MUSICHELPS LIVE - Uniting in support of the unsung stars of the New Zealand music scene

MusicHelpsLive aims to support New Zealand’s music industry, which has been left devastated by COVID-19.

In the past month we’ve seen live music cancelled en masse throughout the country. New Zealand musicians and those who work behind the scenes are facing an uncertain future.

For eight years MusicHelps has been the music industry’s charity and among our core activities has been providing emergency financial support and professional counselling to kiwi music people when crisis strikes. Now we have started MusicHelpsLive to specifically support people and organisations facing hardship due to COVID-19.

MusicHelpsLive aims to raise $2 million dollars to see kiwi music people through the coming winter. All funds raised will be distributed to those music workers whose livelihoods have been shattered as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

MusicHelps board chair and MusicHelpsLive spokesperson Campbell Smith says: “New Zealand’s musicians and the teams behind them are always there for us in times of trouble and tragedy, like the Band Together concert after the Christchurch earthquakes and You Are Us/Aroha Nui concerts following the Christchurch terror attacks. Now they are the ones that need our help.

“COVID-19 is having a devastating effect on the live music industry and the livelihoods of thousands of kiwi music people and businesses. Shows are cancelled, venues are threatened; production suppliers, roadies and crew are without work. With almost no notice, these hard-working, ordinary New Zealanders and their dependents are facing levels of distress and hardship never seen before.”

We’re calling on New Zealanders to visit www.musichelpslive.co.nz to make a donation or find other ways to support the live music industry.

MusicHelpsLive supporters

 The following organisations have already pledged to support MusicHelpsLive:

Aston Road

Auckland Live

Auckland Stadiums

Audio Foundation

Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)

Bay Dreams Festival

Big Pop Studios

College Hill

Commotion

CRS Management/CRS Presents

Delete Management

Dominion Law

DRM

Dryden Street

Eccles Entertainment

Entertainment Accounting Services

Flying Nun Foundation

Frontier Touring New Zealand

Independent Music New Zealand

Kiwi Krew

Kobalt Music Publishing

Laneway Festival

Live Nation

Loop

Lorraine Barry Management

Love Police

Mediaworks

Mushroom Music

MusicHelps

Native Tongue

Neptune Ent

New Zealand Music Awards

New Zealand Music Commission

New Zealand Music Managers Forum

New Zealand Musician

New Zealand Promoters Association

Nik Nak Media

NZ on Air

NZME

Oceania

OneMusic

Page 1 Management

Pead PR

Plus1

Radio New Zealand

Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ)

Red Bull

Rhythm and Alps Festival

Rhythm and Vines Festival

Richmond Music

Rockshop New Zealand

Sony Music

Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Soundsplash Festival

Spark

Spark Arena

Spotify

Sum Square & Co

The Label

The Production Company

Ticketmaster

Universal Music

Universal Music Publishing

Venue Merchandising Services

Warner Chappell

Warner Music

Donate here:

COVID-19 Update & Information From the Music Organisations

This update includes changes to the Wage Subsidy Scheme criteria for music sector people.

The situation has changed rapidly this week, with unprecedented steps taken by Government that will affect every member of our music community and all New Zealanders. The movement of alert stages, and the national lock down, will have an impact on the music sector unlike anything we have ever seen. Musicians, songwriters and all the people who work around them – the crew and production people, venue and record store owners and their staff, publicists, managers, promoters and label owners, distributors, people who work in radio, music video production, and so many more – everyone will be affected by COVID-19.By the end of last weekend, at least twenty full-time music venues had closed either temporarily or indefinitely. Event and tour cancellations saw another twenty venues unable to open their doors. Now, of course, everything is closed for the safety of the nation.As part of trying to gauge the extent of this impact, the collection of information over at I Lost My Gig Aotearoa continues. By Monday this week, the figure had grown to a collective loss of over $7.7million from 467 individual submissions – and we are aware that there are still large parts of the sector whose information is yet to be included. If you haven’t registered your lost work (gig or job), please do.

There are two important issues to cover in this update. Firstly, as we noted last week, financial relief for people impacted by COVID-19 was made available by the Government through the Wage Subsidy Scheme. There were a few parts of the initial criteria that made it difficult for some musicians, alongside self-employed and contractor music people, to apply. The Ministry of Social Development have agreed to immediate changes to the Wage Subsidy Scheme criteria to provide urgent relief for more music people. Those changes are:

1. Creative sector workers who can demonstrate either a 30%+ decline due to COVID-19 in their average monthly revenue across the last 12 months, or can provide proof of cancellations of work due to COVID-19 amounting to a 30%+ decline in revenue, will be eligible to access the Wage Subsidy.

2. Self-employed creative sector workers whose primary source of income is from their creative endeavours, and who otherwise qualify for the Wage Subsidy, will be eligible as 'working 20 hours or more per week'.3. Self-employed applicants should type in 'Sole Trader' in the 'NBN number' field of the application form.4. MSD have confirmed that the criteria for licences, permits, qualifications and such will not be required (i.e. The criteria currently states that Sole Traders must have government licences and permits for their business needs, and qualifications or registrations for their trade or profession).

We are really pleased that the Ministry of Social Development responded so quickly, and we thank them for resolving these issues. We are also hearing that increasing numbers of music sole traders and small businesses are now receiving the wage subsidy with no issues, which is positive news. The scheme appears to be operating on a very high level of trust – so all applicants must ensure that they are able to prove their financial criteria for receiving the subsidy in due course. You can find more information about the support available here.

Secondly, a big announcement this week was that Creative New Zealand have established an Emergency Response Package, which includes a first phase $16million investment to buffer and support the arts community, both now and beyond the immediate crisis. Further details on the application process will be available on their website soon, but they have already revealed there will be Short-term Relief for CNZ Investment Clients, alongside Resilience Grants - comprising both an Arts Continuity Grant and an Emergency Relief Grant (of up to $10k per individual), for eligible artists and arts practitioners, collectives and groups who may be experiencing devastating loss of income and opportunity. Ngā mihi nui to everyone at Creative New Zealand who has worked so hard, and so fast, to get this package together for the arts in Aotearoa.

We would also encourage everyone that is facing an uncertain future to please have a look at the Government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Package, to see what hardship support might be available for you. This is a rolling Government response, and we hope to see more announcements in the near future.Our national music organisations – APRA AMCOS, Independent Music NZ, the NZ Music Managers Forum, MusicHelps, the NZ Music Commission, NZ On Air Music and Recorded Music NZ – are continuing to work together to share information and to plan for the coming weeks, and the ongoing challenges through the coming months. Over the lockdown period, we will be providing these updates weekly or as we have new details to share.Lastly, we just wanted to remind you that MusicHelps is there if you are feeling anxious, stressed, or are simply struggling with the mental load of these current events - 0508 MUSICHELPS.Stay home, stay safe – and we hope you get to listen to some great music from artists right across Aotearoa over the coming weeks.

Update on the effects of Covid-19 on the music industry, and our plan of action.

As we head into the weekend, the music industry bodies and organisations wanted to update our music community and whanau.

The events of this week, the new restrictions around gatherings, travel, and everyday life, are having a profound impact on everyone involved in our music industry – not only musicians and songwriters, but crew who work across sound, production, backline, and all manner of technical aspects, as well as venues, publicists, managers, and the many individuals who support music in this country with specialist skills.

We’re aware that 55% of all music sector employment stems from live music, and that live music is a vital revenue stream. We’re also acutely aware that while musicians and crew are often the first to jump in to help when we face a national crisis, many of you are forced to work without much of a financial buffer or safety net of your own.

The scale of the Covid-19 impact is hard to summarise. In the first 48 hours since we created the ‘I Lost My Gig NZ’ survey, there were around 300 submissions with a total of approximately $3.2 million noted in lost revenue. We expect this number to grow substantially in the next week, and will provide a further update on this next Monday.

If you have lost work, big or small, please complete the survey if you can. We know it can be a bit of a negative vibe filling out a form about your disappearing income, but we’re hoping to get a greater understanding of the shape and scope of the loss, and to use this data for publicity and asking the government for economic support for our industry at this very vulnerable time.

We also want to reassure you that we are collectively working on steps forward – solutions, answers, ideas, advocacy, and government proposals.

We will make an update on these developments by Wednesday next week.

In the meantime, please take a look at the government relief package, and their wage and leave subsidy schemes.

https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/emergencies/2020/coronavirus.html

They have made provision for contractors and those who are self-employed (which is a large number of people in the music industry) – the application form is here:

https://services.workandincome.govt.nz/ess/trader_applications/new

There is also a leave subsidy if you have to self-isolate and need 14-days of sick leave:

https://workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/covid-19-support.html?utm_source=business.govt.nz&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=special_cv_edition#null

And for those of you who are employers who may need a staff subsidy, there is info for you here:

https://services.workandincome.govt.nz/ess/employer_applications/new

Please also contact MusicHelps if you are feeling anxious, stressed, or are simply struggling with the mental load of this week’s events. They are there for you. 0508 MUSICHELPS.

We’ll be in touch again soon.

Keep listening, keep sharing, and keep supporting each other.

The 11th TAITE MUSIC PRIZE 2020 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) confirms the astounding lineup of finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2020. IMNZ general manager, Dylan Pellett, shares his excitement for the 11th year of the Taite Music Prize, “It’s another sterling year of music represented here - what a talented collection of artists! It shows the extraordinary musical and artistic expression to be found in New Zealand, through the recognition of these great albums - I wish all the finalists every success."

Named after the late Dylan Taite, one of New Zealand’s most respected music journalists, the award recognises outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one recording. The prize-winner will receive a cash prize of NZ$12,500 to be spent as they wish, thanks to Taite Music Prize founding partner Recorded Music NZ; recording time at Red Bull Studios Auckland; and a year’s supply of Red Bull product. This year’s ten finalists, from a list of 54 nominations submitted by record labels both independent and major from across the country, are:

Aldous Harding - Designer (Flying Nun Records/4AD)
Beastwars - IV (Destroy Records)
JessB - New Views (JessB/The Orchard)
L.A.B. - L.A.B. III (Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa)
Lawrence Arabia - Lawrence Arabia’s Singles Club (Honorary Bedouin Records)
Louis Baker - Open (Louis Baker Music/Ditto Music)
Mermaidens - Look Me In The Eye (Flying Nun Records)
Miss June - Bad Luck Party (Miss June/Frenchkiss Records/The Orchard)
Tiny Ruins - Olympic Girls (Ursa Minor)
Troy Kingi - Holy Colony Burning Acres (Triple A Records)

The three finalists for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut are:

Tom Ludvigson & Trevor Reekie - Roto (Jazzscore)
Repulsive Woman - Relief (Independent) 
Mousey - Lemon Law (Independent)
 

Winners will be announced at the 11th Taite Music Prize award ceremony April 20th at Auckland's Q Theatre. 

Previous Taite Music Prize finalists returning with their latest albums include; Lawrence Arabia (three-time finalist and winner of the first-ever Taite Music Prize in 2010 for Chant Darling), Aldous Harding (two-time finalist and winner of the Taite Music Prize 2018 for Party), Beastwars (twice nominated for their self titled debut in 2012 and Blood Becomes Fire in 2014), Tiny Ruins (Taite finalist in 2012 for Some Were Meant For Sea and in 2015 for Brightly Painted Ones). 

Alongside the main prize, three additional awards will be presented at the ceremony: the Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award, the newly created Independent Spirit Award, awarded to a New Zealand person who assists our NZ musicians to grow and find their own unique pathways, and the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, celebrating the freshest talent of Aotearoa. The winner receives a $2,000 cash prize with thanks to Auckland Live.

Girls Rock! Pōneke: spend your school holidays rocking out!

Want to spend your July school holidays rocking out? Girls Rock! Pōneke is open for applications. 

After a stellar first year, Girls Rock! Pōneke is excited to return in 2020! Applications for the programme are now open for participants, mentors and volunteers. 

Girls Rock! Pōneke is a week-long holiday programme where young women, trans and gender-non-conforming people can build confidence and make great music. Girls Rock! Pōneke will take place from the 6 - 11th July 2020 at Massey University’s fantastic new Wellington music campus. 

Over the course of one week, up to 40 participants aged 12-17 will form bands, learn an instrument of their choice and write an original song - mentored along the way by female, trans and gender-non-conforming professional musicians. At the end of the week they then perform to family and friends at a showcase at music venue, Meow. 

Alongside collaborative learning, participants will take part in workshops and hear from musicians such as previous Girls Rock! performers Tiny Ruins, JessB, Mermaidens and Hybrid Rose.

The first Girls Rock! Camp was founded in Portland in 2001 as a summer day camp. Since then it has grown into an international community of youth-focused arts and social justice organisations. The kaupapa of Girls Rock! Aotearoa is to empower young women, transgender and gender non-conforming youth by giving them practical skills and role models in a safe, supportive space.

Girls Rock! Pōneke is run by a dedicated and enthusiastic group, who care deeply about imbuing young people with the confidence to get involved in music. Between them, the team offers a wide range of music industry experience, from being in rock bands, to teaching music and artist management.

Participant applications

Applications for Girls Rock! Pōneke are now open - get in quick as the programme is limited to 40 places. If you have a young person interested in participating, apply here. If you apply before March 8, you will go in the draw to win a $50 Rock Shop voucher & gift pack!
Limited scholarship placements are available.

Mentors & Instrument instructor applications

Want to pass on your love of music to the next generation? Apply today to be involved with Girls Rock! as a band mentor or instrument instructor. We’re on the lookout for people from all musical backgrounds to take part in paid roles providing guidance to our budding musicians. 
____________________________________________________

6 - 11 July, 8.45am - 4pm, Massey University Music Campus, Wellington.

For further information, email us: girlsrockcampwellington@gmail.com

www.girlsrockcamp.co.nz

Thank you to our supporters

Girls Rock! Pōneke is supported by Wellington Community Trust, The Tindall foundation, New Zealand Music Commission, Recorded Music New Zealand, Wellington City Council, Creative Communities, Massey University, Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and Spark.

The NZ Music Managers Forum Mentoring Programme to be extended into Australia

The NZ Music Managers Forum are proud to announce a mentoring collaboration with AAM (Association of Artist Managers) in Australia.  NZ MMF self managed artists or managers who have an artist targeting the Australian market, can now apply to be mentored by an experienced AAM Music Manager.

This is an extension of one of the NZ MMF’s most popular members benefit – the Mentoring programme, where members book to receive confidential one on one mentoring from a range of industry professionals.

NZ Music Manager Chair, Teresa Patterson, says; “This is the natural next step for our hugely successful Mentoring programme which has been running for over 10 years.  The ability to receive expert advice from successful AAM Music Managers in Australia will be of extreme benefit to our members who are planning to focus on Australia as a key territory.”

Catherine Haridy, Executive Director of the AAM agrees; “We are extremely proud to be partnering with our friends at the NZ MMF on this important mentoring opportunity, and to nurture collaboration between our Australian and New Zealand Music Managers while giving first hand advice and guidance to help navigate the Australian market.”

The Australian mentoring sessions are for NZ MMF members who/ their artists:

• Have a single/EP/album release in Australia, with an Australian label, that includes a promo and marketing plan

• Are planning to tour Australia (either headline or support)

• Have signed a deal with an Australian booking agent, label, publisher, promoter

 Australian and New Zealand Mentoring are for NZ MMF members only.

For more information on AAM www.aam.org.au

MMF (NZ) is dedicated to growing and supporting artist managers and self-managed artists. We do this by mentoring, networking, education and advocacy.

he Association of Artist Managers (AAM) unites the Australian music industry’s managers providing a peak body that develops, protects and promotes the reputations and interests of music managers and their artists.

WONDERGARDEN 2018 - LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT DECEMBER 31st, SILO PARK

Auckland city's favourite New Year's Eve destination Wondergarden is returning for 2018 with it’s first lineup announcement this morning.

WONDERGARDEN

New Year’s Eve in Auckland City

Silo Park, Dec 31st 2018

Nightmares on Wax (DJ Set)

DāM-FunK

Kllo

Cut Off Your Hands

JessB

Fortunes.

Tina Turntables

+ 3 more acts to be announced

Following on from the success of 2016/17’s NYE celebrations, Wondergarden returns for a third year bigger & bolder than ever before, and now a loved fixture on the Auckland New Year’s Eve calendar. And if the first lineup is anything to go by, it looks like they’re turning the groove up to 11.

Featuring an eclectic lineup of local and international favourites, 2018’s event will be headlined by Leeds native Nightmares on Wax. As one of the most influential artists of a generation, Nightmares on Wax has paved the way for artists such as Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Mount Kimbie. The N.O.W DJ set will feature a perfect blend of longtime favorites and future classics, intended to create the feeling of hanging out in your best friend’s basement listening to your favourite music.

N.O.W. will be joined on the lineup by epitome of funk, Damon “DāM-FunK” Riddick. Growing up in the Los Angeles city/suburb of Pasadena and a ‘70s baby, he came of age in the era of the Uncle Jamm’s Army parties; of electro-pharaoh Egyptian Lover; of Prince’s purple reign. DāM-FunK’s groove laden set will ensure the Wondergarden dancefloor see’s out 2018 with one final gut-busting boogie.

Also on the bill - fusing elements of R&B, UK garage and 2-step with modern sensibilities and wide-eyed sincerity - are Melbourne’s Kllo; local purveyors of funk, dance & post-punk infused indie Cut Off Your Hands (for their only worldwide show in 2018 in the leadup to a record release in 2019); charismatic rapper JessB who is quickly stamping her mark as the newest queen of hip hop in New Zealand; and dreamy Melbourne via Hamilton electronic / hip hop duo Fortunes.

The event will also feature an early afternoon DJ set from local warrior princess-level selector Tina Turntables, famous for her mixed gumbo of old school R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk, Disco, Garage & Rock’n’Roll.

With three more exciting acts to be announced in the coming weeks, Wondergarden is fixing to be the only place Aucklanders will want to be when the clock strikes midnight as 2019 arrives.

The New Year’s Eve event heads into its third consecutive year after a highly successful response to its debut and sophomore efforts. Wondergarden was conceived as a musical celebration to provide Aucklanders something a little bit special and a little bit different from what is currently on offer in the city over the holiday period.

This year see's the welcome return of an event that organisers are growing into one of the city’s essential summer dates. Located at Silo Park on the cusp of Auckland Harbour, Wondergarden’s main stage sits between the harbour bridge and the city’s best view of the Sky Tower's midnight fireworks display.

‘We’re very excited to be coming back for round three, for our biggest party yet,’ says festival director Reuben Bonner, 'This year we’re lucky enough to have a world-class lineup of local and international acts all known for ensuring that the day/night is all about the dancefloor. Auckland city is going to have an incredible soundtrack playing when 2019 comes knocking.’

As well as a full afternoon and evening of main stage musical entertainment, Wondergarden features New Zealand's favourite street food, on offer all day and night courtesy of the Food Space food trucks.

Early bird tickets go on sale at 9am, Tuesday August 14th from the festival website

Register at wondergarden.co.nz to be the first in for limited early bird tickets, as well as festival updates, ticket giveaways and further lineup announcements.

THE THIRTEEN HAND PICKED ARTISTS TO PERFORM AT GOING GLOBAL PRESENTS ARE ANNOUNCED

GOING GLOBAL PRESENTS 2018
Saturday 1st September
- Whammy, Wine Cellar, Whammy Backroom - 
Auckland K'Road
 Tickets on sale now from Undertheradar.co.nz
 

Independent Music New Zealand is very excited to announce 13 hand-picked artists performing at GOING GLOBAL PRESENTS, Saturday 1st September. 

INTRODUCING...
 

alayna, Albi & The Wolves, Arthur Ahbez, 
Holly Arrowsmith, Jaggers X Lines, 
Jed Parsons, Nakita, nomad, ONONO, SHAYNA,
Soaked Oats, The Beths, Unchained XL

This year's showcase features the very best from around New Zealand including; Spotify R&B/soul star alayna, Auckland Americana-folk trio Albi & The Wolves, Psych Rock and Soul artist Arthur Ahbez, female-fronted electro-pop performer Nakita, lush indie pop trio nomad and indie-pop-punk darlingsThe Beths. Also making a welcome appearance will be; the Nigerian-Kiwi hip hop artist Unchained XL, the five-piece psych supergroup ONONO and South Island solo folk artist Holly Arrowsmith. And featuring the scratched up sideways pop from the Dunedin duo Jaggers X Lines, the guitar driven pop group Soaked Oats, indie-pop merchant Jed Parsons and Christchurch's electro pop artist SHAYNA. 

Listen to the 2018 Artists playlist here


Doors are at 6:30pm. First artist on at 7:00pm. Each artist will perform a 20-minute set! 
Tickets are limited, open to the public, and only $20 from Undertheradar.co.nz
If you are lucky, there will be $20 door sales

Don't miss out - the 2017 music summit event sold out! 

 Free entry with your GOING GLOBAL WEEKEND PASS
(Tickets for the GOING GLOBAL SUMMIT & Weekend Pass available from Eventbrite.co.nz)

Going Global Presents 2018 is a showcase of new music featuring national NZ artists, occurring alongside industry seminars. The Summit takes place in central Auckland.