Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton and Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey announced today an investment of $5.4 million to support export growth of the New Zealand music industry.

The package, which includes $2 million for the NZ Music Industry Commission and $3.4 million for NZ on Air, has been developed in response to the report of the Music Industry Export Development Group.

Image: The Datsuns in the UK...Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton and Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey announced today an investment of $5.4 million to support export growth of the New Zealand music industry.

The package, which includes $2 million for the NZ Music Industry Commission and $3.4 million for NZ on Air, has been developed in response to the report of the Music Industry Export Development Group.

Image: The Datsuns in the UK..."Recommendations proposed in the Music Industry Export Development Group report - Creating Heat have largely been supported and I thank the industry for its commitment to this group," Jim Anderton said.

"This comprehensive package of support aims to build a strong, sustainable, music industry, with good access to export markets. It represents significant government support, and builds the conditions for growth in the sector. It is a call to action for the industry to work in partnership with the New Zealand Music Industry Commission (NZMIC) and take the music industry to new heights', Jim Anderton said.

"Over the next three years $444,000 per year will be provided to the New Zealand Music Industry Commission (NZMIC) to fund a music specific market development grants programme aimed at encouraging both domestic and international market growth. NZMIC will also receive additional funding of $178,000 per year, starting 1 July 2005, to undertake new
domestic initiatives and to support artists to become 'export ready'," The Minister for Economic Development, Jim Anderton said.

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said new funding of $850,000 a year would be delivered to NZ On Air for its International New Zealand music airplay strategy.

"This strategy aims to increase the amount of New Zealand music being broadcast domestically and internationally," Steve Maharey said. "Raising the profile of Kiwi music overseas will help to strengthen the New Zealand music industry and ensure we get to hear more Kiwi music at home."

Full speech notes available at www.beehive.govt.nz

Background note

The government's continued support for the industry reflects the importance of the music industry to New Zealand, both culturally and economically. The benefits include: raising our international profile as a modern creative nation, enhancing career paths, reinforcing pride in country and culture, and growing allied industries.

The new music specific grants programme offers 50 per cent of funding with a minimum grant of $5,000 and maximum of $60,000 to support artists and/or their representatives to: undertake market scoping visits, develop networks, and to utilise in-market expert services.

The domestic initiatives will promote greater use of New Zealand musical content in film and television and support the development of the music publishing sector. The music industry's information base and legal advice will be developed and statistics on the economic contribution of
the music sector will be improved.

A screen production music CD targeting the wider international audience will be developed and support provided to industry bodies. NZMIC will work towards resolving issues restricting the New Zealand music touring
business and will be tasked with raising awareness of New Zealand composers in screen productions.

The Creating Heat recommendations on the protection of intellectual property in the music industry are being addressed as part of a wider programme of work being undertaken by government.

Government funding provided to the broader music sector over the past three years, totals almost $75 million (excluding music related funding provided to activities such as radio, film and television).

On top of this, an average of over $5.14 million in government funding has been provided directly to the contemporary music industry each year since 2001. The package of funding announced here will be additional to
this existing level of support, bringing the total support for
contemporary music to $6.61 million.

NZ On Air's Phase Five Five Point Plan is an extension of NZ On Air's
current domestic hit disc and promotional strategies which aim to
increase New Zealand music played on New Zealand radio. The Plan builds
on NZ On Air's Phase Four music schemes, and adapts some of its work for
international promotion purposes which will in turn stimulate the NZ
industry and drive up the quantity of NZ music being broadcast
domestically.

The Plan will use five strategies including New Zealand music samplers and radio shows for New Zealand and overseas airplay, and an international radio and music media "tastemakers" network. These strategies will drive up our domestic industry's broadcasts of, and investment in, New Zealand artists and repertoire. NZ On Air's Phase
Four music schemes will continue to be the foundation of NZ On Air's New Zealand music work.

Press Release by New Zealand Government at 12:14 PM, 19 Apr 2005