A 'new direction' for the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards (VNZMAs) was revealed on Wednesday night at an event in Auckland which includes a new Tui trophy designed by renowned artist Dick Frizzell.
Musician Stan Walker and The Project host Kanoa Lloyd have been announced as hosts of this year's event, which will take place at Spark Arena on November 15 and be broadcast on Three.
"I can't believe I have the honour of hosting the awards for 2018. I've watched every single year - whether from the couch or from seat right up the back that I somehow managed to scam at the very last minute," says Lloyd.
"Every single year something thrillingly live and rock n roll happens. I remember every goat on the red carpet, every acceptance speech where the guy wouldn't take his sunglasses off, every Grammy-award winning whirlwind dancing on the table. And I can't wait to be a part of it!"
Walker added that he's "so excited to be returning to host the awards again this year and really looking forward to hosting with my friend Kanoa".
From this year on, the VNZMAs will have a different New Zealand artist creating a new trophy for each awards ceremony, with Frizzell being the first.
A statement from Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand or RIANZ) says the "new, bespoke award was created as a piece of art in its own respect to reward the creativity of artists in the music industry".
The event the new trophy was unveiled at in Auckland also expressed Designworks Auckland's "new look and feel of the Awards brand", says Recorded Music NZ.
"The new look and feel aims to emphasise Recorded Music NZ's continued dedication to innovate the VNZMAs while celebrating Aotearoa's musicians and the wairua (spirit) of the awards themselves".
The 2018 VNZMAs will be broadcast live on Three from 8:30pm on November 15.
Tickets to the event go on sale September 6.
Newshub.
