Q1: yeah , but who knows what it is. i guess it depends what genre of music you play or listen to?
Q2: i don't think many artists can make (decent) money in n.z. and there isn't much money in the industry at a whole, so nz artists have to work that much harder. i guess that could be part of the nz music identity.
Q3: As a metal band the government isn't doing much for us. we rang the council to see if they could help us find a practice space but they didn't give a toss.
There's an artists allowance/benifit you can get but it would be impossible to afford rent,food,gear maintenance/upgrades,practice place rent etc. etc. etc. on that alone.
i think the government has bigger worries at the moment anyway. e.g. child internet porn etc.
i'd say "help out the nz music scene" is around no. 1,982,596,787 on thier 'things to do list'.

A NZ music identity?

It might have during the flying nun/indie era of the 80's and early 90's
It's more commercial now and probably too segemented into genres for a common sound to happen.
The closest thing might be urban pacific dub/hip hop.

I know this isn't really relevant so sorry I'm new to this forum stuff! Well its to do with NZ music scene anyway! I'm going to be moving to Wellington late April from England, so I'm used to our music culture. From what I can see there doesn't appear to be much difference but what is the music scene like? Is there much in the way of R&B or soul, and whats the rock/gig scene actually like? Any comments appreciated so I can get a feel for it before I arrive!

Oikos. What I have to say is not what you will expect to hear. There are thousands of skilled artists in NZ all with industrious intentions in a young rising market. The older USA market is undergoing intensive change. The future is far more dramatic than we could possibly imagine.

When a contract is signed it is deemed to be confidential. The nature of the agreement can not be communicated. Therefore, artists may not communicate with one another and determine possible injustices. The truth is they have been occuring for quite some time.

While the NZ music scene is slowly "coming together" much information is biased coming from within industy itself , and not from artist experience of industry. So your questions are interesting. Where does one go for the truth?

The truth is that the NZ music industry will become what we make it. Are we prepared to unlearn our helplessnes and take ownership and responsibility? This is also an important question.

Contracts are generally like this (I am over simplifying this - but the theme is true). The artists just wants to make the music. The Record Company just wants to make the money and minimise the risks. The artist gets 10%of the gross (turnover) and the record company gets 90%. The production costs come out of the artists 10%. In NZ the production costs are the same as anywhere in the world, but the size of the market limits the income potential. Many artists end up owing the Record Company money due to production costs exceeding the artists gross.

The basic problem is that artists "Just want to make the music" and are not interested in the business. So they give away their power by relinquishing responsibility. The time for LEARNED HELPLESSNESS is fast disappearing as artists realise they are being "milked" like a fresian cow.

The record companies are vital to artists and so artists can not enter into a mindset of blame. Artists must adapt their consciousness to accept they are in the music BUSINESS.

I am involved at the Industry NZ level and have spoken with Cheryll Sotheran. I own several businesses including a record label called Oikos Records Ltd. I find the current system abhorant and I am developing fromt he ground up a new system which is founded on the following precepts; (1) the artists should own their music (2) the artists should own their own business (3) the artists should have creative licence / control.

At the moment Industry NZ is setting up a task force which will determine the direction of the "Creative Industries Sector". Rianz are an importer. Industry NZ is supposed to be about EXPORT. NZ Artists need to be aware that those with power will uphold it unless artists get off their ass and do something. Industry NZ wants to help but looks to those who are obvious. Those who are obvious have their own biases and so the industry will not be represented appropriately.

if you would like to know more you can email me
oikos.adsl@xtra.co.nz

Now is the time for NZ musicians to evolve and understand their true value and potential and to use the mechanisims which are supposed to be there to support us.

I am just one of you.
Oikos.

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