It was created by the advertising agency of British multi-national company Reckitt & Colman, with support from the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC), the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industries and the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), with the awards named after Reckitt & Colman's anti-dandruff shampoo, Loxene.
[1][2] 10 finalist songs (later 12) were selected annually by a panel, with the winner decided by a public vote.
[2] The first Golden Discs ceremony was broadcast on radio, live from the White Heron Lodge in Wellington on 25 November 1965.
An earlier television programme featured the 10 finalists performing their songs live in studio.
[4] In 1968 the awards ceremony moved to Auckland, with the Golden Disc presented at the Intercontinental Hot on 7 November 1968.