Pacific Music Awards

Melodownz, Sam V, Olivia Foa'i among big winners at Pacific Music Awards

The awards have been held annually since 2005 highlighting the "essential role Pacific music plays in defining culture and identity".

This year's big winners included rapper Melodownz, R'n'B crooner Sam V and Tokelauan singer Olivia Foa'i.

Pacific radio station 531pi were specially acknowledged for 30 years of broadcasting.

The station exclusively plays Pacific music and airs language programmes that cater to first- and second-generation Pacific migrants.

Pacific Media Network Board Chair Saimoni Lealea said 531pi had come a long way.

Annual Pacific music awards return to a live audience

The annual awards are being held in Manukau, Auckland - the first time it's being hosted in front of a live audience in two years, with the 2020 and 2021 awards held online due to covid disruptions.

The finalists for the 2022 Pacific Music Awards are: Anthem, Bina Butta & Kennyon Brown, Diggy Dupé; choicevaughan & P. Smith, Emily Muli, Foundation, House of Misfits, Jaro Local, Kas Futialo, Kings, Lani Alo, Lisi, Mo Etc, Poetik, Sam V, Sammielz, Samson Squad, Shepherds Reign, SWIDT, Team Dynamite, TJ Taotua, Tomorrow People, Tree, Vallé and Victor J Sefo.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Hawaiian-based Fijian music legend

George Veikoso - known professionally as ‘Fiji’ - has been a part of the music scene for more than four decades and his contribution to Pacific music will be celebrated virtually.

“Fiji’ has won a number of awards over the years including the Hawai'i Academy of Record Arts' Award for Male Vocalist of the Year and the first Best Pacific International Artist Award at the 2014 Pacific Music Awards.

All winners will be acknowledged in an online awards ceremony on December 11th, which will be screened online.

 

Photo file  Caption: George "Fiji Veikoso

Pacific Music Awards moves online

The decision was made by Pacific Music Awards Trust.

Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua said they had the safety and wellbeing of communities in mind.

He said although it is a historic moment, people can still celebrate the Pacific music community, just from the comfort of their own bubble.

If Auckland's Alert Level 3 status is extended into November, the Pacific Music Awards Trust will consider a new plan for the event.

     

Fiji music icon's fans kept him going, says wife

Rae-Costello received a Life-time Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards.

Corrina Gibson-Costello spoke via video during the weekend's awards show which was presented online for the first time because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Rae-Costello recorded over 30 albums and played over 4,000 gigs over the course of his career.

Ms Gibson-Costello had a message for his fans.

Fiji music icon honoured in Pacific Music Awards as event goes online

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be posthumously presented to Costello during the ceremony in Auckland.

Costello died in Australia last year after a long battle with cancer.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Music Awards Trust says the live ceremony will not take place on Wednesday as planned due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Instead, the event will be shared as an online presentation on Saturday 3 October.

Pacific Music Awards: Aaradhna and Kings on top

Both artists won multiple awards last night, where the ceremony opened by SaintzUp Performing Arts Trust, who performed a tribute to nominees Opetaia Foa'i & Te Vaka through Disney's Moana.

Aaradhna took home four awards, including Best Pacific Music Album and Best Pacific Female Artist. Kings also picked up four gongs, including Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Urban Artist.

Opetaia Foa’i, who is well-known for his song ‘We Know The Way’ from Moana, received the Special Recognition Award for outstanding achievement.

Te Vaka, Vince Harder dominate Pacific Music Awards

Both the Best Pacific Song and Best Pacific Album awards were won by Te Vaka, a group who were founded back in 1995 and are now known as mainstays of the Pacific music and dance scene in New Zealand.

Unfortunately, songwriter and vocalist Opetaia Foa’I wasn't in the building to accept the award; he had to skip the ceremony this year as he’s currently working on the soundtrack to Moana, a Disney film due out in November which was written by Taika Waititi.