Craig Pearce

I am currently an Artist Manager for a diverse roster of New Zealand artists, including The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation, Reb Fountain, and Moniker. Over the years, I’ve also helped develop artists like Lord Echo, Lawrence Arabia, Connan Mockasin, and Sola Rosa.

Additional to my role as Artist Manager, I also currently participate as:

• Label & Royalties Manager for artist’s companies

  Live Booking Agent for various artists

• Tour Manager for domestic and international tours

• Act CEO, CFO, and COO for the artists’ companies

  Stage Manager at Homegrown

  Executive Committee Member at MMF

These varied roles have given me deep insights into both the creative and business sides of the industry. I’m passionate about supporting the long-term success of the artists I manage and ensuring their well-being in a constantly evolving music landscape

My career spans nearly 20 years, during which I’ve worked across multiple facets of the music industry. I’ve facilitated over 50 artist releases, acting as their label and coordinating global teams to manage royalties. I’ve also worked on live music, supporting artists at major festivals like Glastonbury, Splendour In The Grass, and Roskilde, and have toured across Europe, the US, Canada, the Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand.

Additionally, I’ve:

• Served as a Board Member of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ)

• Provided high-level mentorship to emerging and established artists

• Lectured at Massey University, contributing to the Degree in Music (Industry Major) programme

I’ve witnessed the industry evolve with digital streaming, touring challenges, and cultural shifts. I continue to adapt to ensure my artists succeed long-term.

Craig is a self confessed spreadsheet geek, he loves nothing more than budgeting, accounting and “finding” royalties.

Craig can mentor on (his words) 'anything they want to ask. I don't really hold anything back and if I don't know something I let them know'. 

However, his strong points are: 

• Touring NZ/World - Logistical issues like Visas/Freight/Travel Tips/Production

•  Finance - All aspects, including Royalties/Budgets/Accounting/IRD/Global Taxation/Importing/Exporting/Publishing

• Promo/Marketing - Digital/Traditional

• Festivals - How to secure festivals and be ready for offers/how to negotiate fees

• Band Dynamics - The ins and outs of dealing with multiple personalities!

• Recording/Production - The ins and outs of funding, recording, producing and releasing music

Fenella Stratton

Fenella Stratton is an artist manager and events professional based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She founded Twice The Hype in 2013, building it into a respected artist management and booking agency representing some of the country’s most in-demand acts, including Lee Mvtthews, Hollie Smith, and Sin & Brook.

Fenella has worked in the New Zealand music industry since 2003 and is an executive member of MMF Aotearoa, contributing to the growth and support of local music managers and emerging talent.

Fenella has extensive touring experience throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as internationally — having toured with artists from the Twice The Hype roster across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia.

She also plays a key role behind the scenes at major festivals — serving as Operations Manager for Northern Bass and working as part of the operations team at Splore Festival — where she brings deep expertise in logistics, artist relations, and event production.

Fenella can mentor on Artist Management, Release Strategy, Bookings / Tours / Negotiation, and Event Management.

Pennie Black

Pennie Black is the Director of Concord Music Publishing in Aotearoa and works with a diverse roster of local songwriters, including Sir Dave Dobbyn, Don McGlashan, Marlon Williams, Gin Wigmore, Tom Scott, Haz Beats, Liz Stokes (The Beths), Reb Fountain, Vera Ellen, Jess B, and many more. Her role primarily encompasses A&R, Writer Relations and Sync Licensing.

Concord is the world’s leading independent music company. The Company supports more than 125,000 artists and songwriters whose works are licensed, marketed, and performed globally. Concord's growing catalogue of over 1.5 million songs, compositions, sound recordings, films, plays, and musicals is one of the most impactful and culturally relevant collections of creative rights in history.

Concord is headquartered in Nashville with additional offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin, Melbourne, and Miami.

Before joining Concord ANZ, Pennie was Operations and Programme Director at 95bFM, New Zealand’s largest independent student radio station, where she remains a weekly show host. Her career spans radio programming, management, publicity, and event coordination. She is also the Secretary for Independent Music New Zealand (INMZ) and a board advisor for 95bFM.

Pennie can offer mentoring in Music Publishing, A&R, Sync Licensing, Student Radio and general music industry advice.

Audrey Siataga

Audrey is a full time Artist Manager based in Auckland, New Zealand, with a current roster including Christoph El Truento, Mokomokai, Noe, and Ladi6 (co-manager).

With eight years of experience as a Tour Manager and Promoter Representative, she has developed a practical understanding of the live music industry and a steady approach to supporting artists through the many stages of their careers.

Audrey is also the Director of Midnight Swan, a small boutique record label that operates as a Project Manager and Label Partner on independent album releases.

Her work is grounded in a strong appreciation for culture and community, with a focus on building sustainable pathways for artists, supporting creative development, and helping bring projects to life with care and attention to detail.

Audrey can mentor on Management, Tour Management, Live Shows and Physical Music & Merchandise

Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau

NINAKAYE TAANE-TINORAU (Ngāti Maniapoto) is an older sister to popular award-winning artist and producer Tiki Taane, and has managed her brother and his company Tikidub Productions since 2007.

A current Board member of the MMF Aotearoa, Ninakaye is also an executive member of the Maori Music Industry Coalition and a Trustee of Soundcheck Aotearoa.

Ninakaye has appeared on panels for NZ Music Month Summit, Going Global, First Nations Women in Music (Victoria), Waiata Maori Music Awards, Big Sound Conference (Brisbane) and Sakihiwe Conference (Canada). She has featured as a keynote speaker for Big Sound Conference Brisbane, MC’d the Arena Stage for Homegrown Festival, and mentored artists locally via 3MDI, MMF, You’re The Future of Music (Auckland) as well as further afield via Blak Sounds (Melbourne) and Sakihiwe Mentor Programme (Canada).

With an extensive background across the Public Health, Event Management, Film / TV and Fitness industries, Ninakaye likes to draw upon all her life experiences for her work with Tiki, but also in her mentorship approach. In 2023, she reached 22 years of sobriety in her journey as a recovered drug & alcohol addict and stripper, and began working one day a week as a Harmful Sexual Behaviour Therapist for Auckland based Korowai Tumanako. A resilient mother and grandmother, Ninakaye is a Trustee for the Tiki Taane Trust and an Ambassador for the global “My Sisters Are Warriors” movement.

Ninakaye can mentor on Artist Management, Business Management, Merchandising, Bookings / Tours / Negotiation, and Event Management

Cushla Aston

Cushla Aston (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao, Pākehā) is an artist manager and the Chair of Music Managers Forum Aotearoa. After a decade living in the UK, she returned home to Aotearoa and immersed herself in the local independent music scene, working with platinum-selling artists such as Fat Freddy’s Drop, Julia Deans, Kora, and Trinity Roots.

She is the founder of Aston Rd, managing acclaimed artist Louis Baker, and has over 14 years’ experience working alongside some of Aotearoa’s most respected musicians, project managing multiple album releases and building sustainable artist careers.

Her experience in artist management and industry leadership extends to her role as a Senior Tutor in Artist Development at the College of Creative Arts – Massey University, where she mentors the next generation of music professionals. Cushla’s passion for connecting community and fostering growth has also led her to create a range of professional development workshops and learning initiatives that empower independent artists with practical knowledge and confidence.

Under her leadership, Aston Rd’s artists have achieved significant success, including nominations and wins at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, Taite Music Awards, and Aotearoa Music Awards. Their work has toured internationally across the UK, Europe, Polynesia, South Africa, Asia, and Australia, with several debut albums charting within the top ten in New Zealand.

Cushla’s contributions have been recognised with the ‘Upcoming Manager of the Year’ award in 2012, and finalist nods for ‘Manager of the Year’ in 2015 and 2021. She has mentored over 450 artists and holds diplomas in Neurolinguistic Programming, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and is an accredited life coach.

Joost Langeveld

Joost is co-director of Bigpop - a resourceful ‘umbrella’ company assisting creatives realise their artistic dreams and aspirations, and providing viable pathways to enable artists to share their art with the world. Bigpop’s activities include A&R, music publishing, label services, music production and operating music/sound recording studio facilities.

Artists affiliated with the Bigpop extended whānau include CHAII, Isla Noon, TîMMY the First, Neil Macleod, Jujulipps, Abraham Kunin, Carawei Gao and Kings amongst others.

Joost’s history is varied and encompasses most facets of the music industry. Whether as a musician, composer, producer, A&R, collaborator and/or music industry entrepreneur he has been (and still is) a partner to a wide range of local and global facing projects.

Matthew Harvey

Matt Harvey first became known as a disruptor alongside Evan Short as Concord Dawn, making noise, pushing boundaries, winning awards, and getting up to mischief while releasing on the worlds leading drum and bass labels, with tracks featured in sets of DJs around the globe.

As well as DJing and releasing their own music, they championed artists including Shapeshifter, Bulletproof, State of Mind, Camo and Krooked and Pendulum on their imprints and shone a light on new producers.

After hundreds upon hundreds of shows during 20 years of touring North America, Australasia, Asia, Russia and Europe, including a 10-year stint living in Vienna, Matt moved back to Southeast Auckland in 2016 with his young family for a cup of tea and a lie-down. He quickly transitioned from being a self-managed artist to managing local legends Shapeshifter and then Kora, and now with a roster that includes Jon Toogood and upcoming young talents Nick Dow and Flaxxies.

His company Southeast focuses on the unique artists that can create magic live on stage, being unafraid to challenge the status quo, and honesty and truth both in music and in business.

Matt can mentor on: LIVE, SUSTAINABLE CAREERS, INNOVATION, MANAGEMENT, STRATEGY, HOW TO SMELL A RAT