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.

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

Paula Yeoman

Paula Yeoman is the co-owner and co-director of NicNak Media alongside Nicole Thomas.

NicNak specialises in artist management and entertainment publicity, and recently launched a new media initiative, Lil Sister, for emerging acts. NicNak also runs a boutique record label for a small roster of Aotearoa artists.

Before establishing NicNak Media, Paula worked as a journalist, with more than 20+ years’ experience in NZ and the UK. She now fronts the management arm of NicNak and is across the day-to-day management of Theia (and Theia’s te reo Māori project TE KAAHU), Paige, Nganeko and TOI. She also works closely with many other NZ artists as a mentor with MMF.

Paula and Nicole are two-time recipients of MMF awards – in 2017, they won the award for ‘Emerging Manager of the Year’ and in 2021, they won ‘Manager of the Year’.

Paula is involved in the day-to-day management of the artists on the NicNak roster and is able to assist in all areas relating to management including pairing artists with writers, producers, engineers, photographers, videographers; helping with funding applications; budgeting; strategy and planning for new releases; touring; branding, developing assets (bios, press shots); social media and creating content.