Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: "Creative" and "Flexible"

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  • Paul Litterick,

    fifedoms

    Fiefdoms. A fifedom would be like the Kingdom of Fife or a country run by fifers.

    As you were.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Gordon Dryden,

    For those of you (it seems many on this discussion website) who tend to support (in each case) the "public" versus "private" divide:

    1. "Public service" radio (for at least 11 months out of 12) seems to leave the "private stations" in NZ way behind.

    2. The exception is the summer holiday month when "National Radio New Zealand" changes its entire character and ends up largely as crap (leaving "full-time working partners" wondering why their partners continue to rave over what they take part in each day during the rest of the year).

    3. PR Lesson for Radio NZ National: make sure to balance the debate next Christmas-New Year by providing the same sort of (at least) 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekday programs you provide in the rest of the year.

    4. TV3's "Campbell Live" tonight ("private" station) left TV One's "Close-up" ("public service?") wallowing in its slipstream. (But not always.)

    5. While PBS in the US is generally way behind Radio New Zealand National in its daily current affairs programs, PBS has some wonderful sponsored weekly "public affairs" programs. For example, read Michio Kaku's great book Visions ("How science will revolutionize the twenty-first century"), and you see how one great theme (interviewing an excellent scientist every week) can transform a needed public debate on positive alternatives.

    6. Consider how Brian Edwards' Saturday morning program on Radio New Zealand National (Brian was formerly a daily talkshow host on private "Radio Windy" on Wellington) was so much better (in my view) than Kim Hill today (while Kim was brilliant on daily National Radio). ("Tone" in radio, for the time of the day and day of the week, is as important as content alone. Kim had a brilliant "daily" radio interviewing "tone" ("Here was the news this morning: here is the vital background today") but has never struck the same "weekend tone today" (except for, in the main, "cultural matters". Brian the opposite.

    7. Radio New Zealand's National's "The Panel" on weekdays from 4 to 5 is, unfortunately, about on a par with much current daily "private" radio talkback. Perhaps even worse, because the same "celebrities" seem to bounce back regularly.

    8. Concert Radio? Narrow-casting - which is not the niche denominator online in the new digital century.

    9. And Noelle McCarthy as the summer-holidays star? Surely that is plot by someone to show those working during the day most of the year that Radio New Zealand National doesn't deserve State support. But

    10. I guess one big resulting quandary: what is the main role now of "broadcast media" (on the one hand) versus either bigoted broadcast niches (Fox News in the US ) or blog-based, mainly one-sided contributions on Websites?

    11. Ah for an equivalent to Michio Kaku's weekly "Visions" program on weekend Radio New Zealand National — and then a follow-up online discussion on positive alternatives to the viewpoint presented (by online I mean on-radio with the scientific-guest answering questions and extending discussions on major issues; and then this present type of discussion —in an open-minded way—on websites).

    Finally, book publishing is finally entering its biggest change-period since the invention of moveable type and the mass-produced book 560 years ago. Radio and television are entering a similar crunch-point. Hats off to the BBC, under its current leadership, for leading the drive to digitize its incredible library of great TV programs and making them available to the world.

    And if you'd like to look at the future of video-audio-print combined, here are a couple of sites:

    http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/the-wired-ipad-app-a-video-demonstration/

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    A maori network, yes, but it's not nation wide unless you've got sky.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • bronwyn,

    I know this is not a discussion about CNZ, but Sacha, I can't let your list of CNZ music grant recipients go by without comment.

    Yes, string quartets feature on the list more than once, but the rest of the list is actually reasonably diverse: I can see free jazz musicians, exponents of sound arts, performers of "new music", a student of 20th century Bengali music, a folky-ish singer/songwriter, one of the men who helped revive the art of taonga puoro and an experimental composer.

    I know there's a striking lack of contemporary conscious hip hop, or log drum ensembles, but remember CNZ can only fund, or consider funding, those people who have actually applied to them at any particular time, so I think it's a little unfair to pick on them in this debate. (and yes, there's some systematic issues that mean that the string quartet is more likely to apply than the log drum ensemble but that's probably a discussion for another time).

    Also, it's easy to miss as it's on another report, but in 2009 they also provided $300 000 to support the Maori music sector.

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Alien Lizard (anag),

    the Dairy Airways...
    Just one request – can we abandon the icecream metaphor, in favour of something else? It is getting..umm.. a little uncool.
    ;- )

    The Arrrgh Complex • Since Jan 2010 • 158 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    can we abandon the icecream metaphor, in favour of something else?

    My alternative was pretty cheesy.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    As long as I can remember my parent's house has had the concert programme (aka RNZ Concert, or whatever) playing in the background. Sometimes quietly sometimes not so. Sometimes when it is Jazz Dad would make sushing noises and we'd all ignore him.

    When people say to me "oh Richard Clayderman (the fat tenors, Barbara Streisand, or insert your favourite bland music here) your mother would love his CD". I say, "ah, no, not really".

    I can't imagine a world without the concert programme playing music that isn't bland. Imagine if everyone thought that all classical music had to be played and sung by beautiful people in groups with names like the 'the seven irish musicians with a couple of pretty girls on violin and fat guy playing bass and a some young hunks tapping their feet' or something like that.

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    This discussion is all very RNZ National vs RNZ Concert, but there are other important parts of Radio New Zealand:

    - AM broadcasts of all Parliament sittings.
    - RNZ International (shortwave broadcast to Pacific Islands)
    - Sound Archives
    - Website

    I've heard a suggestion that RNZI could be dropped as the ABC have a similar Pacific broadcast.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    Consider how Brian Edwards' Saturday morning program ... was so much better (in my view) than Kim Hill today

    The only real hiatus in my RNZ listening was in the last year Brian Edwards was on Saturday mornings. I missed RNZ like crazy but I wasn't going to listen to Brian's arrogance one minute more. One morning he said in response to a listener's comment (and I am paraphrasing) "if you don't like what I am saying you can turn off your radio". So I did. It was a relief, but I missed RNZ on Saturdays and was very pleased when Brian left and I could start listening again.

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Where is the National Maori Radio station?
    There's a whole network of them.

    The network of iwi radio stations is funded by Te Mangai Paho, at about $8m per year in total. This is in recognition of the government’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi to actively support Maori language and culture.

    My position about Concert FM's narrow content focus isn't Tiriti-based, it's more about the fact that Concert FM could be more cognisant of other forms of music that are not serviced by commercial radio.

    It is narrowly focused on some of the best music ever made, music which is not played by any other channel.

    Gimme my Frank Zappa FM and we'll call it square, OK ? :)

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    RNZ International (shortwave broadcast to Pacific Islands)...

    I've heard a suggestion that RNZI could be dropped as the ABC have a similar Pacific broadcast.

    Given the particularly forthright attitudes of McCully and Coleman, that is a very reasonable fear. Unlike Concert, which has a large domestic audience overlapping considerably with National's voter base, RNZI is almost invisible despite its crucial role.

    I immediately thought that this was the most vulnerable part, but I ended up getting distracted with other things (see above).

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    Oh thanks, Kier. I've just supported the Auckland Film Society by cutting a cheque, and expect the annual round of overdraft abuse when the festival program is announced. While it would be damn nice to have pointy headed elitist largely Eurocentric film culture directly supported by the Government (and not so dependent on sponsorship, membership subscriptions and awesome amounts of volunteer labour), I think I'll bow out of slagging off anyone who thinks differently as barbarians.

    Actually, the film societies have been supported by both Creative NZ and the NZ Film Commission over the years. Both are government funding bodies.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    6. Consider how Brian Edwards' Saturday morning program on Radio New Zealand National (Brian was formerly a daily talkshow host on private "Radio Windy" on Wellington) was so much better (in my view) than Kim Hill today (while Kim was brilliant on daily National Radio).

    I completely disagree. I know and like Brian, and I regard his pioneering work in TV interviewing as as personal inspiration, but Kim Hill's shows are really remarkable.

    Sometimes I'm not inclined to listen to an interview (although we seem to be past the era of what a friend called "child rape in Bosnia for breakfast"), but I find the knowledge that what I'm tuning out on is credible, alert and well-researched oddly reassuring. I'll go and find tracks on Hype Machine or something.

    Other times, you get something like the interview with PA's David Haywood, which possessed a kind of magic, because it drew out David's amazing sense of comedy.

    And I have to say that being interviewed by Kim is an intriguing, challenging experience. I suggested in my blog that she used obtuseness as a technique to draw out ideas, and she sent me a somewhat indignant email in response ...

    I also like the way that the show has been able to reinvent itself. The Chris Bourke era was great but eventually tailed off, to be followed by the Mark Cubey era, which brought in a quite different energy and set of personalities.

    So, yeah. Fanboi.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    AM broadcasts of all Parliament sittings

    If they didn't like the sound of their own voices so much, I'm sure that one would be for the chop. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Actually, the film societies have been supported by both Creative NZ and the NZ Film Commission over the years.

    Good on them

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Gimme my Frank Zappa FM and we'll call it square, OK ? :)

    K. NatRad did a six-part doco on Zappa recently, The Radio is Broken. It was good to hear a locally-made but not locally-sourced programme. I guess it was made for the export market but still, it was nice to hear an international programme and one about contemporary music. The private sector is not going to do that sort of thing, or any sort of doco.

    Earlier in the day, people on this thread were saying that private stations cost $9 Million a year, as if Radio NZ were too expensive. But the private stations have to run on shoestring budgets, because there are too many of them; and so they will not produce documentaries or recordings or anything that costs money and requires planning. They spend their money on presenters. They play records, over and over.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Brownlee,

    James Gardner's excellent Zappa series was originally made for (and by) Concert, a few years ago. Very good to hear it get a second run on National recently.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Unlike Concert, which has a large domestic audience overlapping considerably with National's voter base...

    Look out desk, here I come...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    I do not believe I have read anyone here arguing that RNZ Concert should be scrapped.

    So you haven’t been reading Danyl’s posts?

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Unlike Concert, which has a large domestic audience overlapping considerably with National's voter base...

    Look out desk, here I come...

    See, this is where the ability to draw Venn diagrams would have been handy. I expressly didn't say that Concert listener and National voter were functionally equivalent.

    Politics is the art of not pissing people off. If even 10,000 Concert listeners were National voters, a wise National Government would try not to piss them off. The number is of course considerably larger than that, and if the Cabinet forgets that then they're greater idiots than I thought they were.

    So they'll look for a soft target within RNZ (preferably something they can wedge Phil Goff with).

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Trying to establish the demographics of RNZ Concert's listenership to avert any more angsty damage to furniture.

    The most recent annual report (PDF, 1.3MB) sheds no light (and is locked for copying text - thanks a bunch).

    Page 11 says percentage of broadcast hours "that reflect New Zealand's cultural identity including Maori language and culture" is 87% for National and 1% for Concert.

    Page 12 says National plays 28% NZ music on rotate, while Concert manages 3% locally composed and 13% NZ performed.

    Page 24 describes the statistical surveys undertaken but does not say anything about demographic composition of listeners. Staff however are detailed on p28.

    Fail.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Actually, the film societies have been supported by both Creative NZ and the NZ Film Commission over the years. Both are government funding bodies.

    Philip: Last time I looked nobody is planning to nationalise and directly fund the New Zealand Federation of Film Societies or the Festival Trust. Yes, the support of those bodies is warmly appreciated (as is the program specific assistance of the Goethe Institut, British Council and various embassies in recent years), but I think it would be entirely accurate to say they're no substitute for membership, ticket sales and a LOT of volunteer labour.

    And if you'd like to replace Telecom as the key sponsor of the film festivals, Bill Gosden would love to schmooze. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    So you haven’t been reading Danyl’s posts?

    Not well enough, you're right:

    I'm pretty comfortable with the proposal to shut down Concert FM

    I believe otherwise, to be clear.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    I always thought of Concert listeners as liberals and that National voters listened to Breeze or More, or one of those other stations that never plays a song you have not heard before. But I have no evidence and perhaps my collision with the furniture caused me unnecessary pain.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Just out of interest, how many string quartets have received NZOA money?

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

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