Industry
Going Global is New Zealand's annual international music industry event. Each year it brings some of world's most influential figures in A&R, booking, festival programming, label management, and artist development to Aotearoa to share their insights over two days of presentations, networking and artist
Industry
Daily use of Spotify has fallen among New Zealand audiences, while new research from NZ On Air suggests there remains a significant appetite for local music – provided listeners can find it. The findings come from the 2026 Where Are the Audiences? report, conducted by Verian for NZ On Air. The
Industry
Auckland’s Eden Park has been named one of the world’s top large live music venues by IQ Magazine, placing New Zealand’s largest stadium alongside some of the biggest concert destinations in the global touring circuit. The recognition comes as part of IQ Magazine’s 2026 Stadium Stars,
Many artists are aware of the change in landscape brought about by digital media and how it has pushed the majority of creatives to do a lot more than just make art. There is a growing demand for artists to not only stay relevant through what they create, but also
Six commercial radio stations have been recognised for exceeding the voluntary target of playing at least 20 percent New Zealand music during 2025, despite the commercial radio sector as a whole failing to reach the benchmark for a third consecutive year. Leading the list was NiuFM, which recorded 54.13
Nobody told me when I was starting out about the highest cost of being an indie artist in New Zealand. It's the hushed secret told behind closed doors. The opinion you dilute with an extra hot espresso and an inner mantra of "she'll be '
AUCKLAND, NZ - Independent music platform Empty Spaces has announced a new subscription model designed to strengthen support for local music journalism while creating a more connected and sustainable ecosystem for artists and industry. The Industry tier, priced at NZ$40 per month, is built for publicists, promotors, managers and labels
A new international study has found New Zealanders dream of becoming a DJ more than any other job. The research, carried out by Remitly, analysed Google search data across more than 140 countries, tracking how often people searched “how to be a [job]” to uncover the careers people are most
This may ruffle a few feathers. There have been a number of renown New Zealand music businesses closing their doors in recent weeks. Neck of the Woods and Flying Out Records to name but a few. It is sad, and each is a unique loss, impacting the fabric of our
Fresh tracks, and the stories that matter in Aotearoa’s evolving scene.
After announcing it's return for 2027 following a four year hiatus, boutique Wairarapa festival Tora Bombora has revealed it's full line up for the comeback event. Leading the way are a number of notable names - most prominently Dallas Tamiara from Fat Freddy's Drop who
Tiger Lotiss strikes me as someone who isn't afraid to be authentically himself. Over the past two years he's been releasing songs such as Corset Me Free, 3 Days, and Chameleon - building a back catalogue of music that is expressive and unique in a way that
Country is one of those genres that most people fall either side of the fence on. You love it or despise it. There is not much in between. Personally I've had a strong appreciation for the genre since I was young. Something about the emotive storytelling is captivating
Sunset, top down with a cool breeze blowing through your hair. It's summertime and the heat has simmered to a mild warmth that will carry over into the evening. You're at the beach, feeling good and ready for whatever the night will bring. If you'
Mel Parsons has been around for as long as I can remember. In recent years her song craft and immaculate live performances have received some well deserved recognition. Tomorrow she releases her seventh studio album - Castle Hill. Recorded in a remote mountainside setting in the South Island, the process enabled
Kia ora and welcome to my personal newsletter to Empty Spaces readers. No frills here. In the following I'll include my favourite content from the website, as well as anything topical that's on my mind (be warned!). I'll write these every now and then
New Zealand artists recorded their strongest album sales performance in four years, according to the latest NZ Music Statistics report from the New Zealand Music Commission. During the first three months of 2026, New Zealand albums accounted for 9,840 units sold from a total market of 89,140 units,
After months of regional events, Aotearoa’s next generation of musicians finally discovered who will head to Wellington for the 2026 Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats National Finals. For nearly four decades, Smokefreerockquest has been a hugely influential launchpad for young musicians. Founded in 1988 by music teachers Glenn Common
South Auckland could be described as being a little rough. It's reputation paints a picture of poverty, crime and culture, a mixing pot for expression in all forms. Emerging from the depths of Māngere, DeHusslar Music is an independent electronic and bass artist who's latest single,
New Zealand music recorded its strongest first quarter for streaming in four years, with local artists generating 226.8 million streams between January and March 2026. According to the New Zealand Music Commission's Q1 2026 NZ Music Statistics report, the figure marks the highest Q1 total recorded across
Every now and again a song comes along that makes your ears prick up. In the case of Beloveds, their latest single 'Bullshit' had this effect not because it does anything incredibly innovative, but because it perfectly captures an era of music that is oddly forgotten about - despite
Music can represent feelings that are not able to be expressed through language alone. And few experiences capture something as raw and meaningful as the road to recovery. For Christchurch artist Bryony Matthews, a traumatic head injury was a life changing event that paved a rough journey home. Her upcoming
