Changes to RMNZ Music Grants Programme in 2024

Recorded Music offers Music Grants for projects related to recorded music, to support development in the music community. The programme makes a small number of contestable grants available to specific, non-commercial projects that are educational, archival or charitable in nature.

We are making some changes to the Music Grants programme to better align with the kinds of applications we are seeing and the pool of funds available. The changes are:

• There will be only two rounds of grant funding available in 2024, with application deadlines of 31 March and 30 September

• Grants will only be available for projects with a budget of $5k. We will not be offering grants for less or more than this sum

Application deadline (2024)
31 March
30 September

Decision notified by (2024)
30 April
31 October

There will be one more grant funding round in 2023. The application deadline is 30 September (decision to be notified by 31 October 2023). There will be no grant round in December 2023.

Please be reminded that to be considered for a Music Grant your project must be:

• Specific and non-commercial

• Educational, archival/conservation or charitable in nature

• Led by a resident of Aotearoa

View the full eligibility criteria and grant parameters, and download an application form here

Please note there have been some changes to the programme Terms & Conditions, so be sure to check the updated version of these, as annexed in the application form.

Music Grants applications are reviewed and successful grant recipients decided by a funding panel of artist members, who also sit as Recorded Music’s Artists Committee. In 2022 we supported 17 projects, including Girls Rock! Aotearoa, the Official NZ Music Month Summit, and the Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust Amped Music Project. View the full list here

Please direct any queries related to the Music Grants programme to rochelle@recordedmusic.co.nz

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) & NZ Music Commission Present: GOING GLOBAL™ MUSIC SUMMIT 2023

Bringing the Global Music Industry to Aotearoa / New Zealand to Educate, Discover & Connect with the incredible musical talent of Aotearoa - First Speakers Announced!

Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) and the NZ Music Commission are excited to present the 2023 version of the prestigious annual extravaganza, the GOING GLOBAL™ MUSIC SUMMIT.

Prepare yourselves for two days of unparalleled musical enlightenment at the iconic Roundhead Studios in Auckland. This auditory adventure promises to bestow upon Aotearoa's musicians and industry titans an immersive experience, igniting inspiration and establishing connections with the global music sphere. For those seeking the next phase of their artistic odyssey, this summit stands as the gateway to the world stage.

Pippa Ryan-Kidd, Chairperson of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), exclaimed “Our aim with Going Global is to propel our local artists further along their illustrious careers and guide them towards international markets. Past Going Global conferences have led to our artists signing with international record labels, music licensing deals, being booked for both US and European Festivals, and showcases at SXSW (US) and The Great Escape (UK). Looking outward, Going Global has also been directly responsible for connecting music production co-writes and collaborations between delegates from Singapore and Chile.

If you feel these outcomes match your goals, then this is the conference for you! We have Festival bookers, Programme Directors, Record Labels and many other Industry professionals attending. We would love our independent New Zealand Artists to come and connect with them!”

IMNZ is thrilled to unveil the first four speakers for the highly anticipated 2023 Going Global Music Summit. Prepare to be dazzled by the brilliance of Adam Ryan, the Great Escape Programmer (UK) and  Dev Sherlock, the remarkable Senior Music Programmer from SXSW (USA). These two distinguished individuals, hailing from opposite ends of the globe, return to Going Global having previously (2022) been very generous with their time and abundance of knowledge and experience that is simply unparalleled. Brace yourselves for their captivating insights and profound expertise, as they guide our attendees towards a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

But wait, there's more! In a bid not to be outshined by this dynamic duo, we proudly present the real MVP’s  (that's Most Valued Players, for the uninitiated): 

Jackie Palazzolo, the brilliant Music Supervisor from Riot Games (USA) contributes to various projects for Riot’s flagship games League of Legends & Valorant. Previously, Jackie led the Music Supervision and Licensing team at VICE media, working across numerous Emmy-nominated and award-winning series & productions.  

Hallie Anderson, is the extraordinary force behind Rareform PR (USA), an artist services hub founded by three female music industry veterans who work directly with artists, managers, distribution companies and labels both in the U.S. and internationally. Offering marketing campaigns, release strategies, digital marketing and paid ad solutions Rareform clients have included Faye Webster, Genesis Owusu, Jungle Giants, Obongjayar, Ocean Alley, Interscope, Lookout Kid Management, and September Management.

Mark your calendars, folks, because the 2023 Going Global Music Summit is shaping up to be an unmissable event. Stay tuned as IMNZ unveils an illustrious lineup of international representatives and experts in the fields of music A&R, booking, licensing, management, marketing, promotion, and publishing in the weeks to come.!

Simultaneously, alongside the summit, IMNZ presents the Going Global Presents Showcase, a vibrant spectacle where a handpicked lineup of local artists will grace the stages of inner-city connected venues: Whammy!, Wine Cellar, and Whammy Backroom. The Going Global Presents Showcase has undergone a tremendous transformation, evolving into a two-night extravaganza of mind-blowing musical prowess. Picture this: three stages set ablaze by a relentless onslaught of exhilarating 20-minute sets that will leave you breathless, begging for more. And the best part? All this auditory ecstasy can be yours over two nights for the tiny ticket price of just $30 - or $20 for each night! Whoa, baby! 

We extend a heartfelt invitation to all our international industry guests and the general public to witness the sheer brilliance of Aotearoa's most extraordinary artists, poised to conquer the world. Historical evidence attests that previous showcases have acted as launchpads for the meteoric rise of some of New Zealand's most celebrated success stories over the past decade. Past luminaries include Aldous Harding, Tami Neilson, Tiny Ruins, Troy Kingi, Sachi, Alien Weaponry, Fazerdaze, Beastwars and Nadia Reid.

Prepare yourselves, folks, for an unforgettable sonic feast that will reverberate through your souls. This is the pinnacle of musical excellence, the crescendo of creativity, and the catalyst for boundless dreams. The Going Global Presents Showcase is where legends are born, careers are ignited, and the world becomes a stage. So don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience that will leave you reeling in sheer awe.

Dylan Pellett, General Manager of Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ), eagerly expressed, “We are elated to continue the momentum of our immensely successful past Going Global events, as we embark on a wild journey to unite New Zealand artists and industry with the global music community. Let us not underestimate the immeasurable worth of in-person encounters with industry luminaries, for they serve as the bedrock upon which enduring professional relationships are built. Achieving goals of such magnitude is made possible by learning and connecting with people with that knowledge, and that is precisely our goal with Going Global 2023.”

GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT 2023 Friday 1st September / Saturday 2nd September Roundhead Studios, Auckland, New Zealand Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite: https://GoingGlobal2023.eventbrite.co.nz 

Additionally,

GOING GLOBAL PRESENTS 2023 ARTIST SHOWCASES OPEN TO PUBLIC Friday 1st September / Saturday 2nd September Whammy, Wine Cellar, Whammy Backroom Auckland's K' Road. 

Tickets are available from 8:00 AM, 24th July at undertheradar.co.nz 

BIGSOUND 2023 Delegate Grant Applications Open

The New Zealand Music Commission is pleased to announce that delegate applications to attend BIGSOUND 2023 are now open.

BIGSOUND 2023

BIGSOUND returns to Brisbane's Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct Tuesday 5 - Friday 8 September 2023 and has a reputation as the best and most relevant music industry event in Australia and is positioned as Australia's most internationally focused conference.

This year's event will welcome tastemakers from across the world including media, A&R, agents, promoters, music supervisors, buyers and so much more. Now in its 22nd year, BIGSOUND has grown to become the biggest annual new music event of its kind in Australia. Run across three days and three nights, you can connect with and listen to some of the most influential players in music.

More information can be found on: https://www.bigsound.org.au/

Outward Sound Delegate Grants

Since July 2013 Outward Sound have offered Targeted Tradeshow grants to support our managers and labels at selected and targeted trade events of which BIGSOUND is one.

Outward Sound offers successful applicants 50% recoupable support up to a tradeshow specific value. Recoupable costs are limited to airfares, delegate registration, accommodation and per diems. The grants will be offered outside of the established Outward Sound quarterly grant rounds.

Up to $1,000 to cover 50% of return economy airfares from New Zealand to Brisbane, delegate registration to the conference, accommodation (up to 4 nights) and per diems (up to 4 days) is available under the BIGSOUND delegate grant.

Contact the Outward Sound office to discuss your project and receive a link to the application form.

For further information please contact international@nzmusic.org.nz

Applications for the BIGSOUND delegate grant close 5pm July 21st 2023.

"LEVEL UP" Online Workshops Empower Emerging Artists to Up-skill and Take Their Music to the Next Level

Emerging artists looking to enhance their knowledge and take their music career to new heights can now apply for the "LEVEL UP" comprehensive five-part series of online workshops.

This programme is designed to provide participants with the tools they need to up-skill and succeed in the competitive music industry. Led by Artist Development consultant Katie Thompson, "LEVEL UP" will offer ten participants the opportunity to take part in five online group workshops and two one-on-one mentoring sessions.

The workshops will be held over the span of 11 weeks and will cover a range of essential topics, including Goal Setting, Music Industry Insights, Image & Branding, Funding Options & Single Release Checklist.

The "LEVEL UP" programme is for artists who are based outside of main centres that demonstrate talent and are currently working towards releasing original music.

Participants will benefit from the opportunity to gain insights into the music industry from a seasoned professional, receive feedback on their progress and set actionable goals for their future.

"The workshops are designed to help emerging artists develop their skills, gain knowledge and confidence," said Thompson. "I'm excited to be leading this programme and working with a group of dedicated and talented artists."

This programme is free to chosen applicants thanks to the Capability Grant, NZ Music Commission.

Applications for Level Up open on 5 June and close on 30 June. All sessions will be held via Zoom and dates can be found on the website.

For more information, including application criteria and to apply, visit www.quirkymusic.co.nz

About Katie Thompson:

Katie Thompson is an Artist Development mentor and Music Business consultant with over 15 years of experience in the music industry. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from emerging talent to established musicians, helping them to develop their skills, build their careers, and achieve their goals.

NZ MUSIC T-SHIRT DAY RETURNS TO RAISE MONEY FOR MUSICHELPS IN 2023

During NZ Music Month in May, MusicHelps has a great and fun way to support its activities – NZ Music T-Shirt Day. This will be taking place on Friday 26th May 2023 as part of NZ Music Month. It’s all about celebrating great New Zealand music and showing your support by sporting your favourite band tee. NZ Music T-Shirt Day aims to raise funds for MusicHelps, a charity launched to support projects that help the most vulnerable in our communities through projects that use the power of music to help and heal. Gather your friends, whānau and workplace, create a team, spread the message, and donate by visiting www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz or texting MUSIC to 2448 to donate $3.

MusicHelps develops projects in the community that use music to support the most vulnerable. This includes music therapy sessions, music programs in respite and palliative care, music education programs for the at-risk and vulnerable and rehabilitation programs to name a few. They also provide free professional counselling and emergency financial and wellbeing support to kiwi music workers. Since inception, they have impacted over 80,000 people across Aotearoa.

This year's New Zealand Music Month has a key theme of Community and Collaboration, which is exactly what MusicHelps is all about. NZ Music T-shirt day 2023 will unite music lovers through showcasing the community of phenomenal talent we have here in Aotearoa. This will all be made possible by the commitment of MusicHelps supporters who see the difference music makes in New Zealanders lives.

World class producer, Founder of NZ Music venue BIG FAN and board member of MusicHelps Joel Little says "NZ Music T-shirt Day is a great excuse to wear an awesome t-shirt and support your favourite kiwi artist, as well as raise money for the incredibly important work of MusicHelps. Make sure to get involved on Friday 26th May and make sure to donate if you can!”

From Blenheim to Whanganui, Tamaki Makaurau to Hutt Valley and Hamilton to Otautahi, MusicHelps provides grants to a variety of communities in Aotearoa to get everyone involved in music.

Some highlights this year include:

Hamilton’s The Rauhī Project grants access to free music education and social development to the most marginalised and excluded youth in the community.  “Thanks to generous supporters such as MusicHelps, we are able to provide weekly one-on-one instrumental and musical theory lessons from Hamilton's best instrumental tutors, as well as facilitate group music making and choral ensembles. These classes are at no cost to our students, and work to increase their confidence, creativity, and engagement in their community.”

Auckland’s Crescendo’s youth mentoring programme offers a range of song-writing, performance, audio engineering, sound production, podcasting and radio broadcasting courses. Crescendo’s rangatahi are referred to by local schools, youth justice, Oranga Tamariki or social services. They have been identified as talented, but at risk of being excluded from higher education, training or employment. Many lack positive role models, live in financially strained households and have family affiliations with crime or gangs.

Cat Percy, CEO of Crescendo says “Crescendo’s youth mentoring programmes aim to empower rangatahi to express themselves artistically, gain technical skills and support their growth on their chosen pathway. MusicHelps grants have assisted Crescendo’s mentors to work with our young people and ensure they have bright futures ahead.”

MusicHelps is also working with Creative Kids Trust, a Marlborough-based not-for-profit organisation that provides creative arts pathways for children, youth and the wider whanau. Their Kaupapa is to facilitate growth and establish a healthy sense of self by uniting a community that recognises and acts on inclusiveness, diversity and respect. They believe that supporting future generations by showing & mentoring a robust pathway to a connected community will ultimately strengthen our community. Through participation and engaging creatively in art, theatre, music or movement, the creative processes help individuals to explore and express unconscious material that is often difficult to articulate in words.

“The Creative Kids team are extremely grateful for all of the wonderful support that Music Helps has provided us with since our inception, enabling us to provide Music Therapy sessions to vulnerable preschoolers with developmental needs in our community. The program helps the children develop communication skills, short and long-term memory, improve gross motor skills, assist with anxiety, and most importantly find connection and friendship for both them and their families. Thank you Music Helps for your supporting the Creative Kids team and our Marlborough community.”

The support MusicHelps provide extends to the very people that bring us the music we love. From singers to sound engineers, managers to musicians, MusicHelps service is available to anyone involved in the Aotearoa music industry to ensure people are taken care of when they need it most, and does so through emergency grants, the MusicHelps benevolent fund, the Covid-19 financial relief payments, and a 24/7 helpline providing urgent counselling services to the very people that bring us the music we love.

New Zealand Music T Shirt Day is primed to become a favourite fundraising event during NZ Music Month. This year’s event will raise much needed funds for grants to those who use music to help and heal as well as support the music community with whatever challenge they might face into the future.

For a full list of kiwi bands and artists who are currently selling merchandise online, please head to: https://www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz/t-shirts-and-merchandise

To create a team to raise money together, please head to: https://www.nzmusictshirtday.org.nz

Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa NZ Music Month runs throughout May across Aotearoa. Find out more at nzmusicmonth.co.nz

RECORDED MUSIC NZ - MEMBER AND FRIENDS EVENTS

Recorded Music NZ is holding a series of member and friends' events in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland and Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington, as well as a dedicated online event this Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa - NZ Music Month and they would love you to join them. 

These events are designed to give you the opportunity to meet the Recorded Music whānau, hear about their priorities and plans for 2023 and enjoy time mixing with your hapori puoro | music community peers. 

Key information we will be sharing: 

• The 2022 Year in numbers 

• Music consumption in Aotearoa 

• Membership & Distribution  

• Aotearoa Music Awards 

• The Official NZ Music Charts 

Use the links below to register for the events.

AUCKLAND

Recorded Music NZ offices
Level 1, 2A Hakanoa Street Grey Lynn, Auckland 
Date: Tuesday 9th May 2023.
Time: 5.30pm 

WELLINGTON

Naumi Studio Wellington
213 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 
Date: Wednesday 10th May 2023. 
Time: 5.30pm 

ONLINE

Zoom Webinar
Date: Monday 15th May 2023. 
Time: 5.30pm

WAIATA ANTHEMS Our Songs. Our Waiata. Our Movement.

Waiata Anthems is a movement instrumental in the massive groundswell of streaming and broadcasting waiata reo Māori.

Since its inception in 2019, Waiata Anthems has celebrated and encouraged the revitalisation of te reo Māori at scale. Over one hundred new waiata and creative lyric music videos have been supported, produced and released alongside powerful documentary stories, each sharing personal stories of disconnection, reclamation and courage through waiata reo Māori. The power of waiata is transforming artists and audiences as our nation’s airwaves and digital music platforms resonate with the vibrant sound of new waiata and bilingual music. 

In 2023, Waiata Anthems returns with a broader reach. Using three release pillars: MAY NZ Music Month, JULY Matariki and SEPTEMBER Waiata Anthems Week, the movement is set to amplify even more waiata and empower our artists to strengthen their careers and promote their music to Aotearoa and the world using te reo Māori. 
 

WAIATA ANTHEMS: MAY 2023 RELEASES
TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA - NZ MUSIC MONTH 2023 

This May, one of Aotearoa’s leading platforms championing Māori music, Waiata Anthems, returns with a suite of new waiata and video content in time for Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa - NZ Music Month 2023.  

Throughout May, new waiata will be released from both emerging and established artists, including MOHI, Chad Chambers, Nikau Grace, William Singe and Corrella.   

Accompanying the musical releases, audiences can look forward to a selection of dynamic videos funded by Te Māngai Pāho, including five brand new short documentary stories, live performance music videos and lyric explainer clips, taking audiences on a deep dive into the meaning behind these powerful waiata. 

The creator of Waiata Anthems, Dame Hinewehi Mohi, says she is particularly excited about the focus on supporting our artists through video content and hearing the personal stories behind their waiata. “I am thrilled with the amazing amount of video content we are releasing to complement the music. It's inspiring to see these artists not only as champions of waiata but also sharing the stories of their reo Māori journeys, and the hopes and intentions at the heart of their music.”  

And for those wanting to join the movement as it plays out, audiences can watch performances from Jordyn With A Why, Majic, Geneva Alexander Marsters, Alya Jade, and Corrella, at the Waiata Reo Māori Showcase streaming live from the Tuning Fork on Wednesday 17th May.  

Taite Music Prize 2023 - IMNZ Classic Record Recipient + NZ On Air Outstanding Journalism Finalists Announced

Independent Music NZ announces the 2023 recipient of the IMNZ Classic Record which aims to acknowledge Aotearoa New Zealand's rich history of making timeless albums that continue to inspire us and define who we are.

This annual award acknowledges one Aotearoa New Zealand record released over 20 years ago on an independent label. Whether a 12”, a compilation, EP, or full-length album, these records have become quintessential gold nuggets of our musical history. Like the Taite Music Prize main prize the Independent Music NZ Classic Record is a critically judged award for originality considering the artistic merit, creativity, innovation and excellence of an album in its entirety irrespective of album sales, artist popularity, previous awards or international achievements. 

This year's judging panel has recognised the album; micronism - inside a quiet mind (Kog Transmissions 1998). The recording artist ‘micronism’ - also known as Denver McCarthy, was a mysterious electronic music act who emerged as part of the burgeoning ‘90’s electronic scene in Auckland that gathered around the collective label Kog Transmissions. inside a quiet mind was initially released by Kog on compact disc in 1998, and then re-issued by Loop Recordings twenty years later for vinyl and digital platforms. 

The record was made over two years from 1996 to 1998 on outboard equipment and without computer assistance. Touches of acid, breakbeat, and glitchy ambient abound, but the album never sticks to any one clear genre. Instead, micronism uses genres as a tool, employing elements from dub techno, acid, house, and ambient to form a sound built for both introspection and movement. 

Su Baykal of Bandcamp Daily describes the album tracks as being “...woven together, creating a single, seamless musical experience. Taken in full, micronism has created a universe of energy and lightness—it’s an album just as effective in solo listening as it is on the dancefloor.” 

Around the time of the reissue, Grant Smithies of the Sunday Star Times said: “inside a quiet mind remains a cultural taonga, a musical time capsule that sends the listener hurtling straight back to the earliest flowerings of the New Zealand rave scene. It is the best electronic album ever made in this country.”

 When advised of the honour McCarthy responded, “This acknowledgment of my small contribution to NZ music is wildly misplaced- so it is received with great shock and even greater humility and gratitude. Looking forward to trying to fire up the machines once again, to journey into the land of Electronica, forgive me if I take a few wrong turns...it has been a while...”

To celebrate the Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award, micronism will be performing a special one-off and first headline show in over 20 years just prior to the awards ceremony at Tāmaki Makaurau's Neck Of The Woods on Saturday April 15.  Plans are underway to repress the now celebrated album with details available at loop.co.nz. 

Listen to micronism - inside a quiet mind 
on Apple Music HERE
on Spotify HERE

The NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award is the first of its kind for Aotearoa New Zealand and comes with a $2500 cash prize. The ground-breaking addition to the Taite Music Prize in 2022 celebrates special individuals who made a creative contribution and significant impact with coverage of Aotearoa music in the previous year. For the award’s second  year, finalists have been shortlisted by a selection of industry experts. 

The finalists for the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism awards are:

Gareth Shute - AudioCulture - Feature Writer 
Jess Fu & Amanda Jane Robinson - Amplified
Chris Cudby - Undertheradar - Music News
Namnita Kumar & Nadia Freeman - Eastern Sound Stories Podcast produced by Eastern Sound Collective in conjunction with Radio Active.FM

The Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award and the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award will be presented at the official Taite Music Prize 2023 ceremony on April 18th, 2023.
_______

The 2023 Taite Music Prize finalists are:

Aldous Harding - Warm Chris (Flying Nun Records)
Avantdale Bowling Club - Trees (Years Gone By)
Erny Belle - Venus Is Home (Flying Nun Records)
Fazerdaze - Break! (Flying Nun Records)
Hans Pucket - No Drama (Carpark Records)
Marlon Williams - My Boy (Marlon Williams Music Limited)
Princess Chelsea - Everything Is Going To Be Alright (Lil Chief Records)
Tami Neilson - Kingmaker (Neilson Records)
TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd)
The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field (Ivy League Records)

The three albums nominated for the 2023 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award are: 

Wiri Donna- Being Alone (Independent/DRM)
TE KAAHU - Te Kaahu O Rangi (Theia Music Ltd)
Erny Belle - Venus Is Home (Flying Nun Records)

Listen to a playlist of all Taite Music Prize 2023 albums on Spotify HERE, and all Auckland Live Best Independent Debut albums on Spotify HERE.