The NZ Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa welcomes the investment towards the recovery of the music sector as announced earlier today by Prime Minister Ardern as part of the package to reinvigorate the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector across Aotearoa.
Music Commission Chief Executive Cath Andersen said “New Zealand musicians and the people who support them to make a living have been devastated by the international pandemic.  Like tourism, Covid-19 has completely stopped the live music sector, which employees the majority of people who work in contemporary music, and hugely restricted the ability for artists to earning a sustainable living.  This investment by the Government will support New Zealand artists and venues who are at heart of our sector.
“The NZ Music Recovery Fund is great news for live and recorded music, and I understand there will be more opportunities for the music sector when the details of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund, Cultural Innovation Fund and Cultural Capability Fund have been announced. Additionally, the Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers programme will support emerging artists and music professionals to develop sustainable careers and contribute to the New Zealand economy. Taken as a whole, the investment announced today will be truly transformational for the music sector in New Zealand”. 
More details will be published in the coming weeks, but an overview of the work the Music Commission will be leading as part of the cultural recovery package is as follows:
 
NZ Music Month Make Good Fund: This fund will enable NZ artists and music businesses to apply for a contribution towards recouping lost income and costs incurred for original NZ music activity that was scheduled to occur in NZ Music Month 2020 which was cancelled as a result of Covid-19. More information on this fund will be available on our website in mid-June.


Outward Sound Make Good Fund: This fund will enable Outward Sound supported artists to apply for the reimbursement of costs incurred for approved offshore activity that was cancelled or disrupted due to Covid-19. More information on this fund will be available on our website in mid-June.
Music Venue Infrastructure Fund: This fund will enable music venues to apply for a contribution towards the costs associated with operating an environment safe for artists, audiences and staff.  It is for music venues with a track record of original New Zealand music performances, both in the main centres and the regions.  Grants of up to $50,000 per venue will be available for expenditure that could include contact tracing facilities and security, facility upgrades (for example for bathrooms, staging, backstage etc), hireage of equipment and ensuring the safety of technicians and venue staff. More details about this fund will be available on our website in mid-June.
Aotearoa Touring Support Programme:  This programme is intended to reinvigorate the live music sector and grow the potential for touring across Aotearoa. The goal is to support NZ artists and music businesses, and enable more New Zealanders to experience live, local music. It will support production costs, and touring both nationally and regionally.  More information on this fund will be available on our website in July.
 
The NZ Music Recovery Fund announced today also includes additional investment for NZ artists through NZ On Air, who will support 455 additional new song releases in the coming two years, including more targeted funding for Pasifika artists, songs in te reo and for children. NZ On Air will also create a new music development fund for newer artists and songwriters, and support the provision of more professional services around early-career artists who receive funding.   More information on the NZ On Air investment is available here.
 
An outline of the work that will be undertaken across the arts and culture sector is available on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website at www.mch.govt.nz.
 
Further information regarding the Music Commission’s programmes will be available on our website www.nzmusic.org.nz over the next few weeks.
 

Media Release 12 June 2020

​24 Pasifika music artists have won funding to record new music, including tracks in Pacific languages, thanks to a record investment from NZ On Air. 

NZ On Air has just had its second ever New Music Single focus round seeking new music from Pasifika artists. The first round in 2019 produced 14 tracks including three that have been selected as finalists for the forthcoming 2020 Pacific Music Awards. 

In the latest round this week, NZ On Air doubled-down on the investment, with an expert panel choosing 24 tracks from 95 submitted. Each will receive $8,000 funding to record and promote their songs. For 19 of the artists it is their first time receiving NZ On Air funding. 

The funded songs span multiple genre including Hip Hop, Gospel, RnB, Heavy Metal and Country music, with languages represented including Niuean, Tongan, Cook Island Māori and Samoan, as well as English. 

NZ On Air’s Head of Music David Ridler says the panel were blown away by the breadth of talent represented in the applications. 

“This second Pasifika music funding round shows there is not only an extraordinary amount of talent in the Pasifika community just waiting for the opportunity to be discovered, but also the success of the first round shows there is demand for their music,” said Mr Ridler. 

Last year NZ On Air invested $112,000 in new Pacific music through the first focus round – this latest round has invested $192,000 and there’s more to come. 

With additional funding announced by government to support NZ music get back on its feet post-Covid, Mr Ridler says NZ On Air intends to run at least a further two New Music Pasifika rounds in the next 18 months. 

It will also be running further targeted rounds for songs in Te Reo Māori and more songs for tamariki. 

NZ On Air thanks the Pacific Music Awards Trust and Pacific Media Network who helped to engage the Pacific music community in this funding round. 

Funding details 
All receive an $8,000 grant 

Alimit / Inanay – The Tribute featuring Jagarizzar x Tiddas  
ANTHEM / Joy featuring Marley Sola & David Ware  
Diggy Dupé / Hype 
Foundation / Start Love Over 
Hawkins / Can’t Leave It Alone 
IYBZEE & IYBZAY / Does She Really Want Me? 
JARNA / I’m Fine  
Juwan / Home 
LEO / MerryGoRound  
Lomez Brown / Feel The Motion 
MAL / Say/Ne Pehe Mai   
Raggadat Cris / Foki Mai  
Sam V X bKIDD / Cruisin’ 
Samson Squad / Taku Vaine  
Sapphire Matāfai / Dilemma 
SEMA / Real 
Shepherds Reign / Aiga (Toe Fo’i)  
Tazman Jack / Myself  
THE MITIS / See You Again  
TJ Taotua / You and I  
TONE6 / Another Level of Emotion 
Tree / Afio Ane Loa  
Village90 / To the Wire 
VILLETTE / Angle  

For further information:
Allanah Kalafatelis
Tel: (04) 802 8380
Mobile: (021) 585 538
Email: [email protected]