The Critics' Choice Prize was a New Zealand Music Awards prize awarded to New Zealand musical artists who were expected to be successful in the music industry in the future. To be eligible for the award, an artist must have neither released a studio album nor have been nominated for a New Zealand Music Award in the past.
The prize was judged by a panel of 13 music-industry critics. The winner was decided at a live event held at the Kings Arms tavern in Auckland. Each of the three shortlisted artists performs, then the judges deliberated and the prize was presented. The prize included a $10,000 NZ On Air grant and mentoring from industry professionals. The prize was first awarded in 2010 to Street Chant and last awarded in 2016 to Scuba Diva. In 2017, Recorded Music New Zealand confirmed that the Critic's Choice Prize would not be awarded that year and the award would be reevaluated.
Recipients Year Date Artist Other nominees Ref.2010 15 SeptemberStreet Chant Home Brew The Naked and Famous2011 6 OctoberKimbra Popstrangers The Unfaithful Ways 2012 17 October Watercolours Beach Pigs Loui The Zu 2013 6 November Sheep, Dog & Wolf Janine and the Mixtape Paquin 2014 29 October Randa Estere Lake South 2015 5 November Bespin Boycrush New Gum Sarn 2016 2 November Scuba Diva Kane Strang Spycc & INF 2017 colspan="3"
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