The finalists for the 2007 Pacific Music Awards have been announced, and Spacifix leads the field with three nominations - for Best Pacific Music Album, Best Pacific Music Group and Best Pacific Song. Ill Semantics, John Chong-Nee, PNC, Aaradhna and Vaniah Toloa are all close behind with two spots each.

Image: West Auckland band Spacifix.The finalists for the 2007 Pacific Music Awards have been announced, and Spacifix leads the field with three nominations - for Best Pacific Music Album, Best Pacific Music Group and Best Pacific Song. Ill Semantics, John Chong-Nee, PNC, Aaradhna and Vaniah Toloa are all close behind with two spots each.

Image: West Auckland band Spacifix.The winner of the Best Pacific Album receives the Tui (New Zealand Music Award) at the Pacific Music Awards on May 31 and is acknowledged at the New Zealand Music Awards 2007 in October.

RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith says the music industry is proud to present the Best Music Album at the Pacific Music Awards. "It's a great event that's getting stronger every year," he says.

Pacific Music Awards Committee spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson Pua said: "The Pacific Music Awards get stronger and stronger. This year it was an achievement to be a finalist. If you look through the nominations it also reads as a list of previous NZ Music award recipients and who's who of our music industry.

"Pacific music artists and record companies take their Pacific Music Awards seriously which bodes well for the New Zealand music scene. Pacific Music Awards sends out a strong positive message of improved market stability and up-turn of revenues in these challenging times."

Finalists

Niu FM Best Pacific Music Album
Much Love - Spacifix
Tukua - Vaniah Toloa
In Your Name We Pray - Amene

Radio 531pi Best Pacific Group
Ill Semantics
Nesian Mystik
Spacifix

APRA Best Pacific Song
"Gotta Get Like This" - Spacifix
"I Love You Too" - Aaradhna
"Tukua" - Vaniah Toloa

Niu FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
John Chong-Nee
PNC
Ill Semantics

NZ Music Industry Commission Best Pacific Male Artist
JXN
John Chong-Nee
PNC

Best Pacific Female Artist
Sara-Jane Auva'a
Aaradhna
Sarah Halatutavaha

When: 31 May 2007
Where: TelstraClear Pacific venue, Manukau City
Tickets: from TicketDirect phone 0800 224 224

3/5/07