NZMIC August Newsletter

NZMIC August Newsletter

Welcome to the first in an ongoing series of monthly updates telling you what’s going on here at the NZ Music Industry Commission. Each month we’ll be clueing you in on some of our projects and activities, as well as bringing you the odd piece of news from NZ bands and other organisations we work with.

It seems like the Texan dust has only just settled each year before we start thinking about the following South By Southwest conference in Austin, USA. While March 2007 may seem like it’s a while away, if you are thinking about attending as either a performer or delegate you should check out their website right now – band applications and delegate registrations have begun. Bands have until October 27th to apply, but for musicians and delegates alike SXSW prices are at their cheapest now and will go up shortly. Bands can click here for more info, delegates here.

The NZMIC Music Mentoring In Schools programme continues to offer intensive sessions with music students in participating schools. A fresh batch of mentors have joined the programme recently, including the likes of Jimmy Christmas (The D4), Brad Carter (Steriogram), Godfrey de Grut (New Loungehead, Che Fu, Sole Survivor) and Charlotte Johansen. Also in Education-land, 2003 Rockquest winners Falter will be performing with Rockquest regional finalists from Rangitoto College, Papatoetoe High School, and Mt Roskill Grammar as part of the Ministry Of Education/NZMIC Contemporary Bands Programme. An overview of our Education projects is on our website.

We're very happy to announce that the NZMIC has confirmed our role as core funders for two important music organisations - Independent Music New Zealand and the Music Manager's Forum. We look forward to another twelve months of excellent results from both.

SXSW 2006 performers Die! Die! Die!, recipients of an NZMIC Outward Sound grant for market development in the US, have been making good headway internationally. Their debut self-titled album is set for release in the US and UK early next year, and the band has picked up a major UK booking agent in Primary (Babyshambles, Oasis, Kylie Minogue etc). Die! Die! Die! have been busy touring the US and Europe since SXSW, and have spent the last couple of months in New York writing new material and playing a weekly residency at The Annex, where they play their last two shows (including one with Dirty Pretty Things) before hitting the UK for a bunch of gigs including Barfly and Artrocker shows. The band are due back in NZ later in the year.

On the other side of the Atlantic are Breaks Co-op - personally called last week by Elton John, ringing to say that they are his favourite new band! UK dub/electronica act Atlantic Conveyor have completed an Ibiza remix of Duet, which will be available on vinyl in the very near future. In the US the Gap chain are including Breaks Co-op on their instore CDs. During August the band are conducting a headline tour the length of the UK, ending with a Camden Dingwalls show on September 12, and the Outward Sound grant recipients also have the single A Place For You coming out in the UK in September.

Keep an eye on your inboxes next month for another update on what we are up to. Until next time...

ENDS

© Scoop Media