New Zealand music buffs will continue to hear the newest local music on commercial radio stations throughout the country in 2015, with funding from NZ On Air confirmed for a total of 23 hours of local new music programmes a week across 11 networks.

New Zealand music buffs will continue to hear the newest local music on commercial radio stations throughout the country in 2015, with funding from NZ On Air confirmed for a total of 23 hours of local new music programmes a week across 11 networks.

As part of its music mission to get more local music heard on radio NZ On Air sponsors radio programmes that introduce listeners to new artists and new songs. In 2015 NZ On Air will spend over $330,000 sponsoring 11 NZ music programmes on diverse radio stations.

“Even with the internet revolution, 60% of the population still say they hear about new music on the radio. In addition to funding and promoting radio-ready songs for airplay, by sponsoring these programmes we help New Zealand artists connect new songs with audiences,” says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.

NZ On Air has also confirmed funding for a family-oriented Christmas programme broadcast on Newstalk ZB. The award-winning Christian Broadcasting Association will be back with Christmas 2014, bringing a magazine-style range of content on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The youth audience is also catered for with another year of Sealed Section, a wellness programme broadcast on ZM.

The diversity of publicly funded music is further boosted with NZ On Air’s investment in classical music. NZ On Air is continuing its support of the Resound project for another year. Resound is a project to increase the amount of New Zealand-composed music available to Radio New Zealand Concert for broadcast and for online access via the sounz.org.nz website.
Funding details

Music programme sponsorship

• As Kiwi As 2015, NZME.Radio for The Hits, 35 per week x 5 mins, $40,000
• Backyard Beats 2015, Mediaworks Radio for Mai FM, 28 per week x 5 mins, $40,000
• Fresh Produce 2015, NZME.Radio for Flava FM, 20 per week x 5 mins, $30,000
• Homegrown 2015, Rhema Media for Radio Rhema & Life FM, 3 per week x 60 mins, $30,000
• Locals Only 2015, NZME.Radio for Radio Hauraki, 33 per week x 5 mins, $30,000
• Soundcheck 2015, Mediaworks Radio for The Rock, 28 per week x 5 mins, $40,000
• The Anatomy Of A Song 2, RDU 98.5FM for RDU & RNZ National, 2 per week x 10-12 mins, $25,260
• The Jump 2015, Mediaworks Radio for George FM, 20 per week x 5 mins, $20,000
• The Slab 2015, Mediaworks Radio for The Edge, 20 per week x 5 mins, $50,000
• The Word 2015, NZME.Radio for ZM, 20 per week x 5 mins, $50,000
• Wired 2015, Mediaworks Radio for More FM, 30 per week x 5 mins, $40,000

Special Interest programmes

• Christmas 2014, 1 x 6hrs & 1 x 12hrs, Christian Broadcasting Association for Newstalk ZB, $17,090
• Sealed Section 2014/15, 40 x 90mins, The Radio Network for ZM, $49,000

Other

• Resound 2015, Centre for NZ Music Trust (Sounz), $130,000
• Fresh FM, Transmitter relocation, Tasman Broadcasting Trust, $24,759

Media Release: NZ On Air 
17/12/2014