The 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards (AMAs) wrapped up New Zealand Music Month with a celebration at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, marking 60 years of the awards and 50 years of the Official Music Charts.
Produced by Recorded Music NZ, the ceremony honoured a wide range of Kiwi artists across genres and generations. Fazerdaze emerged as a standout, taking home Album of the Year and Best Solo Artist for Soft Power. Lorde collected Single of the Year for her collaboration with Charli XCX, Girl, so confusing, and Earth Tongue claimed Best Group.
Stan Walker won both the Mana Reo and Best Māori Artist awards for Maori Ki Te Ao, bringing his career Tūī total to 11. L.A.B and 9Lives were each honoured with the Te Manu Mātārae award, recognising exceptional influence beyond traditional categories. Devilskin won the People’s Choice Award, while roots artist Hori Shaw was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Genre awards highlighted a diverse musical landscape: Tami Neilson won Best Country Artist for Neilson Sings Nelson, MOKOTRON won Best Electronic Artist, and Aaradhna claimed Best Soul/RnB for Sweet Surrender. David Dallas returned with a win for Best Hip Hop Artist, and Cassie Henderson took Best Pop Artist. Other winners included DARTZ (Best Rock), Jim Nothing (Best Alternative), Lucien Johnson (Best Jazz), and Jian Liu (Best Classical).
The event also recognised production excellence with Nic Manders named Best Producer, Simon Gooding Best Engineer, and Matt Sinclair winning Best Album Artwork. DARTZ’s Paradise won Best Music Video Content. The inaugural Aotearoa Charts Icon award went to SIX60, who also claimed Highest Selling Artist for a record seventh time, cementing their dominance in local music.
