The last few days have been overwhelming for everyone, with taking care of your households and families being the priority. We also realise your financial situation will be at the forefront of your minds, as the music industry has been significantly impacted.
 
Our industry organisations - APRA|AMCOS, Recorded Music NZ, NZ On Air, NZ Music Commission, Music Managers Forum, Independent Music NZ - are working together to share information and will provide updates through their websites and newsletters, which we encourage you to read. We will also share content and key links here, to ensure our Pacific community has access to the information and to keep you connected. 
 
The key links are:

1. Wage Subsidy Scheme:  this is the Government support provided. Initially this was difficult for musicians, self-employed and contractors, but this has now been updated as of 27 March.  Music sole traders and small businesses have been able to confirm loss of income have been able to obtain support.   
2. Creative New Zealand:  Announced their Emergency Response Package, with support available for eligible artists, collectives and groups who have experienced loss of income.
3. I Lost My Gig Aotearoa – where information is being provided about gigs and events that have been cancelled or postponed.  This information will help the industry and government assess the impact on the music industry from events.   Go to the form here: 
4. Musichelps:  a reminder that you can contact MusicHelps if you are feeling anxious, stressed or struggling.  Go through to their website or phone:  0508 MUSICHELPS.

 
 
Contact us if you need help with any of these details:  pacificmusicawardstrust@gmail.com or message us directly here.   
 
Take care, stay home and be safe.
 

​Our Pacific Music Awards Trust want to firstly acknowledge the challenging circumstances that our nation and the world is experiencing with the Covid-19 pandemic.  Our hearts and thoughts are especially with our music and Pacific community as we navigate through this time together.
 
We have been considering our options for the 2020 Pacific Music Awards and have also been monitoring the shifting environment we are all in.  We appreciate your patience and understanding, while we took the time to make the decisions needed. 
 
Our Trust confirms that we will not host the awards ceremony on 21 May 2020 as planned but we will announce our 2020 finalists, sponsors and funders, in early/mid April. There will be no Finalist Announcement event and we will do this via a press release and online content.  We want to ensure we can celebrate the music released by our Pacific artists in 2019 and continue as many aspects of the awards ceremony as we can. 
 
At this time, we are not able to confirm a new date for the 2020 Pacific Music Awards.   However, we are fortunate that the nature of our event allows some flexibility in terms of timing and the format of the event.   Our Trust can confirm our commitment to honouring and celebrating Pacific music, and affirm we are dedicated to delivering the Pacific Music Awards in some form or another.  
 
The Pacific Music Awards Trust wants to continue to support our Pacific artists and keep our community connected, as we journey through this uncertain time ahead.    Look after each other, your families and your communities.  We encourage everyone to follow all the directives and advice given, so we can collectively respond to Covid-19.
 

​

News release: December 2019

​The Pacific Music Awards Trust proudly announce the 16th annual Pacific Music Awards will be held on Thursday 21 May 2020.  The Pacific Music Awards celebrates the music released in 2019, providing the opportunity to honour the achievements and success of our current Pacific artists and also pay tribute to legacy and developing artists. 
​ 
Nominations are open for all the entered award categories and are due by Friday 7 February 2020.  All the categories are for local artists, i.e. New Zealand citizens/residents, except for the Best International Pacific Artist Award, which is open to Pacific artists from overseas.  For the 2020 awards Pacific artists who have released singles, EPs or albums for sale during 1 January – 31 December 2019, will be eligible to enter.  

The entered categories for 2020 are confirmed as the following:

1. Best Pacific Female Artist
2. Best Pacific Male Artist
3. Best Pacific Group
4. Best Pacific Language
5. Best Pacific Gospel Artist
6. Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
7. Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist
8. Best Roots/Reggae Artist 
9. Best Pacific Song
10. Best Pacific Music Video
11. Best Producer
12. Best International Pacific Artist
13. Best Pacific Music Album (nb: NZ Music Award ‘Tui’)

 
For all the details about entering the 2020 Pacific Music Awards, please go to the ENTRIES page.    If you have any questions about the Pacific Music Awards or the nomination process, please contact the Pacific Music Awards Trust.

We are looking forward to the celebration of Pacific music and to sharing this special event with you, so please save the date of Thursday 21 May 2020!