// why do they need more exposure, they are doing a national tour..have just recieved $60,000 from NZOA and have had 2 big hits with rock radio, they've played in cananda, the US, UK, Australia, have radioplay in several countries (apparrently), played SXSW, BDO...buddy, how much more help do they need?
Sure, so they're doing pretty well. But they're not exactly a Pacifier or Datsuns are they. they're not tearing up the charts. Just because they are doing ok doesn't mean they're millionaires. personally i think it's great the guys are getting more airplay.
// Don't defend zm, there are tons of pop bands out there who haven't had commercial radio hits, who need more help then evermore
I'm not defending ZM, i'm simply explaining the truth about commercial radio. They're in it for the money, not the feel good factor of making someone famous.
Apologies for me implying that you think Evermore are a good band. obviously i read a little too much into what you said with regard to 'no dig at nzoa'.
// Can you imagine ZM taking a risk like backing some unsigned band to appeal to the ZM audience? i strongly doubt it. And in some ways, that's fair enough.
fair enough...ah, no...isn't that what the competition is about? taking an unsigned band and giving them a leg up?
I totally see your point and yes they SHOULD have got an unsigned band. But what you have to understand is that all ZM wanted out of this was to be seen in the public eye doing some good for kiwi music. Now i know that the likes of you and I know damn well that Evermore didn't fit the criteria for the competition, but do you think half of the ZM listeners realise that? no.
Personally, i'm a big supoorter of kiwi music and think there should be more competitions like this, and thank god we have a radio station like Channel Z who we should all take our hats off to because, while remaining first and foremost a commercial radio station, take on the added responsibility of promoting New Zealand music to the best of it's ability.
The thing you have to remember about most of these other stations is that they are a business. They don't care about the New Zealand music industry. Some people may think they do, but at the end of the day, all these stations REALLY care about is that when that survey time rolls around, they've got a really good competition running so that if you happen to be selected to take part in the radio survey, you're gonna listen in to havea shot at winning 50 grand, so therefore you're gonna tick their boxes, so they get the ratings to bump up the cost of advertising for their clients. why? cos it's a BUSINESS that's there to make money.
Commercial stations have NO RESPONSIBILITY to promote kiwi music as sad as that seems. that is why we should be thankfull that stations do make SOME effort, and, as i say, look at the bright side of this ZM debacle and be happy for Evermore that they are getting some more exposure.
Yeah fair call i say. I agree, Evermore are doing great things and certainly deserve what they get from NZOA.
The only possible thing i could say in ZM's defence is that radio is a risky business, and you have to be kinda careful not to upset your listeners. By setting up this competition they were taking a huge risk and i'm sure if you asked those who organised it, their intention from the start probably would have been to get a band who actually fits the following criteria, rather than the ones they set out:
- Gets enough airplay on Channel Z (the only station who seems to give a shit about supporting kiwi music) for people who pay attention to know who Evermore are, but not enough that every man and his dog know who they are
- the band must have a style similar to that of Kelloggs breakfast cereal (not too heavy, not too light) to fit in with the ZM sound
- and be good enough and catchy enough that the fickle ZM listeners will actually be happy with the band they select, and won't tune into The Edge as soon as the song comes on.
And lets be honest, Evermore basically fit the bill here. Can you imagine ZM taking a risk like backing some unsigned band to appeal to the ZM audience? i strongly doubt it. And in some ways, that's fair enough.
The only good thing that has some out of this i guess is that a great kiwi band is getting some more exposure where they weren't originally getting it, and that's a good thing if you ask me, despite ZM not delivering on the promises made in the rules of their own competition.
Hey guys, here's my deal on the funding issue.
I totally hear you guys who are saying it's the same groups/artists who consistantly get the funding from NZOA. I'm sure there are truckloads of groups out there who are doing awesome stuff and working really hard and deserve a bit of help. But i think you have to look at it from NZOA's point of view aswell. They only have a fairly small amount of cash to dish out to these groups in what is a growing, but still relatively small industry. I think the conditions they have in place are fair enough. If every group/artist who wanted funding got exactly the same amount of funding from NZOA then we would have sh*tloads of bands who aren't really doing that well. Don't you think it's best then, when we are at such promising stage, that we help out the best we have to offer, give them the exposure they need and deserve, which will open up our market to the world and slowly build interest in the other great bands we have to offer.
Don't get me wrong, I know as well as you guys that we have some great talent in this country, bet we have to learn to walk before we can run. Let the likes of Pacifier, the D4, Blindspott, etc who are doing great things, give them the help they need so that off-shore interest will eventually come here to New Zealand to find out where it all happens. But none of this will happen if we don't give the big boys (and girls) the help.
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And by giving these guys the help, they will create enough smoke for people to realise there is a big f*ck off fire goin down here. But if we only hand out sparklers to everyone, we'll just fizzle out without anyone taking notice.
Heard the EP just the other day gentlemen, very nice.
Butch is still a sick and twisted little boy tho.
I think it's really great that NZ hip hop is finally starting to make a name for itself, about time i say.
At the same time, i really think the only one (apart from Che Fu who has already shown his worth) who looks to have the goods is Scribe. That guy's just got a real presence about him, a great performer, i think he could definitely go a long way with Mr Money along side him.
But we'll see :)
I personally don't have a problem with the Telecom ad in question here. I mean, why not look at this positively: it gives some cool exposure to some New Zealand groups/artists who, lets face it, don't get a hell of a lot, so it can only be good really. And i think you have to take you're hat off to Telecom for (while i'm not sure what their whole hearted intentions were) getting involved in a prospering kiwi music market and wanting to expose it further to the country.
I think Che Fu and the rest of the crew are far from selling out on the ad, and good on them for doing it :)
I'm not a huge Blindspott fan, but i think this is something for us all to be proud of. Keep up the good work boys!!
Blew me away at True Colours 2003. Thanks for the interview Liam!
You are exactly right Davesubside. People who are interested in NZ music DON'T listen to ZM. That's why i'm saying, shitty competition aside (and yes, it is shitty and they fucked up big time by choosing a band that doesn't fit their own criteria), at least they're trying to play some more kiwi music, which I thought would have been the main hope for everyone here.