Issue 10 2009

This week I take a break from trying to educate the masses about metal and talk about something that is happening right now, New Zealand music month. Now you may be thinking ‘oh great, she’s going to talk about some awesome NZ metal bands!’ But you would be wrong. Whilst there are some really good NZ metal bands out there, that is not the main point I’m going to address (but never fear I will talk about them in the future, along with shameless plugs for any bands willing to answer my questions).
Now if you’re looking for a happy little article about how much good NZ music month does for NZ music, then you should probably stop reading now, because it’s simply not true. In order to benefit from NZ music month one basically needs to be already signed to a record label, and be getting substantial airplay. To put it bluntly, it only helps the bands that don’t really need it, completely disregarding the unsigned, non-mainstream bands that have to work twice as hard just to get their music out there.
The NZ music commission boasts that during the month of May radio play of NZ artists increases by however many percent each year. What they don’t say is how many different NZ artists are played on NZ radio and whether or not that increases over May. Repeating the same Elemeno P or Smashproof song every hour, 24 hours a day for a whole month shouldn’t count as ‘giving artists more exposure’. It’s simple over exposure.
Talking to people who should actually benefit from NZ music month, you quickly find out that they don’t. Cameron from Invercargill band Osmium thought that “it [NZ music month] doesn’t really help the bands that need it the most” and that “a lot of the bands I know don’t really give a shit about it.” Similarly Damian from Dunedin band Soulseller suggested that “All the effort should be put into the actual promotion of the bands and music. Whenever May rolls around, all some people seem to desire is a new tshirt or hoodie with that logo on it.... I can't help but feel a lot of people are missing out. It feels like all the attention goes to those all ready well established acts, who let’s face it, don't need it. Everyone knows who they are. It’s a load of shit.”
So this New Zealand music month, instead of buying one of those overpriced tshirts go out and see a band or buy a CD and help support our local industry the right way.

On a similar note, Soulseller have just re-released their debut EP! Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/soulsellersouths. While you’re on Myspace check out Camerons’ band Osmium at http://www.myspace.com/osmiumband