Pacific Music Awards finalists announced

Nesian Mystik lead the nominations with four. Photo / Supplied

Nesian Mystik lead the nominations for this year's Pacific Music Awards, with Ladi6 and Pacific Underground close behind.

The finalists were revealed tonight at a function in Auckland hosted by Auckland Mayor Len Brown and the Pacific Awards Music Trust.

Nesian Mystik, who last year announced they were calling it quits after one final tour later this year, received nominations for Best Pacific Group, Best Pacific Urban Artist, Best Pacific Music Album and Best Pacific Song for Sun Goes Down.

Ladi6, whose critically acclaimed album The Liberation Of... is also a finalist for next week's Taite Music Prize, has nominations for Best Pacific Female Artist, Best Pacific Music Album and Best Pacific Urban Artist.

Pacific Underground also received three nominations, for Best Pacific Music Group, Best Pacific Language and Best Pacific Music Album.

Ladi6 is up against Erakah and Bella Kalolo in the Best Pacific Female Artist category, while J. Williams, Vince Harder and Young Sid are up for Best Pacific Male Artist.

Sixteen artists are nominated across all categories, and all are eligible for the People's Choice Awards, which the public can vote for at pacificmusicawards.org.nz.

The awards will be presented at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau City on May 28th, when the Radio Airplay, Most Promising Pacific Artist and Lifetime Achievement awards will also be announced.

* Tickets are between $15 and $20 plus booking fee from ticketdirect.co.nz or on 0800 224 224.

Full list of finalists:

Best Pacific Female artist:

Bella Kalolo - What Love Can Do
Erakah - In or Out
Ladi 6 - The Liberation of...

Best Pacific Male Artist:

J Williams - You Got Me
Vince Harder - Say This With Me
Young Sid - What Doesn't Kill Me

Best Pacific Urban Artist:

Ladi 6 - The Liberation of....
Nesian Mystik - 99 AD
Vince Harder - Say This With Me

Best Pacific Group:

The Hypnotics - The Hypnotics EP
Nesian Mystik - 99 AD
Pacific Underground - Island Summer

Best Pacific Song:

Adeaze - Got My Girl For Life (F Tupa'i/L Tupa'i)
Nesian Mystik - Sun Goes Down (D Atai/V Rikiau/H Manukau/D McNulty/Te A Reeder, F Strickson-Pua)
Tha Feelstyle - Sometimes When It Rains (K Futialo/J Ferguson/F Tupa'i/L Tupa'i/N Ngatae)

Best Pacific Language Award:

Koile - Te Hua
Pacific Underground - Island Summer
Taura Mani - I Runga Taua

Best Pacific Gospel Album:

Harbourside - Various Artists - A Very Kiwi Christmas
JMA Productions - Various Artists - Relection of the Soul
Lologo Tapu Tokiofa Mutalau - Niue Taofi Lologo 4

Best Pacific Music Album:*

Ladi 6 - The Liberation of...
Nesian Mystik - 99 AD
Pacific Underground - Island Summer

* The winner of the Best Pacific Music Album will be presented with a Tui (New Zealand Music Award) and will be recognised at the main New Zealand Music Awards ceremony at Vector Arena at the end of the year.