So, we all know the deal by now. Kiwi FM fails because no one wants to listen to just New Zealand music all the time. Critics believe that the whole point of kiwi (with its listenership of less than 1% of Auckland's population) is simply a foil which has allowed Canwest (lead in NZ by one Brent Impey, by all accounts a man who is not all that passionate about NZ music) to prevent the "Youth Radio Network" from coming into existence. The government adds insult to the NZ music industry's injury by gifting Canwest 3 frequencies for 12 months, which to buy would have cost tens of millions of dollars. Steve Maharey has said that after 12 months the station will have to fend for itself financially, though without the burden of the cost of the frequencies, effectively it just has to break even and it will be a huge success for Canwest. Maharey has indicated that the main reason the Youth Radio Network is not yet in existence is that the money is not available to fund it, and under this logic it seems that such a network will not exist in the future either.
Why would Kiwi have success in other centres when it has failed so spectacularly in Auckland? Why did Maharey give international corporate Canwest what they wanted, quietly and without consultation, in spite of massive suport for the government-owned youth radio network from people like Neil Finn? How can we as the musicians of NZ protest what has happened? How can we make Kiwi completely unviable and give the government cause to change the decision so the frequencies are instead used for a Youth Radio Network?
Here are some ideas I have had: A website needs to be set up. Quotes can be emailed in to an email address set up for the site, from people such as Neil Finn, the Phoenix Foundation, Black Seeds, Shihad, Goldenhorse, Goodnight Nurse, Steriogram etc to send in their reasons for why the government needs to make a commerical-free government owned radio network their priority. These artists (crucially Mr Finn) could put their money where their mouths are and refuse to allow Kiwi to play their music. Gigs could be held to further strengthen the public awareness of the issue.
We only have to look as far as National Radio to see that government-owned radio stations means smart programming, intelligent informed hosts, huge support for up and coming NZ artists that currently have no national radio support outside the b-net and importantly programming driven by interest in the public good rather than commercial interests. Triple J in Australia has shown that a government funded national radio station can be enormously successful and beneficial to the inhabitants of a country, so why not here?
National Radio does its best to cater to people of all ages (and does very well considering), but there is a definite skew towards 35-50 year old listeners, which will likely go even older as the (majority) baby boomer generation ages. What NZ needs is a dedicated national radio station for people aged 15 - 35 offering the best new NZ and internationally produced music, documentaries, live performances in the studio, interviews with interesting people and more. It would allow many NZ musicians to reach a far bigger, more diverse audience than current channels allow, and indirectly would make being a musician in New Zealand a more viable career, through successful tours, CD sales and royalties. Tours would go from selling fairly well in major centres but not in the provinces to being sold out across the nation, as is already the case with artists like Bic runga, who get played on the existing networks. New Zealand CD sales would go up, NZ artists would regularly hit #1. Instead of the tried and true lowest common denominator pop dross that Canwest and TRN rely on, we would have a generation growing up listening to music selected purely for its artistic merit.
Your thoughts?
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I think the only ones supprised at Kiwi ...
I think the only ones supprised at Kiwi FM's failure were them politicians that made such a song and dance about the station when it launced and the sycophants who will say anything if it leads to a free lunch
Good on Neil Finn for saying what needed to be said - I imagine most musicians can't or won't be saying much as they and their labels etc won't want to rock the boat nor threaten potential funding avenues
I'm not a supporter of the Youth Radio Network concept and never have been. Though I do feel for those who have worked so hard to see perhaps the concept disappear or worse be handed to CanWest by proxy
I believe that the YRN concept is the stuff of bygone eras, the future is not in this sort of model.
and the future is definately not giving a fundamentally flawed and failed station frequencies and funding when there are other stations and businesses that could also do with a helping hand - businesses that have a long history of being youth and NZ music focused (the B.Nets as one example) and are 100% New Zealand owned
One can almost hear the laughter coming out of the CanWest boardroom... bet someones getting a nice bonus this year
maybe neil's opinion would have more ...
maybe neil's opinion would have more sway if he actually had a youth fan
The new GM of Kiwi FM (Karyn Hay) has ...
The new GM of Kiwi FM (Karyn Hay) has quite a different take on what is happening. She is quoted in today's ODT - I don't know what other newspapers are carrying the story. Sure, there is a one year period during which Can west is running these frequencies without having to pay for them, but then at the end of the year, there is to be a divorce between Canwest and the frequencies - the whole set up is to be transferred to a charitable trust (in much the same way as many of the iwi frquencies are structured around the countryside). On her way of seeing tings, it is more of a situation of the govt borrowing whatever expertise Canwest might have to get this running (and you really have to wonder what that might be, given the failure of Kiwi), and then Canwest bows out.
To me, that's not a completely stupid way of doing things - apart from the reservation about Canwes's ability to pull this off. It is not at all clear what the format of the station will be after a year - whether it will be NZ music or aimed at "youth", but I have to say, I can see no reason for a 100% kiwi music station being a spoiler for a YRN, in that kiwi hardly appealed to the youth market, a market which is not limited in its tastes to kiwi music. The various b-net stations are far more of a spoiler to a YRN than anything else - but in fact, where they exist, you could say they are already doing the job we'd expect any YRN to do and more - how many of our "youth" actually get a leg into the industry by being able to volunteer at a b-net station? Would they be able to do the same on a govt established YRN?
Kiwi is a smokescreen bro. it's not ...
Kiwi is a smokescreen bro. it's not meant to attract the audience that the YRN would have gotten, that is the point. Canwest don't want to give up The Edges listenership. Kiwi was simply meant to mean that there was no longer a need for a nationwide network championing local music because one already existed, albeit a shit one that nobody listened to. Kiwi was meant to detract from the debate for a YRN, it was a way that Canwest could take a failing station (Channel Z..one they killed on purpose) and make sure that their precious nationwide Edge network could never be threatened.
Canwest totally know what they're doing. They played this one masterfully. Everything went there way.
I agree that A YRN could be totally lame, i think its because the word "Youth" makes it appear to be some sort of lame ass network "for the kids, by the kids, about the kids", but this wasn't the case, I know though that Neil and friends were looking at The triple J network as a great model. A station that would act as a beaking station, placed between the bNet and commercial radio...where Channel Z used to be. Playing a heap of NZ music.
PS. The bNets were all in support of ...
PS.
The bNets were all in support of a Youth Radio Network.
Blink, you are wrong there, the bnets ...
Blink, you are wrong there, the bnets never were supportative, they were in fact pitching themselves as THE YOUTH NETWORK.
Since while there was not going to be any advertising on the Network it would draw off listeners reducing the "value" of advertising on them.
What i find interesting is the emphasis on the free Frequencies. Pardon me but all the bnet stations are on free frequencies, so are the IWI stations and Community stations.
And the issue of CANWEST Ownership, sorry move on the divide between local and international capitalism is illusionary, both are in it for the money, nationalism doesn't come into it (unless there is a $ to be made)
And the issue of making money, if the bnets had to pay market rates for rent, utilities etc and make a dividend for shareholders, well NZ would have comparable network to the UK (NADA) or America (insignificant)
Sorry but as a taxpayer I approve of the investment (which is non financial IE READ THIS IT AINT COSTING A Cent) much more than some of the hundreds of thousands spent via CREATIVE NZ on obscure arts and music projects which in reality act as a subsidy to people whom can't be bothered paying there own way.
I dislike ELEMONOP, THE FEELERS and all that SHITTY DAWN RAID CRAP, however their success means NZONAIR and CREATIVE NZ are able fund obscure acts like Ghostplane, The Coolies, The Sneaks and Die Die Die to ensure that they can continue to release music.
PS I dislike DIE DIE DIE actually, but what the fuck...
Go the Kiwi, I maynot listen but it doesn't mean I don't recognise its value.
// the bnets never were supportative, ...
// the bnets never were supportative, they were in fact pitching themselves as THE YOUTH NETWORK.
isn't that the same thing?
I've just written a massive long rant on this in this months alh. i can't be bothered commenting in short bursts on a forum and be misunderstood.
// much more than some of the hundreds ...
// much more than some of the hundreds of thousands spent via CREATIVE NZ on obscure arts and music projects which in reality act as a subsidy to people whom can't be bothered paying there own way.
haha. I am not even going to touch that can of worms you just opened.
"I dislike ELEMONOP, THE FEELERS and ...
"I dislike ELEMONOP, THE FEELERS and all that SHITTY DAWN RAID CRAP, however their success means NZONAIR and CREATIVE NZ are able fund obscure acts like Ghostplane, The Coolies, The Sneaks and Die Die Die to ensure that they can continue to release music."
Unless you can tell us something we don't know I can assure you that obscure acts like Ghostplane aren't reaping the benefits of acts like Elemeno P. All that funding sure as hell hasn't made it to our door.
The "yoof" in yrn was the death of it. ...
The "yoof" in yrn was the death of it. "Yoof " radio is a kind of baby boomers dream that sounds very lame and suspicious to (for want of a better phrase but it will do ) the "gen x" generation. We know how painful it is to have "yoof music " marketed to us by people who really are just trying to recapture an idealised version their own youth.
BUT HEY national public access radio is a great idea. I wish people who get hung up on the "yoof" bit would get over it. So an YRN may possibly suck for a few years but imagine having that frequency to play with. Imagine if it got into the hands of truly progressive, revolutionary people, it would be fucking amazing.
Commercial radio sucks period and every year it hits a new low. The b-net stations 1) aren't what they used to be and 2) some of the more important ones have bled listeners while failing to gain new ones and 3) despite trying to coordinate nationally will never have the clout of a public station that could GO EVERYWHERE, every small town in New Zealand. Lets get a public airwave now before they're all gone.
// Lets get a public airwave now before ...
// Lets get a public airwave now before they're all gone.
the Way of the Future is webcasting, where there is no limitation on airwaves.
surely it doesnt take much money or ...
surely it doesnt take much money or effort or people to set up a computer with windows media player or itunes and a bunch of albums on rotate. heck - I'll do it for 50 grand a year!
Absolutely! And you could have the ...
Absolutely! And you could have the computer update a website with what songs are playing/ have played ... dont even need presenters...!! All you need is a frequency and broadcast equipment..
I like this "non presenter" / albums ...
I like this "non presenter" / albums on rotate idea.
I know MY iTunes on random sounds better than any radio station - hahahahaha. :)
That is hardly surpising, as presumably ...
That is hardly surpising, as presumably you chose your own tunes whereas with any radio, whether automated or hosted, you're at the mercy of someone else's taste.
Well, duhhhhhhhh. There's an ...
Well, duhhhhhhhh.
There's an insurance company called State (the obvious).
Apparently (in the comments) not ...
Apparently (in the comments) not credited as likely, but the idea that this move could be an attempt to soften up CanWest for the release of a host of medium-powered frequencies that they are not allowed to bid on ...
[ external link ]
Happy NZ Music Month.....:) For some ...
Happy NZ Music Month.....:)
For some of us the best news about Kiwi Music month IS the news about the new Kiwi FM.. I thank Karen Hay for setting out to offer specialist shows. Fans of genres like Country Music, blues, Jazz and Folk miss out big time in New Zealand in not having a radio network that plays those genres. NZ music or otherwise. As NZOA funding is decided purely on airplay potential, those genres do not get much if any funding from government initiatives or airplay.
There are many in the New Zealand music industry who are not happy about Kiwi FM and are critical of Canwest being an "overseas company" being propped up by NZOA programming money and some free frequencies. I ask those artists criticising to look at the amount of funding their "overseas owned" record companies have got on their behalf over a periods of years picking up grant after grant from NZOA. Whilst artists at the top of their genre in NZ get 0 airplay and 0 funding. Simply because their is no radio station that plays their format in NZ.
I have no doubt that Karen Hay and her team will have a NZ Country music show and that will be the first time in NZ we have had a decent country music show happening in all 3 main centres. NZ Music or otherwise.
Just because an artist is not signed or currently airplayed in NZ, does not mean they are "obscure" as Neil Finn described on Frontseat or "not worthy"...which is the impression I took from his comment. In this country it can mean they are simply in a genre that is not backed by any radio or record company here.. Fortunately that is not a reflected opinion around the rest of the world..
Country music is huge in other parts of the world, so that genre is a fine example as is Jazz and Folk.
Unfortunately that means in NZ we basically only back a very small section of music here. Mainly Alternative, Rock, Rap and Hip Hop + a handful of singer/songwriters... the majority of which are either signed too or distributed by an overseas owned label and this music is basically what Kiwi FM has been playing as a failed concept.... !
I anticipate that the new launch of Kiwi FM will new fresh playlist which will cater for those who like to hear some good jazz or blues or country or folk or world music and host of other genres that are not catered for by other radio stations.
I am VERY glad that the government has stipulated a wider range of Genres as part of the deal !
For me the sadest part.. is to see an actual NZ iconic successful artist who has been funded all his musical life, with his "overseas owned" record company gaining assistance from the NZ tax payer via NZ On Air, his most recent hand out being last a 5k NZOA video grant in August 2005. Shouldn't their be some point in a successful musical career that those major companies can't get anymore small handouts ? Leaving the money for those that truly need it.
Additionally you can't throw stones at Canwest for being an "oversea company" proped up by the NZ Government when infact your own "overseas owned label " has its activities with NZ artists propped up by NZOA.. talk about the pot calling the kettle black !
I Wonder if you breakdown the 20% of Kiwi music being played across all stations. Taking away the music written by the Finn Brothers, Dave Dobbyn, The Feelers, Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Golden Horse and Brooke Fraser..from the equation.. How much would those 1/2 a dozen artist or so account for .. You'd probably find they count for well over 50% of the 20% actually being played..
[ http://www.southerncybermusic.com ]
Well, I think we're missing the point ...
Well, I think we're missing the point here a little...but you do make an interesting point regarding record labels, which are owned by (massive) overseas companies. Specifically, all major labels are part of the Big Four of the music business - Sony/BMG, Universal, EMI and Warners - which are in turn owned by much bigger umbrellas companies. So why should they get funding? Well, in a nutshell, a record label is a finance company, and when NZonAir gives that label a grant, IN THEORY that is money that instead of being lent to the artist (like all the other money they receive from the label, including paying for every drink, meal, plane trip, hotel room, through to recording studio session, guitar, backup singer, hooker, drugs, whatever), is actually given to them by the taxpayer (via the label) to go some way to helping them produce their music. The label is expected to match the grant dollar for dollar...but that money is actually out of the artists' pocket, so really, the artist is matching the grant dollar for dollar.
So really, this is quite a different issue. Where on one hand (the kiwi frequencies), a large international company is being gifted assets worth millions of dollars, on the other hand an individual artist or band is receiving funding from the government which they are expected to match to the last dollar as well, so it's only viable if you're already a successful musician (as is the case with Mr Finn). Where one example is recognising and supporting NZ musicians, the other example is supporting a big commerical entity with no interest but selling advertising.
Your argument about a country show is a little short-sighted. It will be a New Zealand music only country show - does that sound good to you? Every single week, just like everything else on kiwi, it's exclusively kiwi artists? So you wouldn't rather check out Rural Radio on bFM, with country music from all over the world AS WELL AS (get this) New Zealand? That is just one example of how Kiwi is flawed - if you had to choose, why would you choose exclusively Nz music over NZ music + International music? And that will be the case every time. If I feel like this as a New Zealand musician myself, how is Dave McDermott of Christchurch, who is studying commerce at Canterbury going to feel? Would he rather hear 8 Foot Sativa, Shihad, Metallica, Van Halen and The White Stripes on The Rock, or 8 Foot Sativa, Shihad and about 7 bands you've never even heard of on Kiwi? Because those are his choices. And I think that is Neil Finn's point. And I think that's why Kiwi is never going to fly.
...err, umbrella companies....not ...
...err, umbrella companies....not umbrellas....so just to clarify, the world is not controlled by evil umbrella merchants....probably
Did the govt stipulate that Kiwi had to ...
Did the govt stipulate that Kiwi had to add these genres/specialist shows...... or is this simply a means to open some (extra) purse strings at NZOA and possibly add a few extra listeners to a station so few bothered with (appointment listeners at that)
Whatever....
I would imagine that now Kiwi has the frequencies and is moving to a non profit status (dubious and flawed as that might and seems to be) I would assume that they will move onto a non commercial rate for their license fees - frequencies, apra and ppnz
if so Canwest has not only got the free frequencies, potentially some NZOA cash but are also in for lower over heads
and subsequently nz artists are getting a smaller return for having their music played on Kiwi (mark 2) than previously
I dunno, but I don't think we need Kiwi (as the market has shown) nor do I feel we need a YRN. We're over supplied in radio as it is and as such we're bloody spoilt for choice (soon to be even more spoilt if Dubber's Wireless post is correct).
Thinking out loud - perhaps its time for the govt to simply cut the purse strings to all but the new, emerging and unsigned local acts that need the most support and let the businesses whose business it is to release music or play it between ad's fund themselves
BFM is not in the 3 main centres.. ...
BFM is not in the 3 main centres..
Well in the absence of any National Country Music Show/Station .. a kiwi one is better than nothing at all, for the starved country music fans and theres a few more than one might think, I reckon.
We have some beautifully recorded music from NZ artists.. Kylie Harris last year Tui winner Recorded in Nashville this years nominee this years nominees for Album of the year Shane Warner and and Jaqui Watson .. both of their albums recorded in Nashville..
and there is no real support in the way of airplay for those artists in New Zealand and that seems wrong.
Theres some good stuff going on in the independent country music scene..we have some great cross over going on thats not too far away from Keith Urban and Shania who do get mainstream airplay....who you could almost call NZ music infact (one being born here and the other owning a significant chunk of the South Island ;-)
are not Canwest paying the wages and the running of Kiwi FM for the year.. being their part of the contribution though..
radio active has the Americana ...
radio active has the Americana show.
not sure about RDU.
no BFM isn't in the three centres, but ...
no BFM isn't in the three centres, but there are B.Net stations in all three, all of whom have a Jazz Show, two of whom have country/roots music shows (don't know about RDU) ... throw in George and the access stations, low power ones and there's actually quite a number of exisiting stations doing their bit for the locally released/produced styles that Kiwi may or may not add to their roster
Stations that don't ghettoise the music by nationality (outside of all of their NZ Music Shows) add balance to the listener - this is the fundamental flaw of kiwi, what sort of music fan (casual or passionate) only listens to the music from one country, (that isn't indigenous)?
Country Music stations have been tried and either got closed down or failed - surely the way forward for this genre is to be part of normal programming as Shania and Keith Urban have shown as well as being part of the already establised genre based shows on exisitng media
as for Canwest paying the wages - I am sure they will/are. yet again if compared to the potential profits and cross station advertising that they may now offer, those cost will/should be well offset by increased turnover/profit from whatever easy listening thing they put on the exisiting Kiwi frequencies - a win/win for them
Yes RDU has an alt country/folk-indie ...
Yes RDU has an alt country/folk-indie show it's called Throwing Shapes (7pm Wednedays). I too have strong reservations about Canwest being essentially gifted 3 frequencies to continue broadcasting a radio format that was a commercial failure - weird. But the main problem is the manner in which Canwest obtained them i.e. no consultation, tendering etc. Who in the Government thought this KiwiFM arrangement was a good idea? Besides have a 100% kiwi music station is just some weird nationalism gone wrong, and will it help NZ music get out to the Edge/ZM/Rock listeners? Anyway ,I think that there is still a gap where Channel Z was and I wonder whether the bnet will exploit that?
Yes RDU has an alt country/folk-indie ...
Yes RDU has an alt country/folk-indie show it's called Throwing Shapes (7pm Wednedays). I too have strong reservations about Canwest being essentially gifted 3 frequencies to continue broadcasting a radio format that was a commercial failure - weird. Don't they have enough of the FM frequency anyway? But the main problem is the manner in which Canwest obtained them i.e. no consultation, tendering etc. Who in the Government thought this KiwiFM arrangement was a good idea? Besides having a 100% kiwi music station is just some weird nationalism gone wrong, and will it help NZ music get out to the Edge/ZM/Rock listeners? Anyway ,I think that there is still a gap where Channel Z was and I wonder whether the bnet will exploit that?
Oh yeah, can you tell that I'm a total ...
Oh yeah, can you tell that I'm a total e-tard? Sorry folks.
12th May 2006. This is an open ...
12th May 2006.
This is an open letter in response to the recent publicity regarding KiwiFM and the temporary use of three frequencies in the upper FM band, in what is termed the reserved block.
National Radio and the Pacific Radio Network: Niu FM, both of which are government funded networks, have long-term licenses in the upper FM band, as do Planet FM (Auckland Access) and Coast Access (Kapiti). No one would argue the validity as to whether the Access stations should be allowed to remain there while they serve the public good and fulfil their obligations under the governments aims of difference and diversity on radio, and their obligation to support those outside the mainstream.
With the exception of Radio New Zealand, all radio stations that operate as non-commercial radio licensees can supplement their income from the sale of advertising, including all the Access and community stations and Niu FM. If this werent the case the taxpayer would be paying the entire bill.
KiwiFM is currently broadcasting in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on three CanWest owned and operated frequencies. That means they can do what they like with them, including looping the sound of waves lapping on the Maldives if they choose to (they dont.)
KiwiFM was not the dismal failure that many are using as a convenient argument for pushing their own overflowing barrows. In the recent radio survey it had 43,000 listeners - on a par with student radio, GeorgeFM and Niu FM. Listenership also went up in the latest ratings round. It was, however, losing a small amount of money in its first year.
As I was unhappy to see Kiwi go, I approached CanWest CEO, Brent Impey, and we subsequently presented government with a proposal to move onto three frequencies in the reserved block, at no cost to the taxpayer.
In order to fulfil the criteria to broadcast on these frequencies (and I have to add here that it was Brent Impey - He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in one particular quarter - who gave me the opportunity and the platform to find a solution) we agreed that we would work towards becoming a not-for-profit organisation and extend the Kiwi format to be more inclusive of a wider range of artists, including more specialist programming, and in doing so would provide a vibrant and diverse outlet for a burgeoning New Zealand music industry.
We applied for New Zealand On Air funding to make these specialist shows just as any radio station in the country has the right to.
At the end of one year, Kiwi has to have met its obligations under the government agreement to broaden its playlist and to embrace a wider range of New Zealand music.
CanWest cannot purchase the frequencies they are moving onto. They are not for sale.
The New Zealand Herald has been instrumental in misleading the public over this.
There is no tendering process which would have realised between $10 million and $20 million (NZ Herald Editorial May 9th: Sour notes in sound of local music ).
This agreement will not effectively provide millions of dollars worth of support to a commercial operator in an uncontestable process. (The New Zealand Herald May 6th quoting John McElhinney CEO of The Radio Network, CanWests chief radio competitor who own 1ZB, Hauraki, Flava et al, and in turn are owned by the same company that owns&the New Zealand Herald).
It is also propaganda to quote George FMs Jef Kay (New Zealand Herald May 4th) as saying the frequencies had a combined market value of more than $10 million and should have been put out for tender , without reporting the fact that the frequencies are not for sale.
Susan Wood on Close-Up (TVNZ May 5th) accused the government of providing CanWest with millions of dollars worth of support and Close-Up reporter John Sellwood literally shouted the same thing at me earlier in the day when he did his interview for the lead-in piece, and although I corrected him at the time, he chose not to include this in the story itself.
Regarding Neil Finn and his quest for a Youth Radio Network: Youth may very well benefit from a radio network such as this, and, yes, commercial radio operators did vigorously oppose it. (It was not supported by the holier-than-thou student stations either, who seem to have a permanent car park in the moral high ground when it comes to promoting themselves as anti-commercial when quite patently theyre not: their spin is just very clever.) Ultimately, none of these commercial operators have the power to reject the concept of a Youth Radio Network.
Perhaps the Youth Radio Network would have cost the taxpayer too much money, perhaps the concept was flawed: I have no idea. However, I dont see why we should all get our skipping ropes out just because Neil Finn says jump.
The KiwiFM agreement with government is not some skilful manipulation of the system as has been suggested (I personally briefed Neil Finn on the proposal months ago), nor is it some handout from government to the evil multi-national CanWest. Frankly I resent the implication that I would be supporting that.
What I am supporting is New Zealand music and New Zealand musicians, as we all do at KiwiFM (back on new frequencies, 102.2 Auckland, 102.1 Wellington, and 102.5 Christchurch from July).
Sincerely,
Karyn Hay,
General Manager,
KiwiFM
12th May 2006. In response to the ...
12th May 2006.
In response to the recent publicity regarding KiwiFM and the temporary use of three frequencies in the upper FM band, in what is termed the 'reserved block'.
National Radio and the Pacific Radio Network: Niu FM, both of which are government funded networks, have long-term licenses in the upper FM band, as do Planet FM (Auckland Access) and Coast Access (Kapiti). No one would argue the validity as to whether the Access stations should be allowed to remain there while they serve the public good and fulfil their obligations under the government's aims of difference and diversity on radio, and their obligation to support those outside the mainstream.
With the exception of Radio New Zealand, all radio stations that operate as non-commercial radio licensees can supplement their income from the sale of advertising, including all the Access and community stations and Niu FM. If this weren't the case the taxpayer would be paying the entire bill.
KiwiFM is currently broadcasting in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on three CanWest owned and operated frequencies. That means they can do what they like with them, including looping the sound of waves lapping on the Maldives if they choose to (they don't.)
KiwiFM was not the dismal failure that many are using as a convenient argument for pushing their own overflowing barrows. In the recent radio survey it had 43,000 listeners - on a par with student radio, GeorgeFM and Niu FM. Listenership also went up in the latest ratings round. It was, however, losing a small amount of money in its first year.
As I was unhappy to see Kiwi go, I approached CanWest CEO, Brent Impey, and we subsequently presented government with a proposal to move onto three frequencies in the reserved block, at no cost to the taxpayer.
In order to fulfil the criteria to broadcast on these frequencies (and I have to add here that it was Brent Impey - 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' in one particular quarter - who gave me the opportunity and the platform to find a solution) we agreed that we would work towards becoming a not-for-profit organisation and extend the Kiwi format to be more inclusive of a wider range of artists, including more specialist programming, and in doing so would provide a vibrant and diverse outlet for a burgeoning New Zealand music industry.
We applied for New Zealand On Air funding to make these specialist shows just as any radio station in the country has the right to.
At the end of one year, Kiwi has to have met its obligations under the government agreement to broaden its playlist and to embrace a wider range of New Zealand music.
CanWest cannot purchase the frequencies they are moving onto. They are not for sale.
The New Zealand Herald has been instrumental in misleading the public over this.
There is no 'tendering process which would have realised between $10 million and $20 million' (NZ Herald Editorial May 9th: 'Sour notes in sound of local music').
This agreement will not 'effectively provide millions of dollars worth of support to a commercial operator in an uncontestable process.' (The New Zealand Herald May 6th quoting John McElhinney CEO of The Radio Network, CanWest's chief radio competitor who own 1ZB, Hauraki, Flava et al, and in turn are owned by the same company that owns&the New Zealand Herald).
It is also propaganda to quote George FM's Jef Kay (New Zealand Herald May 4th) as saying the frequencies 'had a combined market value of more than $10 million and should have been put out for tender', without reporting the fact that the frequencies are not for sale.
Susan Wood on Close-Up (TVNZ May 5th) accused the government of providing CanWest with 'millions of dollars worth of support' and Close-Up reporter John Sellwood literally shouted the same thing at me earlier in the day when he did his interview for the lead-in piece, and although I corrected him at the time, he chose not to include this in the story itself.
Regarding Neil Finn and his quest for a Youth Radio Network: 'Youth' may very well benefit from a radio network such as this, and, yes, commercial radio operators did vigorously oppose it. (It was not supported by the holier-than-thou 'student' stations either, who seem to have a permanent car park in the moral high ground when it comes to promoting themselves as anti-commercial when quite patently they're not: their spin is just very clever.) Ultimately, none of these commercial operators have the power to reject the concept of a Youth Radio Network.
Perhaps the Youth Radio Network would have cost the taxpayer too much money, perhaps the concept was flawed: I have no idea. However, I don't see why we should all get our skipping ropes out just because Neil Finn says 'jump'.
The KiwiFM agreement with government is not some skilful manipulation of the system as has been suggested (I personally briefed Neil Finn on the proposal months ago), nor is it some handout from government to the 'evil multi-national' CanWest. Frankly I resent the implication that I would be supporting that.
What I am supporting is New Zealand music and New Zealand musicians, as we all do at KiwiFM (back on new frequencies, 102.2 Auckland, 102.1 Wellington, and 102.5 Christchurch from July).
Sincerely,
Karyn Hay,
General Manager,
KiwiFM
While you were at it, why did you not ...
While you were at it, why did you not go for a further frequency, for Dunedin? That's my only problem with this deal that has been done - that only those in the main centres get to benefit from it, whereas for a minor additional cost, we could have much more of the country covered.
Thanks Karyn, at least we get to ...
Thanks Karyn, at least we get to understand both sides of the story now. Not that either side makes any particular sense. I'm less interested in the corporate politics and more intesrested in how each option will/ could benefit (a) the public's choices and (b) the musician's chances. The proof will be in the programming... But, as Myshkin says... it's all academic for us south of Christchurch anyway.
Thats a good point.... judging by Kiwis ...
Thats a good point.... judging by Kiwis response (ie these fequencies are free, ie hold or have no commercial value) then surely the govt should be freeing up extra frequencies to allow Kiwi to be as national as possible - rather than only 3 centres. Imagine the potential to showcase tourists to our sounds if Kiwi was in Queenstown or Rotorua...
I wonder if extra centres were even considered or was part of the submission that they presented to Govt, or were they simply happy to ignore all but the 3 major centres, 3 markets that have a wealth of exisiting radio stations who play NZ Music - including 3 B.Net stations who will already no doubt be playing music from the genres that NZOA will now fund specialist shows on Kiwi for - OK Kiwis will be NZ only so there is a difference and that alone allows them to target NZOA funding as opposed to simply providing programming that entices listeners
I Dunno but karyn's response raises more questions than it even attempts to answer and other than bagging those who are not being supportive does little to actually inform us of anything we didn't already know
Maybe it boils down to what toys BCL ...
Maybe it boils down to what toys BCL has where? It would be nice to think they'd work on a bit more spread though.
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there are many issues I have with this ...
there are many issues I have with this whole thing...but what i don't get is WHY would Kiwifm work given one more year when it hasn't really worked before? From what I understand of the deal, the programming is to become even MORE all-over-the-place, alienenating the few people that are already tuned in. How is Kiwi going to turn its woes around in a year when the format has pretty much proven itself not to work?
I don't get it? Who out there wants to hear Blindspott, then Concord dawn, then Cassette, then Opshop, then Starlett, then Goldenhorse, then Battle Circus, then Carly Binding, then Rhombus, then The Feelers, then My Life Story. (this is actual KiwiFM "current" playlist)
Its like the most fucked up compilation CD ever. NZ music isn't a "genre". I wish all people were this opened minded and could love all genres from nu-metal to manufactured pop to pop punk to rock to drum and bass to indie rock to dub to metal etc...but unfortunately, most people like a couple of genres of music and they like to listen to those genres. Its not your fault that most people aren't more open minded...just a problem that means this station is only gonna be played by Retailers wanting to appear to be supporting "kiwi music" and the bands being played but not the general public. Most people will simply tune into either a Pop station, an indie station, a hip hip station, a rock station or just listen to their ipods.
good on ya for playing some good tunes, and playlisting some good bands. I'm playing some good bands on my home stereo as well. But nobodys listening to that either.
Rock - Karen Hay - Hard Place
I'm just bitter and twisted cause I miss Z, a station that used to "break" bands to the larger networks. Z's departure has left a MASSIVE gaping hole in the radio heirachy, and Kiwi ain't doing nearly enough to fill that gap.
sorry, that was meant to be as a reply ...
sorry, that was meant to be as a reply to Karens post.
aye.
and sorry I spelt your name wrong twice ...
and sorry I spelt your name wrong twice Karyn. I'm just ignorant.
I do see one major change - Karyn ...
I do see one major change - Karyn mentions getting NZ On Air funding for shows, so I'd imagine they'd move to have more of an appointment listening style, a bit like on C4 or all the B-Net stations with the specialist music shows rather than an all over the place compilation ("Jack") style.
so what genre is going to take up the ...
so what genre is going to take up the bulk of the day..ie: drive and breakfast shows? rock? pop? indie? alt-rock? MOR?
I don't even understand how KiwiFM can recieve NZOA funding. isn't NZOA funding meant to get "more" NZ content on the air? How can you get more then 100%? It doesn't make sense. Shouldn;t that funding go towards stations whose quota can be upped?
If the NZOA funding isn't to get more kiwi content on air...then it must be to make the station viable and keep afloat, so they can play kiwi music. But hasn't the govt giving them the use of the three frequencies already been enough of a hand?
I'm sure their must be some legit reason for all this...but to me it just doesn't add up.
Thanks for your comments et al. Kiwi ...
Thanks for your comments et al.
Kiwi only applied for three frequencies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch because they were the cities we were already broadcasting to; with some sort of 'infrastructure' in place - but of course it would be great to be able to reach a few more people. We have to fulfil our obligations under the government agreement first.
I'm sorry I don't have time to enter into an ongoing debate on this forum about music taste/programming etc but I don't think you'll find it's going to be MOR, and Blink there're a few Channel Z caps floating about the place if you want one :)
For those outside of AK, Wgtn and ChCh we're streaming on www.kiwifm.co.nz and also on TV on Sky 100 if you have that, but at the moment it's the 'old' format....all announcers bound and gagged in corner until July (10th we're aiming for).
will Kiwis obligations to govt be made ...
will Kiwis obligations to govt be made public?
is there something out there already?
Just to put a toe into the fray...the ...
Just to put a toe into the fray...the idea of a Youth Radio Network isn't new. 1999 saw the beginnings of a frequency allocation under the National Government. Jenny Shipley launched the initiative and there was lots of admittedly naive excitement. Turned out it was electioneering.
That's water under the bridge now. What is really a kick in the teeth is this happening under Labour and under a government where our Prime Minister is the Minister for the Arts. Because that's the true point of a YRN- it's not exclusively music, it supports the arts. A Youth Radio Network is a conduit for radio drama, discussion, comedy, and building of community among young people. Idealistic? Maybe. But it's not so far removed from the b-Net stations.
And frankly, I can't see any kind of alternative programming that Kiwi FM might offer even touching the potential of a YRN.
Beatrice, KiwiFM is not a replacement ...
Beatrice, KiwiFM is not a replacement for the YRN. There is more than one 'spectrum' available in the upperFM band. We did not, or did we ever intend to, replace the concept of a YRN. The frequencies to my knowledge are still available. This forum with its headline 'KiwiFm or Youth Radio network' is very misleading. The YRN sounds like a fine idea so why not get behind it and stop knocking this one. I, personally, think it's a great idea.
karen, surely you can see how kiwifm is ...
karen, surely you can see how kiwifm is simply a way of canwest keeping a yrn off the air so as not to dent The Edges masive listenership. Kiwifm exisiting means that there is already a network (although small) "supporting" local music that is already funded by the government. the govt won't get behind another project while kiwifm exists.
canwest don't give a fuck about local music. they just don't want to lose The Edges dominance over the youth market in NZ. the YRN threatned this.
maybe its all a conspiracy...but it all seems to work out so well for canwest and everybody else loses.
Sorry, beatrix it is!...
Sorry, beatrix it is!
It seems highly unlikely that more ...
It seems highly unlikely that more frequencies will be handed over. If we could have both that would be fantastic. And I can understand the government supporting a station that already has an infrastructure. But I'm sure Kiwi FM can equally understand why this move must appear frustrating to others that would have potentially lobbied for the frequencies.
So, no it's not one or the other. But this looks like a move that will placate a lot of people who would have otherwise supported something more wide reaching. So it does hurt the YRN.
Yeah! I celebrate the governments move ...
Yeah! I celebrate the governments move to put more emphasis on more genres of Kiwi Music!!! Go Karen and team, Go Can West! Maybe we'll hear more of our music icons like The Windy City Strugglers, Rick Bryant and The Jive Bombers, not to mention other less known musicians who have not had the opportunities to be heard on mainstream radio. It's just sad that those who have a negative POV over this frequency decision cannot see the benefits that this will have for those less known or recognised musicians who may well not play Rock/Pop/Funk/Rap etc, but may hammer out a bit of Country/Folk/Kiwi Jazz/ etc, which many mature folk with disposible income would love to hear with the potential to purchase albums from these independants. The multis have had their pick of NZ talent and have had NZ on air funding given to their artists for recording and video... to the point where the indies, in all reality, have had bugga all...may this herald a change for the better for those struggling artists wishing to be heard. Go Kiwi musos and take full advantage of what Kiwi FM has to offer, I can see no negative outcome through this decision. I know Can West is Canadian, but that never stopped NZ on Air giving funds to Major Recording Companies for NZ artists on their labels, so why should those same artists split hairs over this decision?
// Maybe we'll hear more of our music ...
// Maybe we'll hear more of our music icons ...
// not to mention other less known musicians who
// have not had the opportunities to be heard on mainstream radio.
And having them played on Kiwi changes that ... how?
// The multis have had their pick of NZ talent and have
// had NZ on air funding given to their artists for
// recording and video... to the point where the indies,
/ in all reality, have had bugga all..
I think if you look at the figures closely, the indies have had a decent proportion of the NZ On Air music funding over the years.
So where do I find those figures? Are ...
So where do I find those figures? Are they up for public scrutiny? It doesn't really matter anyway, the point I guess I'm trying to make here is...
We all know that there's piles of dosh behind Majors... but there's sweet fanny adams behind the Kiwi Indies...so why should NZ on Air even give handouts to artists signed by these corps who don't need it to finance state of the art recordings...those handouts are chicken feed to these guys, but are like a pot of gold to the little kiwi muso guy. But aside from that... to even figure for NZ on air funding the artist has to be deemed to be airworthy to be fund friendly by people who work in the industry, like radio programmers, so if Kiwi FM will offer those `not so mainstream' artists the opportunity to be `airplayed' then there maybe a glimmer of hope for those muso's who normally wouldn't get a look in to get appraised with open eyes and maybe ...gasp...qualify for funding.
// So where do I find those ...
// So where do I find those figures?
// Are they up for public scrutiny?
at the nz on air website. they publish all their funding round recipients.
http://nzonair.govt.nz/music_detail.php?pid=510&sid=500&hid=501
and there's been pleny said on the topic on these forums. here's a good starter, with a few other links within it that'll keep you reading long into the night.
http://www.nzmusic.com/topic.cfm?i=7286&show=all
scroll down about a quarter of the page on that initial topic, though, and you'll find some breakdowns of indie-to-major label funding (admittedly, just for the year of 2003, but it's a pretty good indication of how the system seems to work).
// those handouts are chicken feed to these guys, but are like a
// pot of gold to the little kiwi muso guy.
the local majors are hardly awash in money. Just witness the recent layoffs at FMR and the 'restructuring' at Sony in 2004 for proof of that. The funding local major labels gets allows them a little leeway in signing bands they might not otherwise takes risk with. I'm pretty sure the total number of NZ bands signed to major labels is well up on what is was pre-NZ On Air funding, but that's just a guess. I'm sure noizy will ride to my rescue with some actual figures.
// so if Kiwi FM will offer those `not so mainstream' artists
// the opportunity to be `airplayed' then there maybe a glimmer
// of hope for those muso's who normally wouldn't get a look in to
// get appraised with open eyes and maybe ...gasp...qualify for funding.
it won't happen. Just because one (low-rating) commercial station might play your country song on their specialist country&western show, doesn't mean NZ On Air are suddenly going to start coughing up money because of this increased probability of it getting 'commerical' airplay.
latest video funding round, for ...
latest video funding round, for example...
video funding
indies: 23
majors: 4
radio hits
indies: 6
majors: 0
album funding
indies: 2
majors: 0
so, a total of 31 indie projects funded, and 4 major label projects.