The article also brings to light two local labels who got $500,000 each to set up offshore beach heads. Any ideas on what the outcomes have been for that investment to date?
It ties in neatly with the article in the May issue of Real Groove, where former editor Duncan Grieve takes on the thorny issue of NZ On Air's funding commercial criteria, and how that is clearly at odds with the original, non-commercial NZ bands that succeed offshore. Real Groove is also publishing full interview transcripts from the article, like this one with Mark Kneebone and Mint Chick's Ruban Nielson. Both are well worth reading. (ADDED: Russell Brown blogged on the article today, and also has a pdf of the article here).
I thik Ruban's idea of splitting the current $50,000 album grant into smaller $10,000 grants is an excellent idea, and hopefully, these articles will create some fruitful discussion amongst the movers and shakers in the industry.
Vicki Anderson of The Press weighs in here with a southern perspective - "Of the 56 acts to receive funding in New Zealand on Air's March round, only one (Salmonella Dub) was based in the South Island. That is simply ridiculous. Not meaning to sound "regionalist" or anything (NZ On Air are always accusing me of this) but, by laws of averages alone, there should be more than one. South Islanders pay taxes too..."
I was talking about the issue of album funding from NZ On Air with an industry associate, and we talked about previous music industry initiatives and their outcomes - and we got to talking about the World Series, held at the St James for a bunch of overseas music industry types.
Remember that? It happened back in 2002, and, thanks to Google., I found Judith Tizard's press release on it from the time. Apparently the visitors enjoyed our hospitality extensively. Now, can you tell me of one single NZ act that got ANYTHING out of that event? Did any of the international opportunities promised in Ms Tizard's headline eventuate? Well, Ms Tizard has the answer to that too...
She suggests here that the NZ Sounds concert at Central Park the following year happened as a result. If that's the sole outcome, it's a poor return on investment.
A review of World Series - The Big Idea
World Series promises international opportunities for New Zealand music
The World Series showcase of New Zealand music has finished with the promise of international opportunities for local musicians and record labels.
Sixteen leading music industry representatives from Canada, US, UK, Germany and Australia spent the past week watching five showcases of New Zealand music, attending the APRA Silver Scroll Awards and enjoying yachting, sightseeing and America’s Cup activities in a joint government-music industry funded initiative.
Local bands, managers and record companies met the international guests at nightly dinners at the St James Theatre and at several daytime events, such as a three-hour yacht race between NZL40 and NZL41 on the Waitemata Harbour.
“Ralph James from Canada’s The Agency said he and his colleagues go to many such showcases for their work, but that this was the most well-organised they had ever attended,” said Minister for the America’s Cup Trevor Mallard. “He also enthused about the America’s Cup-related daytime activities, especially for the many sailing enthusiasts amongst the group.”
Trevor Mallard said in terms of the business side of the week, he was already aware of plans being made to take New Zealand music offshore. “One of the international guests told me he hopes to stage a showcase of New Zealand music in Canada next year as a result of what he’s seen here.”
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard said she was delighted with the warm relationships that had formed between the guests and the New Zealand music industry.
“Mark Ashbridge from Festival Mushroom Records says he was thrilled with the business side of the week with regard to his artists and they are already in discussions with several of the guests.
“Ben Howe from Arch Hill Recordings tells me the bands Pine and Fang have got some strong interest as a result of the World Series. They will be following these leads up over the next few months and feel sure they will result in good things.”
Judith Tizard said the World Series also saw the guests sharing their expertise to help develop the New Zealand music industry. “Michael McMartin, director of the Music Managers’ Forum, took time out to meet with New Zealand band managers, share his expertise and offer his help in setting up a New Zealand branch of the Forum.”
Judith Tizard said many of the guests commented on the government’s support for New Zealand music. “They were constantly remarking on what a smart move it was of Prime Minister Helen Clark to invite them here and they couldn’t say enough great things about our support for New Zealand music.
“They also admitted it’s difficult to get them out of their offices to attend a showcase across town, let alone on the other side of the world, so I’m delighted with these early indications of the success of the week, which was well-organised by the project team, Eccles Entertainment and de Launay Enterprises.”
The Ministers thanked the World Series project committee for their excellent work. “Trade New Zealand, Investment NZ, Industry NZ, NZ Music Industry Commission, APRA, NZ On Air put together a great programme, ensured the showcases had top production values, and got people talking to each other. I was impressed with the action at the two gigs I attended and I congratulate the project team,” said Trevor Mallard.
Judith Tizard said the World Series initiative, combined with others such as the NZ Music Industry Commission’s successful delegation to the Midem 2002 trade fair and another delegation next January, will help to develop a thriving export industry.
The Ministers said the World Series follows on from the early November visit to New Zealand by nine British film producers as guests of the NZ Film Commission and Investment New Zealand. Five of those guests are now working with New Zealand producers to co-produce New Zealand feature films.
Both visits were funded from leveraging money allocated to capitalise on the increased attention on New Zealand as a result of the America’s Cup and The Lord of the Rings. The creative sector is one of three key sectors highlighted in the government’s growth and innovation strategy as having strong potential to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
Sixteen leading music industry representatives from Canada, US, UK, Germany and Australia spent the past week watching five showcases of New Zealand music, attending the APRA Silver Scroll Awards and enjoying yachting, sightseeing and America’s Cup activities in a joint government-music industry funded initiative.
Local bands, managers and record companies met the international guests at nightly dinners at the St James Theatre and at several daytime events, such as a three-hour yacht race between NZL40 and NZL41 on the Waitemata Harbour.
“Ralph James from Canada’s The Agency said he and his colleagues go to many such showcases for their work, but that this was the most well-organised they had ever attended,” said Minister for the America’s Cup Trevor Mallard. “He also enthused about the America’s Cup-related daytime activities, especially for the many sailing enthusiasts amongst the group.”
Trevor Mallard said in terms of the business side of the week, he was already aware of plans being made to take New Zealand music offshore. “One of the international guests told me he hopes to stage a showcase of New Zealand music in Canada next year as a result of what he’s seen here.”
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard said she was delighted with the warm relationships that had formed between the guests and the New Zealand music industry.
“Mark Ashbridge from Festival Mushroom Records says he was thrilled with the business side of the week with regard to his artists and they are already in discussions with several of the guests.
“Ben Howe from Arch Hill Recordings tells me the bands Pine and Fang have got some strong interest as a result of the World Series. They will be following these leads up over the next few months and feel sure they will result in good things.”
Judith Tizard said the World Series also saw the guests sharing their expertise to help develop the New Zealand music industry. “Michael McMartin, director of the Music Managers’ Forum, took time out to meet with New Zealand band managers, share his expertise and offer his help in setting up a New Zealand branch of the Forum.”
Judith Tizard said many of the guests commented on the government’s support for New Zealand music. “They were constantly remarking on what a smart move it was of Prime Minister Helen Clark to invite them here and they couldn’t say enough great things about our support for New Zealand music.
“They also admitted it’s difficult to get them out of their offices to attend a showcase across town, let alone on the other side of the world, so I’m delighted with these early indications of the success of the week, which was well-organised by the project team, Eccles Entertainment and de Launay Enterprises.”
The Ministers thanked the World Series project committee for their excellent work. “Trade New Zealand, Investment NZ, Industry NZ, NZ Music Industry Commission, APRA, NZ On Air put together a great programme, ensured the showcases had top production values, and got people talking to each other. I was impressed with the action at the two gigs I attended and I congratulate the project team,” said Trevor Mallard.
Judith Tizard said the World Series initiative, combined with others such as the NZ Music Industry Commission’s successful delegation to the Midem 2002 trade fair and another delegation next January, will help to develop a thriving export industry.
The Ministers said the World Series follows on from the early November visit to New Zealand by nine British film producers as guests of the NZ Film Commission and Investment New Zealand. Five of those guests are now working with New Zealand producers to co-produce New Zealand feature films.
Both visits were funded from leveraging money allocated to capitalise on the increased attention on New Zealand as a result of the America’s Cup and The Lord of the Rings. The creative sector is one of three key sectors highlighted in the government’s growth and innovation strategy as having strong potential to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
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