MEDIA RELEASE
The Mint Chicks and MusicHy.pe
Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand
Mint Chicks Dump Major Label Warner For NZ Tech
NZ Start-up MusicHy.pe will digitally launch the Mint Chicks “Bad Buzz” EP
EMBARGO: 4, February at 12:01 am NZDT
The iconic NZ indie rock band, the Mint Chicks sent their major label Warner packing last December, and signed up with
NZ start-up MusicHy.pe to launch their new EP “Bad Buzz”. The Mint Chicks will take their music directly to where their
fans are, on the web.
Using the MusicHy.pe platform the Mint Chicks are running three major competitions. The first competition offers stems
(sound files for each instrument) from their major hit “Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!” to musicians. Using a Creative Commons
license musicians can download the stems, remix, then upload their own version of the classic. Musicians can also
perform a cover of the song using the available tabs, chords and lyrics. The MusicHy.pe community will choose the
finalists and the two grand prize winnerswill perform with theMint Chicks on their NZ EP tour.
“We were looking to do things differently,” says Ruban Nielson of the Mint Chicks. “The major labels are slow moving,
risk-averse dinosaurs, and increasingly irrelevant. We wanted to work with someone who got what we were trying to do,
and wanted to take some chances. We were introduced to MusicHy.pe through mutual friends and aftr our first meeting I
knew we'd found theright people.
With the release of their new EP “Bad Buzz” in mid-February the Mint Chicks will run their second competition asking
their fans to create the official music video for the single. Using their mobile phone, video camera, even play-dough
fans can create visual footage for the track. The grand prize winner will have their video aired as the official Mint
Chicks videoon majormusic channels around the world.
The third competition asks designers to create the new official Mint Chicks T-shirt, with the grand prize winner,
getting a design credit, a cut of the sales and a sweet prize pack.
“The old music industry model is dead,” says Annabel Youens, MusicHy.pe Digital Strategist. “The major labels are a drag
on the industry, pushing CDs which are a dead medium, hoovering cash away from bands, turning fans into criminals and
creating friction between artists and their customers. We are fixing the industry by cutting abels out of the food chain
and helpig bands interact with their fans in smart digital way.
MusicHy.pe is a Wellington-based start up who offer a complete digital platform for bands, musicians and fans to
connect, interact and share their passion for music. Currently in beta MusicHy.pe is testing their new technology in New
Zealand before launching in North America later this year.
The Mint Chicks, originally from Auckland, have achieved something rare for a rock band - massive popularity without
losing their cult status amongst music fans. Their second album, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! was recently voted best NZ album
of the decade by Real Groove magazine. The Mint Chicks currently split their time between Portland, Oregon and their
hometown of Auckland.
ENDS