Massey offers scholarship for future music industry players

Katherine Winitana with one of her Massey tutors, Warren Maxwell.

Massey University is seeking applications for the 2017 Bachelor of Commercial Music Scholarship, which will provide full tuition fees to a promising student studying for the Bachelor of Commercial Music degree launched this year at the School of Music and Creative Media Production.

The three-year undergraduate degree is run by a number of notable musicians and industry experts including Warren Maxwell (from the bands Trinity Roots, Little Bushman and an ex Fat Freddy’s Drop member) and Devin Abrams (Pacific Heights, founding member of Shapeshifter).

Associate Head of School and Music Programme Leader, Dr Oli Wilson (who is also a keyboardist with alternative indie act The Chills), says the degree responds to significant demand from the music and creative media industries nationally and internationally for graduates who combine high-level skills with critical and creative thought processes.  “We teach our students to be multi-skilled practitioners who can excel in fields such as production and sound design, software and hardware design and event management.”

Demand from the music and creative media industries in New Zealand and worldwide means that graduates of the new commercial music degree will enter a strong job market too, he says.

The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is seen to be contributing to the music scene. “The scholarship is not just for performers, and could be awarded to somebody who is doing great things in the industry or community like organizing music events, developing exciting new music hardware or software, or using digital platforms or technology to make and distribute music in new ways,” Dr Wilson says.

Katherine Winitana was the recipient of the inaugural 2016 scholarship and has nearly finished her first year as a Music Practice major. The talented composer and performer was not only chosen for bringing a fresh creative approach to music, but also for her commitment to bringing about positive social change through music in her community of Flaxmere in Hawke’s Bay. A former head girl of Hastings Girls’ High School, Ms Winitana, was involved in organising many events in her community and sang at the national Waiata Māori Music Awards held in Hastings last year.  Her love for her community was acknowledged when she was chosen to feature in the 2015 Flaxmere Heroes Calendar that showcases the achievements of local people.

“Massey is so cool. I love my course. It’s challenging at times, but suited to what I want to do and is making me think differently.  The tutors are working in the industry now. They are in touch with the reality, they don’t sugar coat anything but they really want you to succeed,” Ms Winitana says.

“I have a passion music, but I am working on my song-writing and putting my own sound to things. The question for me is whether I continue jumping between genres or whether I am better spending time on one – I want to figure out where I sit in the industry.”

The Bachelor of Commercial Music, at the University’s College of Creative Arts in Wellington, focuses on mentoring students to have long-term careers in the highly competitive music industry. Majors are offered in Music Practice, Music Technology and Music Industry. The programme is technology-driven with a focus on originality and innovation and will be supported by new cutting-edge recording, multi-media, rehearsal and teaching facilities, due for completion in 2017.

Further information and application details for the 2017 Bachelor of Commercial Music Scholarship, open to all New Zealand residents, can be found at http://creative.massey.ac.nz/study/bachelor-of-commercial-music/

Applications for the scholarship close Sunday December 4, 2016.

Countdown to Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa at Auckland Musuem

A landmark exhibition on New Zealand music, Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa opens at Auckland Museum in just three weeks on Friday October 28.

Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa is the first major exhibition on New Zealand music ever staged, spanning over seven decades of music made on our shores.

Volume brings the music of our nation to life through hundreds of songs, stories, costumes, instruments, handwritten lyrics and images generously loaned by some of our best loved musicians.

View musical objects belonging to iconic Kiwi artists such as Lorde, Dave Dobbyn, Shihad, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Split Enz, Sharon O'Neill, Hello Sailor and many more. 

Lorde's 2014 Grammy Award, Split Enz's memorable stage costumes and Chris Knox's legendary TEAC 4-Track recorder are just some of the exciting objects that will be on display.

A hands-on, ears-on experience, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the decades via interactive experiences where visitors can try their hand at making music themselves.

Produce a song by music legend Che Fu in a recording studio; mix beats to tracks by artists like Ladi6,       P-Money, and Scribe in a DJ booth; browse an authentic 1980s record store; learn to play Dragon’s iconic hit ‘Rain’ in a replica of a 1970s pub venue and dance along with go-go girls on the set of 1960s TV show C’mon.

A huge undertaking, Volume has been in development for over two years with exhibition partners the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame Trust (Recorded Music New Zealand and APRA AMCOS). 

Auckland Museum Director Roy Clare said, “Volume is a chance for New Zealanders to re-discover and celebrate discover the rich history of music from Aotearoa and inspire the next generation of music makers through engaging experiences.” 

“The Museum is thrilled to be able to use our unique resources to present the first comprehensive survey of New Zealand music alongside our partners,” he said.

CEO of Recorded Music New Zealand Damian Vaughan said, “We are incredibly excited about this wonderful initiative celebrating the history of Kiwi music and those who’ve made it. Volume has been a labour of love for many people and we can’t wait to see it unleashed in all its glory.”

And APRA AMCO’s Head of New Zealand Operations Anthony Healey said, “We all know and love New Zealand music. Now we get to be a part of the history - to hear, touch and see the stories behind the music and the people that made it.”

Spark is amplifying Volume with an innovative digital experience that will let visitors put themselves in the exhibition story and experience it in a personal way.

Spark’s ‘All Access Pass’ brings visitors closer to the exhibition stories and music they love by offering them the chance to become the story, through 14 interactive tagging stations, where they can put themselves on the cover of Rip it Up magazine; collect artist-curated playlists and much more.

Spark’s General Manager Customer & Marketing Clive Ormerod said, “We know New Zealanders love music, and it’s something we’re focused on supporting and bringing to them through the amazing technology of the Pass.” 

“Visitors end up with great content they can take home, revisit the experience and share it with others. This is another example of Spark using technology in unexpected ways to enable awesome experiences for New Zealanders,” he said.

In addition to the exhibition, a series of Volume compilation CDs are being released by Sony Music, featuring over a hundred classic Kiwi songs from the 1950s to today across five albums, which will be available to purchase in the Volume Pop Up shop and JB Hi-Fi and Warehouse stores nationwide.

Volume runs for seven months until 22 May 2017 and is free with Museum Entry. 

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC FOUNDATION LAUNCHES WORLD FIRST WELLBEING SERVICE FOR LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY

The New Zealand Music Foundation provides support to members of the local music industry in times of illness, distress and hardship, and develops and assists projects across all areas of society that use music to positively influence the lives of those in need.

The charity has today announced the launch of its latest initiative to support Kiwi music people: The New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service.  A world first, the service offers 24-hour online, on the phone and in-person counselling, specifically tailored to the music community, in order to provide support for those who are experiencing emotional, physical and mental health challenges.

The Wellbeing Service reflects the commitment of the New Zealand Music Foundation in providing proactive assistance to those who make our music happen. The service is available free of charge to anyone working in the New Zealand music industry unable to access help due to hardship or other circumstances, and is staffed by registered professionals with experience in providing support to creative people.

The Wellbeing Service was established in response to the results of the New Zealand Music Community Wellbeing Survey conducted by the charity in July. With over 1350 participants, initial survey results already paint a detailed picture, showing that many in our music community are experiencing health and wellbeing issues at incidence rates often far in excess of the general population:

Songwriters, composers and performers report having attempted suicide in their lifetime at a rate more than double that of the general population.[1]

Over a third of songwriters, composers and performers report having been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, almost double the incidence in the general population. [2]

Songwriters and composers are two and a half times as likely to have been diagnosed with depression as the general population.[3]

84% of all those who responded to the survey report experiencing stress in the last year that has impacted on their ability to function day to day.  

Encouragingly, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported they would be likely to contact a servicesuch as The New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service if they were experiencing difficulty.

General Manager, Peter Dickens, comments “We’ve worked hard to listen to the voices of those making their way in music in New Zealand. It’s a vibrant, vital and exciting industry and we’re very proud to be able to launch this service today . We hope it will further support kiwi music people to enjoy healthy, productive and fulfilling lives in their chosen careers.”

The New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service can be accessed now at www.nzmusicfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing, via email at wellbeing@nzmusicfoundation.org.nz, or by telephone on 0508 MUSICHELP.

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.