Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Friday Music: Good ideas and grumbles

Sacha

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 10:11:31 +1200

You can't measure what people prefer by examining what they have previously been allowed access to. Local content quotas work which is why other countries have used them.

bob daktari

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 10:09:22 +1200

there is currently voluntary code that the radio broadcasters signed with govt to play 20% local content – this has been in practice for a long time now and the results have shown a huge increase in local music being played on local radio – which hasn't been detrimental to…

Neil Drinkwater

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:07:18 +1200

Sorry, did not mean to offend. Have not had as much experience chatting on internet as u guys. When I said not that many good kiwi songs I meant " not THAT many good kiwi songs" – relating to the huge quota percentage. I am only acting as a spokesperson…

Simon Grigg

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:31:31 +1200

There are not that many good kiwi songs.

Doing AudioCulture I get the odd person who asks me "Have you finished it yet?" I guess you are one of those people Neil.

linger

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:29:37 +1200

not that many good kiwi songs
Compared to what?

On one (trivial) level, this is predictable simply by applying Sturgeon’s Law: 90% of music is (subjectively, for a given individual listener) crap.

It follows that there will be much more non-crap music in total coming from a source that provides…

Caleb D'Anvers

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 22:38:19 +1200

But I do agree with some other explanations; my last experience (The National) of standing around impatiently on a sticky plastic sheet for 2 hours waiting for the band to deign to join us has rather put me off live music.

A number of people have touched on this, but…

Samuel Scott

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 22:37:25 +1200

25 per cent nz music on the radio would be a tremendous turn off. There are not that many good kiwi songs.

Thank's for you input Neil.

Neil Drinkwater

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:37:02 +1200

Quotas are weak. Ok in us they play 80% local content or whatever. Cos that's what the audience wants! Our people probably want a big chunk of us music too. 25 per cent nz music on the radio would be a tremendous turn off. There are not that many good…

Russell Brown

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:24:48 +1200

Is there any attempt from NZ labels like Arch Hill or Flying Nun to give their music to the people in this format? Hold music is hardly glamorous, but it is a source of revenue.

Aaron told me he approached Flying Nun about it but never got a reply.

George Darroch

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:08:29 +1200

A tweet by Aaron Hawkins gives me an idea:

In the spirit of celebrating small victories, getting a bunch of @FishriderNZ tunes put up as DCC hold music cc @southernscoop

There's a lot music out there, and by now we're all entirely sick of Nature's Best (if we weren't within…

bob daktari

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:59:12 +1200

anyone ever wondered what is right with the local music scene?

I'd go out on a limb and suggest its in possibly the best shape its ever been, in my lifetime at least – could be a future topic for discussion to temper some of the negativity and angst

Sacha

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 20:12:43 +1200

and they all inhaled

chris

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:38:40 +1200

I am pretty confident taking just ONE months funding from NZOA

I have confidence you could pull something like that off too Ian. That would be deliciously ironic given NZOA’s mandate is in part to desocialise, ie. to capitalise on and encourage the trend for staying at home or in…

Gareth Swain

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:26:03 +1200

the death of nzmusic.com

Yeah, I've always wondered what the story was about the very sudden decline of NZMusic.com.

One day there were a bunch of us yapping away in the forums, and then suddenly the format changed and you couldn't find anything, and everyone just left.

Was it a…

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:53:18 +1200

Another graph. Basically everyone from 15-24 has listened to music on the internet, with YouTube being easily the biggest source.

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:49:32 +1200

haha, another rant I left out of the book was how I saw the death of nzmusic.com as having a HUGE effect on the music scene. It was a site that music fans of all types would come together to discuss music.

The new NZ On Air audience survey has…

Ian Jorgensen

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:36:18 +1200

No university and a lack of interesting jobs means that most people who can leave at 18 do so and don't come back until retirement.

yeah, I've always believed a wee bit in this as well, however, there are quite a few exceptions to the rule, towns and communities which…

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:25:23 +1200

Why don't Taupo/Whanganui/New Plymouth/Hamilton/Tauranga/Rotorua all have 150 capacity venues run by enthusiastic music heads

Went to Napier for the weekend a while ago and the only thing on was a covers band playing in a 50-capacity bar down by the waterfront.

The problems of those places go deeper than a…

Jeremy Andrew

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:02:46 +1200

I dont think illegal downloading of music has any negative effect on the music scene… I believe the opposite to be true. Its that people watch so much tv these days that is hurting the live scene

I think you can add social media to the mix there. Back in…

Ian Jorgensen

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:57:43 +1200

Why don't Taupo/Whanganui/New Plymouth/Hamilton/Tauranga/Rotorua all have 150 capacity venues run by enthusiastic music heads (wether young hipsters or old flying nunsters it doesn't matter).

I am pretty confident taking just ONE months funding from NZOA I could establish ten "pop-up" 150 cap venues around NZ that could present shows every…

Ian Jorgensen

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:51:59 +1200

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 12:35:32 +1200

who go to shows every week and who never see anyone who looks like an APRA representative (middle-aged, well-dressed, the inscrutable confidence of the Arts Professional or ‘advertising creative’) at any of these shows, which are sometimes grim but sometimes a shitload more exciting than anything that would be allowed…

Sam Bradford

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:38:43 +1200

Sorry to return to APRA, but I have an opinion to share, damn it.

I'm an APRA and RMNZ member, and in many respects they treat me well. They send me small amounts of money. If I email them or visit their office, they reply promptly and do their best…

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:13:55 +1200

I have a vague feeling students’ associations are weaker these days as well, which hurts student radio and chances of them running successful shows themselves, although that may be general political bias.

This is true. As a kid, I'd sneak in with my friends to things like Orientation gigs at…

Rob Stowell

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:09:32 +1200

I have a vague feeling students’ associations are weaker these days as well
That's true. It's partly funding changes. But it's also down to a shortage of passionate radicals. Enthusiasm is a commodity you can't buy, but a little can generate more, and it can achieve things money can't. (Which…

Keir Leslie

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:00:52 +1200

It's part of the general hollowing out of the press in NZ, no? Certainly the position in Chch for the visual arts has dramatically worsened over the past 10-15 years.

I have a vague feeling students' associations are weaker these days as well, which hurts student radio and chances of…

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:45:08 +1200

Just to note that you can also buy Ian's book in digital form at a price of your choosing, here.

Russell Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:41:15 +1200

Another part of the book I liked was Ian's explanation of how to make a basic listings zine by photocopying and folding an A3 sheet.

I had an interesting discussion with some music publicists at a media lunch this week (we all paid our own way) and I don't think…

Samuel Scott

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:18:40 +1200

Since rents are high and door takings are low, it makes sense to put the bands on later,

Except that people just show up later. I always post set times to twitter so that the audience can actually make up their own minds. I find it quite odd that so…

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:05:16 +1200

I dont think illegal downloading of music has any negative effect on the music scene

My based on nothing much theory is that there's been a shift in perceptions of value. When people bought physical records and CDs, there was an acceptance that $20 or whatever was a fair price…

George Darroch

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:42:56 +1200

It’s well established that venues make their money from alcohol (and in some places, food). Since rents are high and door takings are low, it makes sense to put the bands on later, in order to maximise revenue coming in over the bar.

The problem is that all of this…

George Darroch

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:34:39 +1200

This is an interesting debate for me.

I think there are a few different things happening. Firstly, music is shifting on to computers and electronic devices. There are still plenty of radios in the country, and will be for many years, but the consumption of music is an entirely different…

Simon Sjorn

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 08:14:24 +1200

Yes. Thanks. It does just seem a shame because there seems to be so many empty spaces around so many NZ towns – sad failed businesses and the like- that could be put to a good cause.

Samuel Scott

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 08:10:04 +1200

In a small town , surely rents would be very reasonable so what are the basic start up costs to get something up and running?

Ian has put ball park costs for setting up venues in his book.

Simon Sjorn

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 08:02:03 +1200

Old Flying Nunsters spent all their spare money on records and beer. Young hipsters are spending it at online furniture stores and hairdressers. In a small town , surely rents would be very reasonable so what are the basic start up costs to get something up and running? I guess…

Samuel Scott

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:45:03 +1200

I like the way this topic has shifted. I am utterly perplexed with how the live scene has dipped.

I'm not gonna name names but there NZ bands I really like, who get great reviews, get played on BFM and Active a lot, get features on Music 101 on National,…

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:28:53 +1200

sorry Geoff, i didn't pick that up from what you said.

You're totally right, of course its just a theory and yes, its just one small part of the problem and totally untested other than some observations I've made (and explain in the essay) but yeah, haha, i don't blame…

Geoff Lealand

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:53:31 +1200

No, I don't think I have missed any point. I was just suggesting that a single, untested explanation doesn't explain anything. There are a myriad of possible explanations (including g a number you have pointed to), working in concert against drawing crowds to live music eg cost, competition from touring…

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:39:03 +1200

Hey geoff. I think you entirely just missed the point of what i said. Have a read again. I dont think illegal downloading of music has any negative effect on the music scene... I believe the opposite to be true. Its that people watch so much tv these days that…

Geoff Lealand

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:28:46 +1200

I am not so sure about this explanation Ian, if my students are any guide. They will freely (as in free) download films & TV series, but make a curious exception for local music-especially if they know some one in a band, want to be in a band, or are commuted…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:20:44 +1200

Well said. haha, I wish you’d just written the book instead of me.

Nah. I wouldn't have thought about it it if I hadn't read the book.

I've actually mulled over doing a thing called The Public Address Early Nighter — $10 on the door for a DJ, an interesting…

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:00:51 +1200

I'd run this as a guest post!

Chur. Though yeah, quite a few people read that UTR interview where I explain the crux of it – I can send something a bit more elaborate your way next week. I couldn't really think of any fixes so felt it didn't really…

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:56:02 +1200

Kinda. I don't know the exact formula, but it's a small fraction of gate takings vs logged plays of music at sports games.

in part of my research on this, i talked to a songwriter who heard his song played at a sports game, called APRA when they didn't see…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:38:25 +1200

I’m sure this isn’t actually how the collecting system works, but I’ve always understood that every time the All Blacks score a try Jordan Luck makes a dollar.

Kinda. I don't know the exact formula, but it's a small fraction of gate takings vs logged plays of music at sports…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:36:11 +1200

People are just staying home and watching TV – they are in control of the timing, have amazing quality entertainment, can drink cheaper, are nice and warm and can control the environment – why go out? Downloading of TV, not music is killing the music scene.

My essay on that…

Rob Stowell

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 14:28:16 +1200

Thanks Ian.

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:44:39 +1200

Have you posted it online anywhere? I'd be interested to read it
there are a whole bunch of essays, and extended parts I chose not to run for various reasons....many things I just felt that I was being a broken record about. Ie: i wrote a big piece about kiwifm…

Rich of Observationz

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:38:15 +1200

I'm sure this isn't actually how the collecting system works, but I've always understood that every time the All Blacks score a try Jordan Luck makes a dollar.

Rob Stowell

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:31:30 +1200

My essay on that theory is called “Fuck Game of Thrones” – and haha, I chose not to run it in the book.
Have you posted it online anywhere? I'd be interested to read it ...

Ian Jorgensen

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:00:37 +1200

Well said. haha, I wish you'd just written the book instead of me.

Something I didn't really go into in detail but that really rammed home things for me about the current music scene was how difficult it was for me to get people out to the recent Flying Nun…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:34:25 +1200

Kinda done with the Apra topic, which is something of a diversion. So, try this …

Thirty years ago, there was a big, busy live music scene not only in the urban centres but the regions. There was a national touring circuit and some regions, notably the Waikato, had their…

bmk

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:07:22 +1200

Yeah I guess that's a fair point except I got the idea that it was more that they wouldn't do it again to that specific organisation but would keep doing it to other places until called out on it. Kind of similar to the practice some places employ of not…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:48:46 +1200

It felt like a deliberate unscrupulous ploy. Imagine another business doing a job and invoicing one person then deliberately invoicing someone else in the hopes that they would both pay. So in my limited experience APRA are indeed gangsters practising extortion,.

To be fair, the kind of gangsters who when…

bmk

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 09:57:47 +1200

I have to post my perspective in here – I thought about not adding it. But in my experience gangsters practicing extortion are exactly what APRA are. I have to be careful with details as it relates to an organisation who wouldn't like these matters publicized.

This organisation pays for…

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:19:07 +1200

(but i love you all the same)

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:17:02 +1200

You are such a stirrer Ian!

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:00:39 +1200

You're complaining because they won't change and because they've asked your for your input on changes? Jeez, I know you're slightly joking, but maybe don't be too ungracious Blink ...
haha, i'm not complaining, i already told anthony a couple of weeks ago I would come back to him with…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 22:39:03 +1200

APRA’s lawyers sent me a letter threatening legal action, 5 years imprisonment or a 150,000 fine if I didn’t pay my background music fee the second year – and it seems the one thing we can agree on is their background music collection is not 100% accurate. To me this…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 22:38:13 +1200

They’ve already committed to making a few changes and haha, in a bizzare move, Don has asked me to do their job for them and come forward with ideas of how to do background music collection better – I have many and am not sure why its my responsibility, but…

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:38:42 +1200

in a bizzare move, Don has asked me to do their job for them and come forward with ideas of how to do background music collection better

haha...you've made your bed Ian. Good luck to ya.

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:25:40 +1200

All it needs is someone from APRA to chip in
I doubt we'll hear from them, they've already made a statement on their website and Don has made a statement which is a huge move. They've already committed to making a few changes and haha, in a bizzare move, Don…

Rob Stowell

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 18:08:08 +1200

Loving this discussion. All it needs is someone from APRA to chip in.
I’ve filled in the forms and paid for video rights. And found APRA pretty good to deal with. But I’ve given it up in favour of pre-paid royalty “free” soundtrack and fx. It’s just simpler and probably…

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:34:55 +1200

maybe the ideal unit is turning out to be a band of one with production chops.

well there isn't any angst about if it's 'real music' or whatever anymore. And anyone who has seen Disasteradio live knows that one person with a laptop and midi keyboard can put on a…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:22:05 +1200

Definitely. And to be honest, I feel there is a distinct lack of young bands breaking through in the funny land between total-indie and yucky-mainstream that acts who emerged in the early noughties (Mint Chicks, Brunettes, Pluto, Goodshirt, my band, lots of shitty bands) seemed to operate in.

This worries…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:09:17 +1200

sorry russell for my patronising post above, didn’t mean to come out like that :/

No problem! All in the spirit of vigorous and healthy debate :-)

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 15:52:29 +1200

but its not a small audience if you're talking commercial radio. It's the 'normals'. Gotta get those 'normals' to ya gigs if ya wanna make a career out of it.

but its as you pointed out before and I point out in the book. 'normals' dont come to shows. Its…

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 15:42:32 +1200

trying to raise the quota to a small audience

but its not a small audience if you're talking commercial radio. It's the 'normals'. Gotta get those 'normals' to ya gigs if ya wanna make a career out of it.

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 15:39:07 +1200

sorry russell for my patronising post above, didn't mean to come out like that :/

trying to raise the quota to a small audience seems not as important to me as just making a larger audience. Quotas can be increased if needed, but building an audience is the priority.

Samuel Scott

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 15:21:53 +1200

If Recorded Music NZ and APRA adopt a 20% quota as a formal policy and start lobbying government (alongside the other organisations) for this, then I don’t mind eating my hat on my former comments. Likewise if they come up with a solution to the second issue.

I am so…

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 15:05:57 +1200

hmm. an interesting idea. If its venues who are now paying the fees for live performance, venues could be used as ways to enlist songwriters and perhaps be offered a discount for the fee on the nights they sign up brand new songwriters. This takes work out of APRAs hands…

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:29:06 +1200

I like all this, and it’s not like Apra hasn’t been flexible in the past

Though Ben, of course, formed it much better, haha, this concept is exactly what I allude to in my essay. If APRA can't work out how to record the data correctly, they need to work…

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:26:40 +1200

So Apra is supposed to magically know what songs you’ve written and performed and when, find out where you live and send you money without you ever registering, proving your identity or claiming those songs? Really?

i don't think you're quite aware of their event collection processes. One of my…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:13:06 +1200

Explore ways where One Music licensees are either measured more accurately OR can opt in to playing a certain % of local music (via some kind of separate agreement). Although I realise the issues with measuring accurately, and also the danger that the local % may in fact go down,…

Russell Brown

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:04:46 +1200

They are a company who collects money on your behalf without you knowing and makes no proper effort to contact you, forcing you to sign up to them to receive money which is rightfully yours.

So Apra is supposed to magically know what songs you’ve written and performed and when,…

Ben Howe

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 12:07:19 +1200

The people in charge do as much as they can within (and probably sometimes beyond) their remit – so what else would change things? That’s a genuine question, btw.

I agree totally Russell that the people in charge do a massive amount within (and beyond) their remit, although maybe I…

chris

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 11:19:02 +1200

I’m over my word limit so I’ll keep this brief: some issues I’m a little unclear about: Craig, you said:

It seems to me, from the outside, a lot of organizations could learn from APRA when it comes to genuine and constructive engagement with its critics.

Ant met with Blink…

Ian Jorgensen

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 09:14:14 +1200

And this is the problem I do have with what you wrote Ian. Young bands look up to you and they could easily read what you wrote and go 'yeah fuck apra, I'm not gonna bother with that shit'.

After listening to Anthony Healey talk for a couple of hours,…

Sacha

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:07:29 +1200

I hear my own band in cafe's an awful lot, and we such tiny amounts of mainstream radio play...and as for Fat Freddy's, well they should be getting about 30% of retail royalties.

Exackery

Robyn Gallagher

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 23:11:15 +1200

The past six months I’ve been visiting many cafes and restaurants and much to the chagrin of my girlfriend, moaning about how the music they are playing is not reflected on any radio station I am aware of – rock, easy listening, pop, student etc.

This is so true. In…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:20:38 +1200

OK I am off to a NEW ZEALAND BAND IN A SMALL VENUE

nighty night

(hey Ian, we just a chat on a forum with different opinions and we didn't argue...we are so mature)

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:19:38 +1200

RIP Channel Z (and a much more supportive live scene)

the Bnet was stronger then too. The b-net awards were a big deal. Getting played on BFM meant sales and people at your gigs. That's what Bnet stations always had over commercial stations; play on bnet meant people at gigs.…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:14:43 +1200

Its the huge number of bands who don’t file returns, but whom venues are still being asked to pay for which is the problem.

Don't tell the other guys in TPF (coz I bitch and moan about it) but filing a live return takes about 20 minutes and can it…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:11:58 +1200

I feel there is a distinct lack of young bands breaking through in the funny land between total-indie and yucky-mainstream that acts who emerged in the early noughties (Mint Chicks, Brunettes, Pluto, Goodshirt, my band, lots of shitty bands)
RIP Channel Z (and a much more supportive live scene)

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:08:06 +1200

I would love to see more consultation and involvement from young people in these organisations though.

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:04:26 +1200

They should explain it. You pay them money, you should be allowed to know it is going to the right people.
This is the crux of it and my argument, but somehow my sideswipe and snotty comments aimed at the Silver Scrolls (when I was totally just using that as…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:58:16 +1200

As for the live return stuff. I know that we get paid based on our actual gigs because I can tell the difference between a big and small year. When we do most of our shows overseas our live return is bleak. When we've done something like a tour supporting…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:54:28 +1200

Don seems to think the best idea is already in place ;) my suggestions of sampling seem to get dismissed, but yeah…it seems a much more satisfying (albeit not perfect) way than the current system.

This was my only problem with Don's response. How can basing it on radio play…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:51:42 +1200

They generally care about music and why shouldn't people who have been working in the industry for that long get the sweet deal jobs.
this is so correct and yeah, haha, I don't wish to see a bunch of 19 year olds running the industry (though that would be fascinating).…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:49:18 +1200

I can't believe I am coming across as so establishment and non-cynical.

Believe me, I hate a lot of shit about the NZ music industry and I am really bitter and twisted.

But most of my frustrations come from the lack of support at commercial radio and big media. And…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:48:45 +1200

It is my personal experience that they are a very transparent organisation and one that is pretty much a union for songwriters
haha. They must treat members very different from the people who pay them. Ie: I have no idea if they pay you guys after you play camp? I…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:45:10 +1200

It just feels misguided to me to see APRA as somehow THE PROBLEM. The Silver Scrolls are a great night. They might reflect a portion of the industry that is a bit more established/old (the this years winner was 17...) but I am much less cynical about the scrolls than…

Samuel Scott

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 21:25:54 +1200

Where to start here?

OK so APRA, in my experience, have always been very approachable. The board might be primarily controlled in Australia but they have a good staff in Auckland and I have used them as a resource when making decisions about 'exploiting my IP' and what not for…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:41:15 +1200

I don't disagree that you've got some talented elders working today, but I'd love to see what some fresh ideas would do and don't understand the industry's reluctance to realise that they prob don't know as much as they think they do (including me). It's just the tired old way…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:34:31 +1200

Are we maybe also talking about a regional issue here too? Like all the people I've just mentioned, I'm in Auckland. It's easy to not see far past that.

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:26:33 +1200

Young blood in charge. shake shit up. People with new ideas. People raised in the technology we use now, not those struggling to catch up. I’d ask “da yoof” what they want to see, what they need. The average high school leaver year old probably has a much better idea…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:27:47 +1200

The people in charge do as much as they can within (and probably sometimes beyond) their remit — so what else would change things? That's a genuine question, btw.

Young blood in charge. shake shit up. People with new ideas. People raised in the technology we use now, not those…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:18:55 +1200

Apra kicks in for the Smokefree Rockquest and the Taite Prize

Along with the Silver Scrolls, haha, ironically, APRA really dig competition ;)

Like Ben mentions and is the underlying theme of my entire book, our only answer to making this industry work is to engage more of the population.…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:22:29 +1200

The recently released report on NZ music at WeCreate.org.nz shows that around 90% of purchased music in NZ goes to imported overseas artists/labels, and commercial radio plays around 83% overseas content. The independent percentages within these will be much smaller again.

Hmmm. I think that every time PWC puts out…

Ben Howe

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:37:11 +1200

The thing that people overlook when discussing the 'problem with NZ music' is that "The Music Industry in NZ" (all music business in NZ) is mostly controlled by offshore interests. That is where most of the money goes. The subset within it of "The NZ Music Industry" (Blink, Don, Me,…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:18:56 +1200

I've just noticed the detailed response to Blink on the Apra website.

Ian is a passionate supporter of music, songwriters and musicians in New Zealand. He has many great ideas, runs excellent events and ran a great music venue. We welcome good constructive criticism of what we do and we…

Moz

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:46:04 +1200

can’t ALL venues, promoters and others follow Blinks lead and publish ya bloody set times... I like the early-and-late shows idea too. It would be fun being able to rock up for a 6pm start.

Very much so. No offense to intro bands, but I'd rather be at home having…

bob daktari

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:42:57 +1200

I'm a big fan of earlier shows than late, always have been – not everyone who likes music is a nightowl, plus live music doesn't sound any better after midnight especially if you have to get up and go to work the next day and I doubt the bar take…

Moz

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:42:41 +1200

I'm with him on the crazy low admission prices bands charge. $5 for a gig? That's what I was paying in the mid '90s, – and even that was cheap student prices. It's nuts that a band wouldn't charge at least $15 today.

For comparison, most Elefant Traks gigs around…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:26:20 +1200

while it may still be early days post book… but dammit can’t ALL venues, promoters and others follow Blinks lead and publish ya bloody set times – a facebook post 3 hours before doors isn’t overly helpful (points for trying though) and also stick to them (as much as possible)!…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:50:19 +1200

Would Blink really prefer that Apra and RMNZ completely turned their backs on the New Zealand music scene, did no good deeds and sent the money offshore instead?

Sure, haha. They already send a ton of money offshore already that is “potentially” meant to go to local artists when using…

bob daktari

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:35:45 +1200

while it may still be early days post book... but dammit can't ALL venues, promoters and others follow Blinks lead and publish ya bloody set times – a facebook post 3 hours before doors isn't overly helpful (points for trying though) and also stick to them (as much as possible)!…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:15:04 +1200

NB. I've been working on this award concept of mine since 2009. I'm really happy with it. I spent ages working out what awards were meant to be about, what people wanted, what should be achieved and the best way to make it fair and transparent and reflective of an…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 14:07:11 +1200

I've also read Blink's book and it occurred to me that it should be more accurately titled "The Problem with Live Music in New Zealand..." as most of the book is about the ins and outs of the live music scene.

You've very right, though, haha, it would have made…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:33:13 +1200

Thanks for the write-up Russell. Very much appreciated. A few things I wanted to clarify.

I think there are some issues with some of the ideas — do we really need a whole lot of barebones recording studios? Is there really a shortage, and how will people with existing businesses…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:29:40 +1200

I have been very impressed at how in the past few weeks APRA have really taken my ideas seriously and my email discussion with Anthony I feel may lead to some real results, however, I have bringing up some of the same issues I have been trying to get attention…

Ian Jorgensen

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:24:25 +1200

My response to Dons thoughtful response below.

Holy Crap, Don knows who I am? I always suspected maybe he was wondering why Pearl was going to Wellington every February… but very flattered by those amazing words.

I am really stoked that Don has pointed out some other ideas from the…

Robyn Gallagher

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:22:41 +1200

I've also read Blink's book and it occurred to me that it should be more accurately titled "The Problem with Live Music in New Zealand..." as most of the book is about the ins and outs of the live music scene.

I like that Blink has written it and there…

Craig Ranapia

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:10:07 +1200

The full text of Don McGlashan's response to Blink's Playing Favourites interview with Kim Hill, which was read out in part last Saturday

Wow, that was a really great effort. It seems to me, from the outside, a lot of organizations could learn from APRA when it comes to genuine…

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 12:53:31 +1200

Also, the kind of venue Blink writes about pops up in Palmerston North – the Kickstarter-funded Great Job.

Russell Brown

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 12:17:25 +1200

The full text of Don McGlashan's response to Blink's Playing Favourites interview with Kim Hill, which was read out in part last Saturday:

Blink is one of my NZ Music heroes. Live music in this country needs advocates, and there are few as tireless, imaginative and fearless as he is.…

Public Address

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 12:17:25 +1200

Discussion from blog post.