Culture
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,
Culture
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 '
Industry
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
Industry
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
Culture
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
Music
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
Interview
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
Music
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
Culture
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
Fresh tracks, and the stories that matter in Aotearoa’s evolving scene.
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
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
Country music is gaining real ground in Aotearoa. More and more global acts are making the trip south to perform, new fans are discovering the genre, and there is a strong crop of local artists coming through. For rising country artist Zac Griffith, it feels like something that has been
Change can be a slow moving beast, and yet sometimes life will evolve with such ferocity, it'll leave you feeling giddy. Fables is an artist I've known for a long time. The album in question, is actually her debut. With an EP and a few early
If you're somewhat involved with music in Aotearoa, you may have heard about a new digital album-like product hitting the market in the not too distant future. You may have also heard it pitched as a shift for artists, opening fresh ways to earn in an industry
Auckland born singer-songwriter Lisa Crawley has spent the past few years carving out a life and career in Los Angeles, a city known for its endless ambition, creative energy and fierce competitiveness. After making the leap from Melbourne just before the pandemic, Crawley has embraced these challenges and the
American black metal innovators Deafheaven return to New Zealand this July for two exclusive headline shows, bringing their acclaimed new album Lonely People With Power to the stage alongside special guests Nothing. To celebrate, Empty Spaces is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a double pass to the
A crowd full of dancing, banter, kinship, and everything in between filled The Powerstation on a Saturday night as Boy & Bear returned to Aotearoa for the first time in two years. The Aussie outfit lived up to their legacy of indie folk music and proved that the genre is
How very! Heathers: The Musical is ready for some big fun. The show is open for a criminally short five day season here in Tāmaki Makaurau after an incredible reception from audiences across Australia and around the Motu! The production started its run this past April at the Playhouse in
As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. And isn't that the truth. Hidden agendas, gossip and fake friends. Nobody wants them, yet we often find ourselves caught up in the fallout. Hazy Way place these dynamics front and centre with their latest single Right Back Around.
It's a strange old time to be alive. You need only tune into the news to hear all about it. Or is that just misinformation? What about the economics of survival? Politics for dinner? How would we know? It's a constant flood of noise spilling into
Kate Sheppard remains one of Aotearoa's most influential historical figures. She was a leading voice in the women's suffrage movement, campaigning tirelessly for gender equality and helping to secure New Zealand's place as the first self-governing country to grant women the right to
