Independent Music NZ Announces New Chair and Board

Independent Music New Zealand Announces New Chair and Board

Independent Music New Zealand, the association of New Zealand-owned record
labels and distributors, has forged into the first part of 2006 with some
new developments.

At the IMNZ Annual General Meeting held on April 28, a new Chairperson was
elected, and four new Board members were inducted also.

Bernie Griffen, who has been Chair of IMNZ since its inception in 2001, has
stepped aside from that role to concentrate on other projects; however he
will remain a member of the IMNZ Board. Griffen is also Director of
independent distributor Global Routes and its subsidiary label Flaming Pearl
Records.

Griffen says, “It was time to hand the reins over to a younger person. I had
achieved the goals I had set for myself and IMNZ but with the digital area
becoming more and more a focus we need a good understanding of the issues
and it will be safe in Mark’s hands.”

Taking over the role of Chair is Mark Kneebone of Tardus Music, a label
which represents acts such as Minuit and Cassette.

Kneebone says, "I'm really excited and feel particularly privileged to take
on the role of
Chairperson of the IMNZ board. It's a great time for local music and I think
that over the past five years IMNZ has played a vital role in helping to
strengthen the local music market to the point is at now. We have some great
plans for the future of the organisation and look forward to getting down to
the challenges that await as we try and get out music more coverage in both
NZ and abroad"

In addition to Griffen, the other Board members announced were Callum August
of Dirty Records, Dean Cameron of Elevenfiftyseven Records, Ben Howe of Arch
Hill Recordings, Joost Langeveld of Reliable Recordings, Jim Pinckney of
Round Trip Mars and Steve Popham of King Music.

IMNZ has also been ratified as a member of the WorldWide International
Network, a coalition of independent recording associations from around the
world. This is a major step for IMNZ, as it will be working with similar
organisations who represent thousands of independent music companies from
Australia (AIR), the UK (AIM), Brazil (ABMI), the USA (AAIM), Spain (UFI),
Canada (CIRPA), the EU (IMPALA and its member associations in France, Spain,
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany and the UK). Labels represented include
some of the largest independents in the world such as Beggar’s Banquet,
Tommy Boy, Shock Records and many more.

Membership of IMNZ has also grown to 60 members, from around 10 when the
organisation commenced, and now covers most of the key independent labels
and distributors in the New Zealand music industry. Members include Global
Routes, Rhythmethod, Border Music, King Music, Jayrem, LOOP, Intergalactic,
DawnRaid, Arch Hill, Dirty Records, Mai Music and a wide range of others,
who release by far the greatest percentage of New Zealand music each year.

ENDS

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