Aotearoa Music Award for Best Solo Artist

John Rowles was one of the two first recipients in 1978.
Bic Runga has won the award four times.
Shihad frontman Jon Toogood has won the award three times.
Lorde won in 2014 for her debut album Pure Heroine.
Marlon Williams won in 2015.

Best Solo Artist is an Aotearoa Music Award that honours solo artists for outstanding work. The award can either apply to solo performers or a singer who performs with a band.

The award was originally divided by gender, with separate prizes going to male and female artists. The awards were first presented in 1978 at the relaunched New Zealand Music Awards. The awards were then called Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist. In 1985 they became Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist, then in 2004 they were renamed Best Male Solo Artist and Best Female Solo Artist. In 2017, following a revamp of the awards, the two awards were amalgamated into the one award called Best Solo Artist.[1]

Dave Dobbyn has won the award six times and been nominated a further six times. Bic Runga has won the award four times and been nominated once more. Jon Toogood of Shihad has won the award three times and been nominated a further six times. The award has also been won by three members of the same family: brothers, Neil Finn and Tim Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House and Neil's son Liam Finn.[2]

Winners

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Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist (1978 to 1984)

[edit]
Year Winner Other finalists Ref.
1978 John Rowles [3]
Sharon O'Neill
1979 Rob Guest [4]
Sharon O'Neill
1980 Jon Stevens [5]
Sharon O'Neill
1981 Dave McArtney (Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos) [6]
Suzanne Prentice
  • Jenny Morris
  • Tina Cross
1982 Dave Dobbyn (DD Smash) [7]
Patsy Riggir
1983 Dave Dobbyn (DD Smash) [8]
Suzanne Prentice
1984 Jordan Luck (Dance Exponents) [9]
Patsy Riggir

Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist (1985 to 2003)

[edit]
Year Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
1985 Andrew Fagan (The Mockers) [10]
Margaret Urlich
1986 Pat Urlich (Peking Man) [11]
Margaret Urlich
1987 Dave Dobbyn [12]
Shona Laing
1988 Dave Dobbyn [13]
Shona Laing
1989 Tim Finn [14]
Margaret Urlich
1990 Barry Saunders (The Warratahs) [15]
Margaret Urlich
1991 No awards held
1992 Jordan Luck (The Exponents) [16]
Fiona McDonald (Headless Chickens)
1993 Greg Johnson (Greg Johnson Set) [17]
Annie Crummer
1994 Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits) [18]
Fiona McDonald (Headless Chickens)
1995 Dave Dobbyn [19]
Fiona McDonald (Strawpeople)
1996 Jon Toogood (Shihad) [20]
Teremoana Rapley
1997 Che Fu [21]
Bic Runga
1998 Jon Toogood (Shihad) [22]
Bic Runga
1999 Neil Finn [23]
Betty-Anne Monga (Ardijah)
  • Sulata Foai (Te Vaka)
  • Alesha Siosiua (Urban Pacifika)
2000 Jon Toogood (Shihad) [24]
Boh Runga (Stellar)
2001 Nathan King (Zed) [25]
Julia Deans (Fur Patrol)
  • Renee Brennan (Tadpole)
  • Libby Huirua (The Parachute Band)
2002 Che Fu Navigator [26]
Anika Moa Thinking Room
2003 Che Fu "Misty Frequencies" [27]
Bic Runga Beautiful Collision

Best Male Solo Artist and Best Female Solo Artist (2004 to 2016)

[edit]
Year Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
2004 Scribe The Crusader [28]
Brooke Fraser What to Do with Daylight
2005 P-Money Magic City [29]
Yulia Into the West
2006 Dave Dobbyn Available Light [30]
Bic Runga Birds
2007 Tim Finn Imaginary Kingdom [31]
Hollie Smith Long Player
2008 Liam Finn I'll Be Lightning [32]
Anika Moa In Swings the Tide
2009 Savage Savage Island [33]
Ladyhawke Ladyhawke
2010 Dane Rumble The Experiment [34]
Anika Moa Love in Motion
2011 Tiki Taane In the World of Light [35]
Ladi6 The Liberation Of...
2012 Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) Unknown Mortal Orchestra
  • Bulletproof – Dub Me Crazy
  • Seth Haapu – Seth Haapu
[36]
Kimbra Vows
2013 Lawrence Arabia The Sparrow [37]
Aaradhna Treble & Reverb
2014 David Dallas Falling Into Place [38][39]
Lorde Pure Heroine
2015 Marlon Williams Marlon Williams [40][41]
Gin Wigmore Blood to Bone
2016 Maala Composure [42][43]
Aaradhna Brown Girl

Best Solo Artist (2017 to present)

[edit]
Year Winner Album Other finalists Ref.
2017 Lorde Melodrama [44]
2018 Marlon Williams Make Way for Love [45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nominations for 2017 Vodafone NZ Music Awards Open Today". Scoop. Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Category Definitions 2012". NZ Music Awards. RMNZ. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  3. ^ "1978 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ^ "1979 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "1980 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ^ "1981 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. ^ "1982 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "1983 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "1984 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. ^ "1985 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  11. ^ "1986 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  12. ^ "1987 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  13. ^ "1988 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  14. ^ "1989 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  15. ^ "1990 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  16. ^ "1992 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  17. ^ "1993 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  18. ^ "1994 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  19. ^ "1995 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  20. ^ "1996 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  21. ^ "1997 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  22. ^ "1998 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  23. ^ "1999 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  24. ^ "2000 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  25. ^ "2001 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  26. ^ "2002 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  27. ^ "2003 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  28. ^ "2004 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  29. ^ "2005 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  30. ^ "2006 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  31. ^ "2007 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  32. ^ "2008 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  33. ^ "2009 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  34. ^ "2010 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 November 2016.[dead link]
  35. ^ "2011 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 November 2016.[dead link]
  36. ^ "2012 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 November 2016.[dead link]
  37. ^ "BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST 2013". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ "BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST 2014". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  39. ^ "BEST FEMALE SOLO ARTIST 2014". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  40. ^ "BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST 2015". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  41. ^ "BEST FEMALE SOLO ARTIST 2015". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  42. ^ "BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST 2016". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  43. ^ "BEST MALE SOLO ARTIST 2016". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  44. ^ "New Zealand Music Awards 2017: all the winners". Radio NZ. Radio NZ. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2018 Winners Announced". UnderTheRadar.co.nz. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
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