Seminal Dunedin band The Clean has been named the recipient of the inaugural New Zealand Music Industry Centre (NZMiC) Recording Award.
The award recognises New Zealand recording artists who have contributed significantly to New Zealand's cultural identity.
The band's prize is seven days of recording time using the modern SSL digital console in the main studio at the NZMiC Albany St Studio complex.
University of Otago music department head Prof Henry Johnson said the annual award would combine the creative talents of contemporary musicians with world-leading technology and equipment.
''The outcomes will help consolidate Dunedin as a centre for recording music and promote the New Zealand music industry,'' he said.
The Clean started recording on Saturday.
The band was established in Dunedin in 1978 by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour and Peter Gutteridge. They added bassist Robert Scott and became an influential indie rock band, recording the second Flying Nun release, Tally Ho!, which reached number 19 on the New Zealand singles charts.
Last year, The Clean toured Europe and supported cult United States band Pavement at Brixton Academy.
NZMiC was established last year as a collaboration between the University of Otago Music Department and Dunedin music promoter Dunedinmusic.com Applications for the 2012 NZMiC recording award will be invited in May.
