June 22, 2020
Reo Māori tohu added to NZ Music Awards
It has been a long time coming, but performances in te reo Māori will now be acknowledged in the New Zealand Music Awards.
The Mana Reo award recognises albums, singles or live performances with at least 50 percent te reo content.
Sarah Owen, Recorded Music New Zealand’s kaiwhakahaere, says it covers a wide field.
"You only have to look at (hit album) Waiata Anthems, Anika Moa's latest children's album is 50 percent te reo, Ngā Tumanako released their album recently, so it can cross over lots of genres, lots of places te reo is used. We want to encourage as many artists as possible to nominate," she says.
Sarah Owen says the awards, which no longer carry the Vodafone sponsorship, will this year also focus of the effect of the coronavirus crisis on the music industry and the work done by MusicHelps and other initiatives throughout Aotearoa that use the power of music to unite and heal communities.
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