NZ ON AIR RESPONDS TO CHANGING AUDIENCES

NZ On Air is moving to a single funding strategy for all content investments, in order to remain flexible and relevant in a fast-changing, converging media environment.

The funding agency intends to create a single fund, the NZ Media Fund, to replace its multiple funds and strategies that have begun to overlap.

Founded on core public media principles the strategy focuses on delivering quality and diversity, and ensuring content investments can be discovered and appreciated by target audiences.The NZ Media Fund has four streams; Factual, Scripted, Music, and Platforms.

The new Fund is open to a broader range of platforms but, in the face of high demand, the bar has been raised. Funding will be determined by, among other things, cultural or social value, innovation, potential audience size and appeal,  and co-investment from the commissioning platform so production costs are shared.

“At our core we are still about backing the best ideas, and providing content free to New Zealanders. But how we deliver this must be flexible enoughto recognise a volatile media environment, and changing audience behaviour,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.

In addition to the changes at a strategic level, the agency will restructure to create more efficient and streamlined staff processes, and will upgrade to a fully online applications system.

“Our own audience research confirms there arefast and significant audience shifts taking place. NZ On Air will remain a passionate advocate for our own stories and songs in a tough environment where local content must foot it with the world’s best. These changes will encourage new ideas and new opportunities,” said Ms Wrightson.

“With intense competition for audiences from international media it is more important than ever that NZ On Air is able to maintain a space for local content. It’s vital to our cultural identity.”

The funding agency is seekingfeedback on the new strategy.

The draft Funding Strategy document and Q and A's are here.

Feedback can be provided until 18 November.

The final strategy will bereleased by early 2017 to take effect from July 2017.

SJD ANNOUNCED AS MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE 2016 APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARDS

One of the most iconic and notable figures in New Zealand music, Sean James Donnelly (Sandy Mill), has been announced as the Music Director of the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.
 
Considered one of the most prestigious accolades in Kiwi music, the awards not only pay tribute to the country’s finest songwriters, they’re presented at a ceremony which has become renowned for its unique and special live performances. This involves bands and musicians being selected to perform one-off renditions of the finalists’ songs.
 
With seven albums, critical acclaim and countless awards to his name, Sean James Donnelly, AKA SJD, has a lengthy and esteemed track record in the New Zealand music industry. A previous finalist and performer at the APRA Silver Scrolls, the Auckland-based singer-songwriter is honoured to take on the task of Music Director at this year’s event.
 
“I’ve always enjoyed the Scrolls, first and foremost, as a celebration of songwriters. As the Music Director, I get to curate a show using a lot of my favourite musicians and singers, to try and put something together that is fun but also musically coherant.”
 
The Music Director oversees all performances and works with the selected artists to put a unique spin on their covers of the top five finalists. As well as covering the five finalists’ songs on the night, there will also be performances of the winning Maioha, SOUNZ, and Hall Of Fame tribute.
 
Donnelly isn’t giving too much away about what the night holds but explains his vision: “It’s a tasty combination of some well-known names and some really exciting artists you might not have heard of. Most everybody will be interestingly out of their comfort zones.”
 
Previous music directors have included Jon Toogood, Don McGlashan, Lukasz Buda, Godfrey de Grut & Cherie Mathieson and Karl Steven.
 
This year’s awards will be held at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday, September 29. RNZ Checkpoint host, John Campbell, will MC the event and for the first time in its 51-year history, it will be broadcast free-to-air by RNZ on Freeview Channel 50. The ceremony will also be streamed live on http://www.radionz.co.nz/music
 
The awards are proudly supported by Panhead Custom Ales.

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR MAIOHA, SOUNZ, FILM AND SERIES

Some of the finest talent New Zealand has to offer has been shortlisted for four prestigious awards to be presented at the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Awards. 
 
The APRA Maioha Award, the SOUNZ Contemporary Award, the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award and APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award will all be presented at an awards ceremony at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday, September 29.
 

APRA MAIOHA AWARD

The APRA Maioha Award recognises exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori. Rob Ruhais a finalist for the award with his song ‘Kariri’, a powerful and stirring waiata that retells historical accounts of the battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) and Te Ranga.
 
IHI has also been short-listed for ‘Mana Whenua’ co-written by Thomas Rawiri andMokoia Huata. The song echoes the proverb ‘Toi Tu te Whenua, whatungarongaro te Tangata’ or ‘For without land there would be no people’. It serves as a poignant reminder of the need to protect our natural environment.
 
Kirsten Te Rito is the third finalist with her waiata ‘Tamaiti Ngaro’, co-written with James Illingworth and Joseph Te Rito. ‘Tamaiti Ngaro’ is an atmospheric, slow-building anthem tinged with touches of electronica.
 

SOUNZ CONTEMPORARY AWARD

The SOUNZ Contemporary Award celebrates excellence in contemporary composition. The finalists for the award this year includes Kenneth Young, whose illustrious career in New Zealand music spans four decades, for his composition ‘Piano Trio’. Prodigious Wellington composer and violinist Salina Fisher is also nominated for ‘Rainphase’ and Chris Cree Brown, an Associate Professor at the School of Music at the University of Canterbury, makes the short-list for ‘Viola Concerto’.
 

APRA BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A FEATURE FILM AWARD

A host of well-known names in Kiwi music are up for the APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award.
 
Three members of the Wellington-based indie-pop band The Phoenix Foundation (Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda and Conrad Wedde) are nominated for their work on Taika Waititi’s box office smash, Hunt For The Wilderpeople. 
 
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper and Tama Waipara also make the shortlist for Mahana (The Patriarch), directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Temuera Morrison.
 
Tom McLeod rounds off the finalists with The Art of Recovery, which tracks the devastation of Christchurch in the 2011 earthquake to the city’s regeneration.
 

APRA BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A SERIES AWARD

The APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award will also be presented on the night. In the running for the prestigious award are Karl Stevens for 800 Words, Age Pryor for Jiwi’s Machines and Tami & Jay Neilson for The Brokenwood Mysteries.
 
“In 2016 music is being consumed more than ever before and in a wider and increasing number of ways. We are proud to celebrate music in all its forms - in te reo Maori, in our concert halls and on our televisions and cinema screens. Each has its own world and each is exemplified in our finalists’ excellent work,” says Anthony Healey, Head of NZ Operations for APRA AMCOS.

DRM NZ ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH BELIEVE DIGITAL

Global fully independent digital distributor, Believe Digital, has signed a strategic partnership with New Zealand’s leading music distribution company and video MCN (Multi-Channel Network), Digital Rights Management New Zealand (DRM).

Through the partnership, DRM and their clients will benefit from Believe’s distribution technology, analytics and extensive global network of 36 offices and 350 international digital music industry experts to develop the reach and visibility of New Zealand artists and labels internationally.

DRM has long established itself as a distributor and MCN that provides a range of digital management services, enabling content holders to easily and quickly maximise audience reach, financial return and security rights for their content via all major digital platforms. Although Believe will distribute their catalogue to all stores, DRM will continue to work directly with the key representatives at the local offices of Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Google Play. These relationships have set them apart in the local digital aggregation market, securing premiere placement for their artists alongside the world’s biggest names.

DRM client, Nicole Duckworth, manager of multi platinum and award winning New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop, responded to the news: “DRM & Believe have both been long-term partners in Fat Freddy’s Drop’s international digital aggregation. It’s especially exciting for New Zealand acts to be able to work with an artist-focused company such as DRM with the weight, science and reach of Believe behind them.”

Under the partnership, DRM will be the physical distributor in New Zealand for Believe’s very own label and label services projects.

Sylvain Delange, Head of Sales Asia Pacific at Believe Digital commented: “We’re very thrilled to be partnering up with such a well-established and respected company in New Zealand. DRM has been rooted in the independent music scene in New Zealand for more than a decade and we’re thrilled to benefit from their expertise. We are convinced that this partnership will significantly contribute to raise the awareness on New Zealand music internationally.”

General Manager for DRM, Peter Baker, added: “This new partnership will enable us to offer our New Zealand artists amazing new opportunities on a global scale. We’ve long admired Believe’s commitment to the cutting edge of the music industry and teaming with them means we can give our artists a world class, up-to-the minute service with unprecedented international reach.”

2016 APRA Silver Scroll Awards team up with Radio New Zealand for the first-ever live television broadcast

The 2016 Silver Scroll Awards will this year be televised live, thanks to a partnership between APRA AMCOS and RNZ.

It is the first time in the 51-year history of the awards that the event will be broadcast free-to-air by RNZ on Freeview Channel 50. There will also be a live video stream of the ceremony on RNZ’s newly updated website http://www.radionz.co.nz/music

With RNZ Checkpoint host John Campbell as MC, the rare live broadcast from Auckland’s Vector Arena on Thursday, September 29 will allow members of the public a window into one of the most exciting nights in the New Zealand music calendar.

The APRA Silver Scroll Award celebrates the best in New Zealand songwriting.

This year the top five finalists are Tami Neilson with ‘The First Man’, co-written with her brother Jay Neilson; The Phoenix Foundation (Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, William Ricketts, Thomas Callwood, Christopher O'Connor) with ‘Give Up Your Dreams’; Lydia Cole with ‘Dream’; Thomas Oliver with ‘If I Move To Mars’ and Street Chant (Emily Littler, Billie Rogers, Alex Brown, Christopher Farnham) with ‘Pedestrian Support League’.

“We are really excited to share the APRA Silver Scroll Awards with a wider audience. RNZ share our love of music and our respect for those that make it. They are a perfect partner for this wonderful event” says Anthony Healey, Head of NZ Operations for APRA AMCOS.

On the night, a host of Kiwi artists will cover each of the songs in unique performances – a part of the show that’s become a highlight of the annual awards.

The other awards presented on the night (with finalists to be announced this Thursday September 8) are:

• APRA Maioha Award, celebrating exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori
• SOUNZ Contemporary Award, celebrating excellence in contemporary composition
• APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award
• APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award

As a part of the celebrations, APRA will also be inducting a songwriter/s into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. 
 
All awards will be presented at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday 29th September. The awards are proudly supported by Panhead Custom Ales.

TOP FIVE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARD

Five top New Zealand artists and acts have made the shortlist for the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Award, recognising excellence in songwriting.

The finalists and their songs represent an eclectic mix of genres and range from iconic names in Kiwi music, to up-and-comers making their mark in the industry.

After winning the prized award in 2014, the internationally renowned Tami Neilson is back in this year’s list of finalists with ‘The First Man’ co-written with her brother Jay Neilson. It’s a heartbreaking song that reflects on the death of her father, written at a time of deep pain and grief, and yet also written out of deep love and celebration that narrates the time between a child’s life beginning to a parent’s life ending.

Stalwarts of indie pop ‘n’ rock The Phoenix Foundation (Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, William Ricketts, Thomas Callwood, Christopher O'Connor) also make this year’s cut. It brings their total number of nominations over the years to six times in the Top 20 and an impressive four times in the Top 5. The band’s entry this year, ‘Give Up Your Dreams’, is an uplifting nod to the fine line between chucking it all in and soldiering on with a great big smile on your face.

Auckland singer-songwriter Lydia Cole is also up for the award with her song ‘Dream’. It’s a bittersweet two-part tale all about falling in love when you least expect it. It is the second song to have earned Lydia a spot in the Top 5.

Thomas Oliver is a first-time nominee with his love song ‘If I Move To Mars’, which explores the Wellington singer-songwriter’s fascination with the idea of living on the red planet with your lover – lying in the dirt, drinking Cognac and listening to records.

Also newcomers to the Top 5 are Street Chant (Emily Littler, Billie Rogers, Alex Brown, Christopher Farnham) with their song ‘Pedestrian Support League’. The indie-rockers’ song is loosely about life in their hometown of Auckland and that feeling you get when you return from life on the road, to a crummy flat in Grey Lynn.

“Great songs tell great stories and each of these songs give us beautiful, heartfelt tales of dreams, love and loss. It’s a diverse and eclectic group of songwriters, each at the very top of their craft and each very much deserving of our celebration,” says Anthony Healey, Head of NZ Operations for APRA AMCOS.

The APRA Silver Scroll Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary last year marking a significant milestone and a track record in recognising New Zealand’s brightest songwriting talent. It’s considered one of the most coveted awards in New Zealand music and has previously been awarded to Ray Columbus, Hammond Gamble, Shona Laing, Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Don McGlashan, Neil Finn, Chris Knox, Brooke Fraser, James Milne & Lukasz Buda, Alisa Xayalith & Thom Powers (The Naked And Famous) and Ella Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde) & Joel Little.

The other awards presented on the night are:

●     APRA Maioha Award, celebrating exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori

●     SOUNZ Contemporary Award, celebrating excellence in contemporary composition

●     APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award

●     APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award

As a part of the celebrations APRA will also be inducting a songwriter/s into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

All awards will be presented at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday 29th September. Radio New Zealand will broadcast and live video stream the APRA Silver Scroll Awards ceremony on RNZ National, Freeview Ch 50 and online at www.rnz.co.nz/music. The awards are proudly supported by Panhead Custom Ales.

APRA Silver Scroll Awards – top 5 finalists 2016:

* Lydia Cole – ‘Dream’ – Lydia Cole

* The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Give Up Your Dreams’ - Samuel Scott, Lukasz Buda, Conrad Wedde, William Ricketts, Thomas Callwood, Christopher O’Connor. Published by Native Tongue Music Publishing.

* Thomas Oliver – ‘If I Move To Mars’ – Thomas Oliver. Published by Mushroom Music Pty Ltd.

* Street Chant – ‘Pedestrian Support League’ - Emily Littler, Billie Rogers, Alex Brown, Christopher Farnham. Published by Arch Hill Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing.

* Tami Neilson – ‘The First Man’ – Tami Neilson, Jay Neilson.

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Soundsplash Festival Announces First Lineup

A three-day, three-stage, multi-genre event, Soundsplash is once again bringing the sound of summer, with a stonking first line-up announcement for the January festival.

Coming home from their LA base especially for the New Zealand summer SIX60 will make their Soundsplash debut, bringing their legendary live show to the Raglan shores. Joining them will be Little Bushman, who are making a much-welcome return to the festival with their unique blues-based psychedelic brew. State of Mind are set to deliver some next level face melting drum n bass, while kiwi favourites Three Houses Down will dispense a 10-piece dose of reggae goodness.

It’s not just the homegrown talent making the trip to the mighty Waikato.  UK DJ Ed Solo adds a killer concoction of dubstep and electro-fuelled breaks, while Hawaii’s Mike Love, Amsterdam’s My Baby, the UK’s YT and Sydney favourites Ocean Alley will be flying over to grace the stages with their blues and reggae sounds.

Pacific Heights, MAALA, Drax Project and Diaz Grimm will be joined by firm favourites Yoko-Zuna & Third3ye, Dubsonic and Jamin-I – all promising to provide super-sized servings of Aotearoa’s finest.

The epitome of freedom, with stunning coastal views, on-site camping, beach access and a great all-ages environment, Soundsplash is the must-do summer festival of 2017.  With earlybird tickets already sold out, advance tickets are now on sale from eventfinda.co.nz

Stay tuned for further line-up announcements, and head to soundsplash.co.nz to learn more.

Soundsplash Festival
January 20, 21, 22
Wainui Reserve, Raglan

Tickets on sale now from eventfinda.co.nz

Maori Music Month Launched

Every year in May we celebrate New Zealand Music Month. Now, Māori music will be celebrated in the month of August, which will be known as Te Marama Pūoro Waiata Māori - Māori Music Month.

In celebration of the inaugural event, a group of high-profile Māori artists will work as ambassadors, including Maisey Rika, Rob Ruha (Cilla Ruha), Tama Waipara and Taisha Tari.

They will conduct workshops in schools in both New Zealand and Australia, mentoring up and coming performers and those passionate about music. Workshops will focus on taonga pūoro, song writing, song composition and vocal training.

Executive Director of the National Waiata Māori Music Awards, Ellison Huata, daughter of the late Tama Huata, who created the awards event, came up with the idea.

Ellison says Māori Music Month would aim to connect young performers with established artists through events planned for each week in August, starting in Wellington, Auckland, Waikato and finally the Gold Coast, Australia.

Rob Ruha was elated when asked to be a part of the kaupapa.

"Sharing knowledge, experiences and life lessons with those who are considering a career in Māori music is another passion of mine. All these things align to what I think Māori Music Month will encourage and support," he says.

Maisey Rika will offer her time and experience to work with young musicians.

She says, "I just want to be there for anyone, to help out as much as I can. I sing and write songs so I would offer my help in those fields and if there are any patai to do with the industry sides as well I would endeavour to answer truthfully."

Tama Waipara said he was excited to see the introduction of Māori Music Month.

"There are many wonderful and hard-working musicians out there who should be celebrated, and also many young, talented people coming through.

Tama Huata created the Waiata Māori Music Awards and gave many people, including myself, an opportunity to showcase our music. I think any iniative that celebrates Māori musicians and continues that proud legacy is exciting," says Waipara.