Amine Ramer

Founder, States of Sound

Board Member of GMS U.S (Guild of Music Supervisors)

As an award-winning music supervisor and consultant, Amine Ramer has influenced the sound and mood of feature films, documentaries, & television series. Ramer works between NZ and LA, Ramer’s success can be attributed to the careful selection of artists, ranging from the unknown to the popular. Her keen sensibility to create a visceral experience by connecting sight with sound along with an in-depth understanding of music rights and how to navigate the clearance process.

Credits include Shantaram (Apple TV+) “Crip Camp”(academy award nominated, Peabody award) “Woodstock 99” “Jay & Silent Bob Reboot” “Baby Done” “Red White & Brass” “Flint Town” “Weeds” “ The Signal” “The November Man, “Faking it”, “Richard Pryor –Omit the Logic”, “DB Cooper”- “For A Good Time Call”

Upcoming projects include Lonely Planet (Netflix) Music Box Series 2 for The Ringer/HBO, Five Nights at Freddy’s/Blumhouse.

Ramer has been a consultant for NZ on Air, & the NZ Music Commission and panelist for The Great Escape, M for Montreal, Iceland Airwaves, Break Out West, Musicians Institute, De Paul University, UK Trade and Investment Sync Mission, Music and Media Finland, Billboard Film & TV Conference, Bylarm, Olso, SXSW, Norwich Sound and Vision, among others.

Amine can mentor on: Music Supervision (including Music Licensing and Syncing)

Cary Caldwell

Cary is the co-founder and Executive Director for the 212 Music Group that has offices in the UK, US, and New Zealand. He was the Logistics Planning Manager for SXSW for 17 years where he was responsible for Law Enforcement Liaison, online threat awareness, event safety, and VIP security. Since returning to New Zealand he has hosted the successful Spaced Out Sessions in Christchurch and is working on several upcoming festivals in the South Island.

Cary can mentor on
Artist bio’s, General Business (setting up as a company etc), Events, Touring and International Festivals and Trade Fairs

Leanda Borrett

Leanda has worked in various content, broadcast and marketing roles over her 30 year career in the music industry.

Starting her career in music television, Leanda has programmed music and produced content for some of New Zealand's best loved music channels. There she discovered her drive to support and promote the growth of emerging and established artists. After 13 years of working in television, Leanda made the transition to marketing, working in publicity roles at EMI NZ, Roadshow Films NZ and Whakaata Māori. 

Starting in 2016, Leanda has provided freelance publicity, communications and marketing support under the banner of Eleventy12. Projects include release and tour campaigns for Ed Waaka, Georgia Lines, Lou’ana, Shapeshifter and The Upbeats. Leanda is currently the Marketing and Publicity Manager for AudioCulture and NZ On Screen.

Leanda can mentor you through project planning and strategy, publicity, traditional and digital marketing, social media content and advertising.

Katie Thompson

Katie Thompson is a self-managed New Zealand alt-country artist and founder of Quirky Music, with more than 15 years' experience navigating the music industry as both an artist and music marketer.

Throughout her career, Katie has opened for artists including Sir Elton John and Don McLean, travelled to Vienna to collaborate with artists from around the world through Global Rockstar, and was a finalist for Best Country Artist in 2020 and Best Country Song in both 2020 and 2024.

Through Quirky Music, Katie works with independent artists on artist development, release strategy, social media and digital marketing. She has worked on digital marketing campaigns for artists including Jenny Mitchell, Delaney Davidson, The Warratahs, Kylie Price and Greta O'Leary, helping artists develop practical campaigns that connect their music with the right audience.

Drawing on her experience from both sides of the industry, Katie is passionate about helping artists build sustainable careers and better understand how to release and market their music.

Katie can mentor on Artist Development, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Release Plans, Social Media Management and General Music Industry Advice.

Riccardo Ball

Riccardo has worked in the radio industry as a host, producer and Music Director for 30 years, including time at Radio Hauraki, The Rock and Crescendo Trust. He's across the commercial radio realities of what it takes to get airplay and is also a working musician in his own right.

As the Director of Wrecking Ball Media Riccardo specialises as a consultant on music, radio plugging, producing, arrangement and PR.

Nicky Harrop

Nicky’s career has spanned multiple facets of Aotearoa’s music community, and seen her work closely with a wide range of artists, labels, live events, industry bodies and culture change initiatives.

She is a Director and Owner of physical music distributor Collective Distribution, Co-founder and Trustee of SoundCheck Aotearoa, and currently holds the Independent Director position on the board of Recorded Music New Zealand.

Nicky’s background in music labels has seen her hold senior roles in marketing, label management, artist development and publicity.  She developed the music industry major for Massey University’s Bachelor Of Commercial Music, and has consulted as a researcher and developer for a number of local music-based screen projects.

Nicky can mentor on: Record Labels, Distribution, Release Strategy, Artist Development, Marketing  and Publicity.

Greg Haver

Greg Haver is an award-winning producer with a background in engineering, programming and drumming. He built his impressive reputation with artists including the Manic Street Preachers, Melanie C, INME, The Chills, Troy Kingi, Opshop, Devilskin, the Feelers, Kimbra, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals and Bullet For My Valentine. He is renowned for his diverse production skills and innovative arrangements. He’s the co-chair of the Music Producers Guild Aotearoa and has been involved with setting up several industry programmes including AMPS, SyncPosium, SongHubs and NZ On Air's New Music Development.

Greg can mentor on Music Production, Audio Engineering, Song Arranging, Recording Session Planning, Artist Development, General Music Industry Advice.

Paul McLaney

Paul McLaney is a long-standing contributor to the musical landscape as both a recording artist of over twenty album releases, a composer of theatre and dance scores, and an Intellectual Property expert. He has worked as General Manager for Mushroom Music Publishing NZ with responsibilities across all licensing and A&R; as an independent contractor in the licensing sphere; as a consultant to Native Tongue Music Publishing on writer relations; he sat on New Zealand Music Commission’s Board of Trustees for 9 years as well as Atamira Dance Collective’s Board. In 2022 he was commissioned by NZ On Air to write a paper on Sync Licensing in New Zealand. He is the Musical Supervisor for The World of Wearable Art, responsible for the commissioning of new work and facilitating music licensing requirements.