobile: +64 272 451 898
Email: [email protected]
Post:
Pacific Music Awards Trust,
c/- Recorded Music NZ Ltd,
Private Bag 78850,
Grey Lynn,
Auckland 1245
Courier / Personal delivery:
Pacific Music Awards Trust,
c/- Recorded Music NZ Ltd,
Level 1, 2A Hakanoa Street,
Grey Lynn,
Auckland 1021
