2021 Taite Music Prize

The ceremony and its main award share the "Taite Music Prize" name. Sometimes called the Taite Main, this award recognises New Zealand's best album of the previous year (2020). The winner, Reb Fountain by Reb Fountain, was selected by a panel of twelve judges who were not publicly named until after their decision was announced.^[2]

Criteria for the award, which came with a cash prize of $12,500 from Recorded Music NZ, include artistic merit, creativity, innovation and excellence.^[3]

In her acceptance speech American-born Fountain, who moved to New Zealand in 1979 with her family, said "I’ve always felt like an underdog. Being a migrant, I've always felt like I’ve missed something or have not belonged. To be honoured in this way, it feels like I belong. It is really special." ^[4]

Judging panel member Sarah Illingworth said, "Reb Fountain sees its eponymous creator at the top of her game – or perhaps preparing to climb to new and headier peaks. The album and Reb’s path to releasing it captures the independent spirit championed by the Taite Music Prize while sparkling with the high caliber of production and performance that makes an artist a star."^[2]

It's a great honour, and also quite strange. Peer recognition through awards is wonderful. It's also important to see an award is just one way of recognising the work. You have to be careful of thinking awards are a marker of who you are, of whether you achieved success. It’s beautiful and special but you are equally as valuable without it. I have to hold both spaces – the genuine gratitude I feel for being honoured and the knowledge that it’s the work that is important.

I do think it can help a ‘career’ because our industry values the accolades. It’s great when you can add to your bio that you’ve won something, because somewhere out there that stuff is valued. And it is cool, but it’s not everything.

— Reb Fountain, Interview with NZ Musician (abridged)^[5]

A open call for nominations ran from 13 January to 8 February. This list went to a vote of all IMNZ members which found ten finalists.^[3] They were announced on 12 March.^[6] Troy Kingi, 2020's winner, became the first current holder of the Taite Music Prize to return as a finalist the next year.^[7]

The judges of the 2021 Taite Music Prize were:^[2]

• Nick Bollinger
• Savina Fountain (no relation to Reb)^[9]
• Sarah Illingworth
• Karl Lock
• Nadia Marsh
• Rebekah Ngatae
• Hamish Pinkham
• Charlotte Ryan
• Pip Ryan-Kidd
• Jeremy Taylor
• Sarah Thomson
• Mikee Tucker

"Poi E", a 12" single by Pātea Māori Club first released in 1983, was announced as 2021's winner of the IMNZ Classic Album award on 1 April. There was no public nomination process or vote.^[10]

The modern day Pātea Māori Club, including some members who are heard on "Poi E", performed to a standing ovation at the award ceremony. The song's composers, Māui Dalvanius Prime and Ngoi Pēwhairangi, had died in 2002 and 1985 respectively.^[4]

The award for the best debut album released in 2020 went to Na Noise, for Waiting For You.^[1] Like the Taite Main, the three finalists for the Best Independent Debut Award were found through a vote of IMNZ's full membership.^[11] They were announced about five weeks before the award ceremony.^[6] Guitarist Hariet Ellis, a member of both Na Noise and Dick Move, was a double finalist.^[12]