As NZ Music Month edges to a close New Zealand’s musicians have reason to celebrate with government funding to NZ On Air
for supporting local music creation to more than double for the next two years.
Announced today by Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Rt Hon. Jacinda Ardern, NZ On Air will
receive an extra $7.1m over 2020/21 and 2021/22 specifically for NZ music funding. In the current year NZ On Air was
forecast to invest $3.5m in music.
The funding boost comes at a time when the main source of revenue for music artists, touring and live gigs, has dried up
due to Covid-19. It also follows research by NZ On Air and Creative NZ last year (
) which showed musicians among the lowest paid in the creative sector.
The funding will be used to 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.
In addition, it allows for funded artists to be paid a ‘creation fee’ for the first time under the NZ On Air music
funding scheme. $1.5m across the two years will also fund additional music features including online performances,
creating exciting new music content for New Zealand audiences.
NZ On Air Head of Music David Ridler is excited by the boost to the contemporary popular NZ music sector. “We are
constantly overwhelmed with the sheer volume and high quality of music applications. NZ music has been on a great
trajectory the last few years, but the Covid situation has severely hampered many areas of revenue and live exposure,”
he said.
“This additional funding will bring a massive boost to the sector and enable a much bigger wave of quality New Zealand
songs and other music-related projects, while also helping to give more artists the business-related skills needed for
success,” Mr Ridler continued.
The NZ Music Recovery Fund announced today also includes funding via the NZ Music Commission to support live Music
touring, as alert levels permit, and support for entertainment venues, and separately some assistance with lost income
for music artists.