The New Zealand music industry is a hard market to break into, but a new record distribution label could see more local talent hitting the airwaves.
Based in Cambridge, Ara Tipu is an independent organisation that targets new and emerging artists. The New Zealand music industry is a hard market to break into, but a new record distribution label could see more local talent hitting the airwaves.
Based in Cambridge, Ara Tipu is an independent organisation that targets new and emerging artists.Their mission is to help these artists get recognised through promotional CDs and DVDs.

Co-Director of Ara Tipu, Stewart Macfarlane, says the name means 'pathway to
growth' - which is exactly what they hope artists will gain from working with
them.

"Ara Tipu is the result of real frustration in the music industry. It is
also, we hope, a great change for artists trying to break through to success."

Macfarlane says there is a large crevice in the New Zealand music industry
which too many artists slip through.

"A good example of this is Hayley Westenra - she was missed by New Zealand on
Air because they said there was no room for a soprano. The Datsuns are
another, they too were missed and then they went overseas and made it!"

He says they accept most genres of music, as long as it is commercially
friendly and does not contain explicit lyrics.

Artists can send their tracks into Ara Tipu and if it is accepted, it will go
onto a radio promotions disk which is then circulated around New Zealand radio
networks. As well as this, it will also be forwarded to major distribution
labels and music magazines for review purposes.

Ara Tipu are willing to work with anyone who shows talent and unlike New
Zealand on air, they make their selections based entirely on talent - not
track record.

Ara Tipu now have their website up and running, so for further information,
check out www.aratipu.co.nz

Story by Christine McCafferty