Nicholas Lindstrom is a lover of music hailing from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Te Awamutu and Mozambique. He currently works at the New Zealand Music Commission while also finishing off a degree in English Literature. On Tuesdays he hosts 95bFM's Drive show with his co-host Rosetta alongside other endeavours in Music Journalism.

With extensive experience as a personal tour manager and contracted promoter rep for Handsome Tours, Destroy All Lines and Hit Touring, Audrey brings a wealth of knowledge in live event logistics, promotions, and artist advocacy.

Jazmine Mary is an Independent Noir Folk Musician / producer and mentor for the NZMC. They have toured NZ, Australia, China, Europe and opened for international acts Billy Bragg and Kurt Vile.

Richard Barnacle is a co-founder and manager of Space Academy in Ōtautahi and sits on the committee for Independent Music Venues Aotearoa. Despite not finding (making?) time to perform on the stage himself he has juggled or shared all other aspects of the venue over the last decade including bookings, sound, bar, maintenance and everything in between.

Just a small-town girl finding her way in the music industry—supporting Māori artists through management and the behind-the-scenes mahi. Passionate about creating space for all our stories and making sure our voices are heard, both on and off the stage, wherever that may take you.

Charlotte Ryan has her finger on the pulse of New Zealand’s music, culture, and media landscape. An award-winning broadcaster with 25 years of experience, most recently the host of Music 101, RNZ’s flagship music programme. 

Chris Cudby is editor and writer for Aotearoa’s independent music news and ticketing site UnderTheRadar.co.nz, and co-host of Freak The Sheep on 95bFM. His musical projects include Power Nap (solo) and synth-punk pioneers Golden Axe, who have toured and released internationally. During the first half of the ‘10s, he promoted and co-organised live events and exhibitions at Tāmaki Makaurau’s experimental music hub Audio Foundation.

Heidi is the owner and director of Broken Record Publicity. She has over a decade’s experience in the music industry, and works with local artists such as Kaylee Bell, The Beths, Reb Fountain, Fazerdaze, Mermaidens and more. She also works with Mushroom Music roster including Jimmy Barnes, Kylie Minogue, Childish Gambino, Wolf Alice and alt-J. Heidi believes great music intersecting with a great story and PR is where the magic happens!

Leah Harris is the Artist & Label Partnerships Lead at Spotify in Australia and New Zealand. She oversees the team fostering relationships with the artist and industry community and their labels, helping creators expand their audience on Spotify locally and internationally. Her work empowers artists at all career stages with the tools and opportunities needed to connect with listeners worldwide."

Nela Fotu, born and raised in Auckland, is the Brand Representative for AS Colour in Aotearoa, where he manages relationships with B2B and wholesale partners, all while being a passionate music lover, sneaker enthusiast, and community basketball coach.

Stella-Rae has been inolved with the music industry since 2020. Growing in her role at SRN station Radio Active.fm in Te Whanganui-A-Tara as their Programming Director. You may recognise her from DJing and selecting tunes under the alias BABETECH playing local lineups, festivals and hosting radio shows.

If it was released in the last twenty years, there's a middling chance that someone within the media of Aotearoa may have allowed Sarah to: programme the music video; introduce the live-to-air; write inches about the album; playlist the single; and/or interview the bass player. Sorry about that. With a background that includes stints in music television, screenwriting, radio programming, music journalism and television puppetry, Sarah can currently be heard weekly on Tāmaki independent stalwart 95bFM and sprinkled throughout programming on Radio New Zealand. NB: You may know Lorde's cousin, but Sarah's mates with Big Bird.

Fazerdaze is the project of Ōtautahi-based musician, songwriter, and producer Amelia Murray. Celebrated for her signature blend of bedroom pop and grungy shoegaze, she released her transformative sophomore album Soft Power in 2024, and later this year will join Pixies and Spoon on tour in North America, alongside her own headline dates. 

Laughton Kora is a multifaceted creative — a musician, actor, producer, and director — with a dynamic career spanning music, film, and theatre. His work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and the arts in all their forms.

Rowan is a scenographer and artist raised in Fielding, Aotearoa with ancestral ties to Scotland and England. His career spans upwards of 14 years with a substantial background in spatial design, live video and sound design. These mediums continue to be at the forefront of his practice in creating performative design. Rowan creates environments for performance using a multi-disciplinary approach to spatial and performance design. Synthesising video, sound, light and object seamlessly to create \ physically affecting works.

HALFQUEEN is a DJ whose sets are just as unapologetic and empowering as her presence in every space. Uncompromised vision, connection and care underpin her work as a DJ, event producer and curator; her DIY QTBIPOC clubnight and platform FILTH is a manifestation of this ethos. Her focus is creating sets and environments where the exchange between the audience and DJ is potent and intimate, with a higher purpose of decolonising the d-floor, uplifting marginalized communities worldwide, and highlighting the importance of the Rave in the revolution.

Cushla Aston (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao) is the founder of Aston Rd, a boutique artist management company representing soulful singer-songwriter Louis Baker.  Cushla is the current Chair of the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa, a Senior Lecturer in the Bachelor of Commercial Music at Massey University, and a former mentor for Te Māngai Pāho's Māori music development programme. 

Cuillin Hearty is a UK-born, Tāmaki Makaurau-based music industry all-rounder. Working across artist management, bookings, and live events. Their career began in Queenstown and has since spanned the motu, working at festivals and events including Rhythm & Vines, Laneway, Electric Avenue, and more.

Gavin Downie has held the role of Event organiser for Auckland Councils Music in Parks for 7 years booking over 360 acts in those years. In his freelance work he has been production manager on the huge Waitangi Waititi event in west Auckland. Toured with everyone from Wiz Khalifa to the Cranberries across the globe and checked off hundreds and hundreds of locals tours, festivals and shows. He  also fits in time to run a business as a media composer selling tracks worldwide since 2020.

John Minty has been booking music for Splore Festival since 2005. The event is known for its musical diversity and the showcasing of relatively unknown acts to a large, open-minded  festival audience.

Rachel Ashby is the Capabilities Programmes Coordinator at the New Zealand Music Commission. Formerly presenter of the 95bFM Breakfast Show, she now hosts the music podcast In The Pits from Sports Team productions. 

Mark Williams aka M.C.Slave of Fat Freddy’s Drop has worked in and around the music industry for over 30 years. He is a broadcaster , DJ, musician, & director living Auckland NZ.

Priya Sami is a silly, sensitive musician from Onehunga who’s been singing forever and writing songs since she was 13, starting out in choirs, jazz bands, Rockquest, and covers bands. 

After a long musical journey, she’s now pouring it all into her new project, BUB, whose debut album Can’t Even is out now.

Aotearoa Music Award winning and Taite Prize winning artist Vera Ellen was born and raised in Naenae in Te Whanganui-A-Tara/Wellington. She spent her younger years playing and writing music, her first song written at age 8. Whilst living in Aotearoa, she played in bands such as grunge 4-piece Maple Syrup and Sweater. Vera relocated to Los Angeles, where she started the band Girl Friday, whose music debuted on indie giant Sub Pop’s sub-label, Hardly Art.