Taite Prize: Lorde taketh and then giveth back $10k

Lorde has given up the $10,000 that came with her winning this year's Taite Music Prize and asked the cash be split among the other nominees, saying people are sick of her winning ways.

The Taite, which is backed by Independent Music New Zealand and named after late music journalist Dylan Taite, awards the money to the maker of a local album that its judging panel decides is the best local release of the past year.

Lorde's international breakthrough debut Pure Heroine was announced the winner at a ceremony in Auckland last night.

But making her acceptance speech via video from Las Vegas where she is on tour, Lorde - Ella Yelich-O'Connor - said she wanted the prize split among the other nominees.

"I think everyone is kind of sick of me winning stuff at the moment and other people are more in need of the funds and exposure right now.

"So if you will accept it the prize money and the studio time have been split between this year's nominees ... if you don't want it that's cool too."

The other Taite finalists were Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Beastwars, Sheep Dog & Wolf, the Phoenix Foundation, David Dallas, @peace, and Jonathan Bree.

If all agree to a six-way split, each act will pocket $1666.66 each and have to share in the sponsors' prizes of studio time, a radio marketing campaign and a year's supply of energy drink.

Some of the finalists congratulated - and thanked - Lorde on Twitter after the announcement.

lorde just shouted my rent.

@lordemusic congrats on winning the Taite and thank you very much for splitting the prize with us. We'll put it to very good use. Cheers!

@lordemusic congrats to you and Joel for the Taite! And thanks so much for the mention/splitting the prize, that'll be such a huge help :)

Despite Pure Heroine commercially outstripping its competition by some distance, the judges still considered it artistically the best local album of the past year.

Said NZ Music Commission chairperson Vicky Blood, "It's so thrilling that Pure Heroine has not only been deemed our most finely crafted home-grown album but that it is a trailblazer for pop excellence worldwide."

Lorde's recent awards haul includes two Grammys, four New Zealand Music Awards, an APRA songwriting award and a Brit award.

Past winners of the Taite - named after late music journalist Dylan Taite - include SJD, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ladi6 and Lawrence Arabia.

- nzherald.co.nz