Industry
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
Music
Hard rock is alive and well in Aotearoa. Our legacy icons - Shihad, The Datsuns, Blindspott and others leave a lot to live up to. But Powder Chutes are on the road to emulating their quality, intensity and success. They've just released Rivers - a hard hitting rock n roll
Music
Boutique music festival Tora Bombora has announced it will return in 2027, ending a four year hiatus and bringing the event back to the Tora coastline in Wairarapa. The festival will expand its capacity to 2,000 attendees for its return while maintaining its focus on a community led experience.
It's a pretty crazy world out there, and it's easy to feel bogged down by it all. Whatever 'it all' may mean. But allowing the mental load of everything rub off in negative ways will only take you down a dark road. You need
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
It’s great to see the Aotearoa music scene thriving and I love that we still set aside the month of May to celebrate our local artists and bands – especially fresh talent. But I’ve struggled these past few years to keep up with the pace at which new artists
Fresh tracks, and the stories that matter in Aotearoa’s evolving scene.
It's a pretty crazy world out there, and it's easy to feel bogged down by it all. Whatever 'it all' may mean. But allowing the mental load of everything rub off in negative ways will only take you down a dark road. You need
Verity has one of the strongest social media followings among New Zealand’s new wave of pop and R&B artists. The Auckland artist gained traction initially online through stripped-back covers. Her content quickly found wide reach and she gained more than 600,000 followers across TikTok and
A new consumer study from OneMusic NZ has found that poor music choices are pushing customers out of New Zealand businesses, with 38 percent of respondents saying they have walked out of a store or venue because of the soundtrack. The report, Sound Decisions: Music’s Impact on Consumer Behaviour,
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
The Christchurch School of Music - Te Kura Puoro (CSM) has secured a $4 million commitment from Christchurch City Council toward the construction of a permanent home in the city’s Arts Precinct. The funding was approved on 26 June as part of the Council’s Annual Plan 2026/27. The
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
Rockquest winners in 2025, they shot to critical acclaim with rapid online audience growth following their success, and now releasing their debut single EQUILIBRIUM have it all going on. 'Rumination' is a genre defying instrumental track featuring jazz harmonies, progressive metal influences, and pop-rock inspired melodies. It
Live Nation’s Ones To Watch has become a key launchpad for emerging artists across Aotearoa and Australia, giving new acts a shot at bigger crowds, stronger industry ties, and a place on the radar of major promoters. Since landing in New Zealand in 2020, the showcase series has helped
Auckland’s Spark Arena has been listed as one of the world’s top 20 arenas by IQ Magazine, placing the venue alongside major international spaces such as The O2 in London, United Center in Chicago, and Avicii Arena in Stockholm. The annual Arena Stars list forms part of IQ
Neck of the Woods is by no means the first Aotearoa music venue to have challenges. Over the years we've has seen countless institutions come and go - each special in their own way. In reminiscence of the nights gone by, we dug into the archives for a tour
Universal Music New Zealand has launched nextWAV., a new artist development programme built to support emerging talent at the start of their careers. The initiative responds to a clear gap in early-stage artist training, where music skills alone are no longer enough to build a lasting career. The programme
