PRESS RELEASE

21^st February 2012

IMNZ responds to KIWI FM’s format change.

IMNZ represents NZ-owned labels and distributors that handle the bulk of New Zealand recorded music and the diverse artists who perform those songs – a significantly large sector of which have received airplay and support via Kiwi FM.

While IMNZ understands the nature of the recent change in format (to 60% NZ music/40% elsewhere) for Kiwi FM is designed to reach a larger audience for the non-profit station, the hope is that in doing so Kiwi FM’s handlers will continue to programme “a diverse and interesting range of NZ songs, not just limiting itself to a formulaic ‘Nature’s Best’ style playlist” said IMNZ’s chairman Ben Howe, earlier this afternoon.

IMNZ knows there is an abundance of great local content readily available from independent sources, where the majority of NZ music is being created – the excellent quality and amount of album nominations received for the Taite Music Prize 2012 will testify to this.

Additionally, IMNZ are hopeful that the new formatting will bring a positive change to the radio market in the alternative / non-commercial field. IMNZ spokesperson Ben Howe says “we would wish to remind everyone that Kiwi FM’s frequencies were put aside for public access radio of some sort and we advocate a radio entity that has the ability to grow a decent audience, support local music and break new artists – as has been successfully done in Australia with Triple JJJ.”

About IMNZ:

IMNZ represents over 70 recording labels all of which are 100% New Zealand owned. IMNZ represents 80-85% of New Zealand recorded music and aims to preserve cultural diversity in the domestic market. It operates to assist its member labels with domestic, export and industry issues.

IMNZ News

International and Industry Action

Otis Mace, Sandra Bell and Jay Clarkson are three of the eight New Zealand poets being sent to New York for a very special event. For two years Jim Wilson travelled to cities and towns throughout the USA and put poem posters by Kiwi poets on poles, walls and in cafes and stores. Then a dedicated group of volunteers also put these poem posters up in cities around the world from London, Glasgow, Paris and Vienna through to Sydney, Australia. Back home in New Zealand, Wilson's company Phantom Billstickers Ltd has put up thousands of Kiwi poems on walls and poster bollards from Invercargill to Whangarei. Now eight of New Zealand's finest poets bring their voices, hearts, and words to a live performance poetry event in New York City.
The Poets From New Zealand to Perform in New York on February 28, 2012 are:
Jeffrey Paparoa Holman / David Eggleton / Hinemoana Baker / Sandra Bell / Jay Clarkson / Pamela Gordon (reading Janet Frame) / Otis Mace / Tusiata Avia

New release fanfare
Almost one year ago on February 22, Christchurch, New Zealand was rocked by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in which 181 people tragically lost their lives. The rest of the country mourned alongside the devastated city, the collective national grief over nature's wrath seemingly magnified on a global scale a month later when Japan was rocked by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in which over 18,000 people lost their lives. To this day, both nationally and internationally, the healing and rebuilding process continues. Music Collective The Hypnotics have written and recorded an original track called "Be Right There" in the hope that it may bring comfort and positive inspiration to all those affected.

On the live front
This Saturday February 18 set aside an afternoon to hear one of the most acclaimed melodic pop bands in New Zealand play at the unique venue Silo Park. The Phoenix Foundation will be gracing the Silo Park stage with their unique blend of catchy pop tunes and psychedelic rock, an act suited to attending on a balmy summer’s day. They will be ably supported by Bannerman - if his new album, Dearly Departed, is anything to go by, be prepared for quiet corners of folk, jaunty alt country, some serious guitar brutality and hope-filled pop torch-songs. Not only does Bali have kickass surf, it's also home to some seriously heavy metal - like, in the literal sense. Balinese gamelans are an arsenal of heavy bronze percussion instruments; exotic, frenetic and furious, and Wellington-based group Gamelan Taniwha Jaya has reinvented the live songs of Minuit which they'll be blasting out together on stage for the first time at Homegrown this weekend.

Around the World
Jamie Oliver finds Joy Division and New Order master tapes in basement
Naked Chef Jamie Oliver discovered a haul of treasure worth over one million pounds in the basement of a Manchester restaurant he recently bought. Holy Moly reported that among the jewels, gold and a collection of guns were rare Joy Division and New Order master tapes. The restaurant building was previously a branch of Midland bank. The musical goldmine was hidden in a safety deposit box among hundreds of other boxes under the old bank. Attempts to find the owners of most boxes were futile so the Bank of England opened each using a drill. The celebrity chef has since given all the findings to the national treasury. Later this month, New Order will make their first visit to Australia and New Zealand in ten years.
http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-news/artists/2012/02/15/jamie-oliver-finds-joy-division-and-new-order-master-tapes-in-basement/