2016 Taite Music Prize Winner
to be announced Wednesday 20th April!

Listen to the Taite Music Prize Finalist Playlist on Spotify – Click here to listen

SJD / Nadia Reid / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Princess Chelsea /
The Phoenix Foundation / Anthonie Tonnon / Marlon Williams / Silicon IMNZ are also very proud to announce the Independent Music NZ Classic Record recipient this year will be Upper Hutt Posse ‘E Tū’.

Performance agreements – Part 1

In this edition of McLaughlin Law’s Newsletter we’ll be continuing on with our look at the key aspects of performance agreements that every gigging musician should make sure they are well schooled up on. Having last time considered some of the general logistical issues that should always be provided for in a performance agreement such as soundchecks, load in and load out times and advertising and promotion, this time  around we’ll be looking at some of the more legal issues such as payment and cancellation provisions and also how to best enforce your rights under the agreement.  Read on…

AROUND THE WORLD

Finally, after three long years, the indies are getting what’s theirs. 37 months. 1141 days. 99 million seconds.
That’s how long independent labels have been waiting since it was announced they would receive $200m+ of recorded music assets from Warner Music Group in February 2013. The deal, agreed between Warner and Merlin/IMPALA, was a result of the major’s purchase of Parlophone Label Group (PLG) – an acquisition which was cleared in the summer of that year.
The pledged assets, which have been bid on by indies over the past three years, are believed to comprise around a third of the value of Warner’s £487m ($765m) buyout of PLG. However, the process has not been plain sailing. Read on… at Music Business Worldwide.

All of YouTube’s Major Label Deals Are Now Expiring…

YouTube’s contracts with major labels Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group are all about to expire, or already expired, according to reports and sources this week. In a recent report, the Financial Times noted that YouTube is girding for a ‘showdown’ as each of these labels are preparing to radically shift the terms of their low-paying deals. Read on via Digital Music News – here.

INTERNATIONAL & INDUSTRY NEWS

SoundCloud’s long-awaited subscription service ‘Go’ has officially launched in the US market.

The streaming platform just confirmed that a paid-for tier, SoundCloud Go, has arrived in the US market and will roll out to other territories later this year. After a 30-day free trial, SoundCloud Go costs $9.99 a month on Android – but will cost $12.99 if you subscribe via an iOS device, thanks to Apple’s 30% ‘app tax’. Subscribers will be granted ad-free access to an expanded catalogue of 125m tracks, as well as offline listening. SoundCloud will also continue to receive money from ‘Pro’ and ‘Pro Unlimited’ up loaders – who pay between €4 and €9 a month for benefits such as quicker upload time and better analytics. Article continues via Music Business Worldwide – here.

To learn more about SoundCloud ‘Go’ and what it means for its users click here.

BIGSOUND 2016 Details Announced – Celebrating 15th
Anniversary 

2016 will mark the 15th anniversary for the southern hemisphere’s biggest new music festival and industry conference, BIGSOUND, and today details for this year’s event have been announced. BIGSOUND 2016 will again take place in Brisbane from 7-9 September and a limited number of discounted early bird tickets are available for purchase, while access to the artist registration is also open now.

“2016 is a turning point in BIGSOUND’s history,” QMusic Executive Officer Joel Edmondson said.

“Although we’re focused on adding new dimensions to the BIGSOUND experience, it’s also important that we look back on our roots and celebrate just how far we’ve come. The BIGSOUND alumni list is a who’s who of Australian music.

“That BIGSOUND is a place where a public audience can share in the birth of those careers is something truly unique and special. The relationships that are formed during BIGSOUND just couldn’t happen anywhere else in the country.” For more information, visit Qmusic.com.au

Finalists Announced for the 2016 MMF Music Managers Awards

 The MMF Music Managers Awards celebrates the very best of those New Zealand music managers who support their artists every step of the way.

The finalists for this year’s awards are:

Recorded Music NZ Manager of The Year

Alastair Burns (Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin)

Ashley Page (Broods, Jarryd James, Joel Little, Alex Hope)

Scott Maclachlan (Sol3 Mio, Leisure, Thomston, Parson James)

Breakthrough Manager of The Year

Alastair Burns (Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin)

Jaz Kapow (Bailey Wiley, Laughton Kora)

Mel Parsons (Mel Parsons)

NZ Music Commission International Achievement

Alastair Burns (Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin)

Ashley Page (Broods, Jarryd James, Joel Little, Alex Hope)

Scott Maclachlan (Sol3 Mio, Leisure, Thomston, Parson James)

Self-Managed Artist of The Year

Mel Parsons (Mel Parsons)

Nick Atkinson (Hopetoun Brown)

Tami Neilson (Tami Neilson)

Best Independent Tour

James Southgate (Devilskin ‘Mountains and the Moon’ Tour)

Mel Parsons (‘Drylands’ Album Release Tour April/May 2015, Theatre Tour Oct/Nov 2015)

Teresa Patterson (I Am Giant ‘Kiss From A Ghost’ Album Release Tour)

OneMusic Best Small Venue

San Fran, Wellington

The Tuning Fork, Auckland

The Wine Cellar, Auckland

OneMusic Best Large Venue

Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch

The Powerstation, Auckland

The Studio, Auckland

The MMF Music Managers Awards will be held at The Tuning Fork in Auckland on Wednesday 11 May.

SKEPTICS ‘Sheen of Gold’ Documentary screening on Sky Art’s Channel

One of New Zealand’s most original and influential bands SKEPTICS will be featured on the Sky Art’s Channel this Sunday 17th April at 7:45pm – this is required viewing for anyone exploring what it means to live in New Zealand and have an interest in the creative art of music. R.I.P David D’Ath.

NEW RELEASE FANFARE

BAILEY WILEY ANNOUNCES S.O.M.M. EP & TOUR

With the seeds planted in Berlin, and further grown at home in Auckland, S.O.M.M., aka Still On My Mind is the sound of an artist pushing the boundaries of neo-soul.

Featuring singles ‘Take It From Me’ and the title track ‘Still On My Mind’, S.O.M.M. is eight tracks from an artist in every sense of the word. Combining the neo-soul/hip-hop sound which has gained Bailey a huge following with more experimental electronic sounds, the EP displays the amazing vocal talent of Bailey Wiley.

S.O.M.M. will be available Friday April 22nd worldwide via Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa, and to celebrate, Bailey will be going on tour. Bailey will perform alongside Soraya tracks from the EP, plus brand new material yet to be released. She will be bringing some friends along for the ride too, with the full dates below.

Thursday April 21 – Darkroom, Christchurch w/ Eno X Dirty

Friday April 22 – Astrolabe, Mt Maunganui w/ Eno X Dirty

Saturday April 23 – Lot23, Auckland w/ A Girl Named Mo

All ticketing info is available from Loop.

New IMNZ member Mali Mali Releases New Album ‘As a Dog Dreams’

Download ‘As a Dog Dreams’ here.

‘PLAY ON – THE ALBUM’ BOOSTED CAMPAIGN

On Sunday April 3rd, PLAY ON took the stage for a one-off show at Auckland’s Pop-up Globe Theatre. The sold-out show was nothing short of magical, and presented 14 of Shakespeare’s most well-loved soliloquies as songs, with a world-class local cast for the first time ever.

This is the first crowd funding campaign that LOOP or any of their associated acts have embarked on, and with good reason. This one-of-a-kind project is truly a gift to the arts, and donations will help keep the magic alive by creating an album of all 14 originals songs. Check out the BOOSTED campaign HERE.

Mice On Stilts release debut album Hope For A Mourning

Mice On Stilts are highly excited to announce the release of their debut album ‘Hope For A Mourning’ out today.

Listen and download ‘Hope For A Mourning’ here.

ON THE LIVE FRONT

Record Store Day! Long live the independents!

This Saturday is Record Store Day and Real Groovy is the place to be. At the new store, at 369 Queen St, over the road from the old Real Groovy: it is bursting at the seams with new vinyl releases, quality pre-loved titles, turntables, pop culture merchandise, DVDs and CDs. Select from the NZ Music Consignment Table PLUS coffee available in the courtyard from ‘You’re Welcome Coffee’ and grab one of the best burgers in town from ‘Wise Boys Burgers’.

There will be a number of international and local RSD releases, but the emphasis this year will be on re-taking control of the event with a huge drop of fresh second hand vinyl, live bands, DJs, and the simple joy of being part of a likeminded, musical community. Discover some of New Zealand’s newest talent that not everybody has heard of… you can actually like their first albums better!!

Catch the Julie Lamb Band Live at The Thirsty Dog this Saturday after shopping at your favourite record shop, of course!