More Plugger Power For NZ On Air

27 March 2002

This month NZ On Air welcomes David Ridler as a new music "plugger" on a mission to get more New Zealand music on commercial radio.

David joins NZ On Air from Channel Z, a radio network with an excellent record of playing New Zealand music.

The NZ On Air plugger's job is to promote New Zealand music with radio programmers around the country.

"More plugger power is part of NZ On Air's Phase Four NZ Music Plan. The plan is simple; it's all about helping to create hit records by investing more in the making and marketing of New Zealand music," said NZ On Air's acting chief executive, Bernard Duncan.

"NZ On Air helps to source and develop new kiwi music with a mix of funding schemes and promotional strategies. Pluggers fill the gap between the music makers and the music players, the commercial radio stations."

One part of the promotional strategy is the creation of hit discs like the Kiwi Hit Disc and the Indie Hit Disc. The Pluggers showcase these hit discs to commercial radio stations and work to get songs off the hit discs and on to station playlists.

"The key to getting New Zealand music played on New Zealand radio is making the songs available to radio and making it as easy as possible for programmers to hear a selection of great New Zealand music and make their choices," Mr Duncan said.

Mr Duncan said there was more New Zealand music now on commercial radio than ever before. Local music content has more than doubled in the last two years and it is nearly six times more than it was six years ago.

David Ridler replaces Alex Behan who has worked for NZ On Air for 18 months plugging the NZ On Air discs. Alex is leaving NZ On Air to go to television.

David joins Nicky Donoghue and Camille Guzzwell to make up "a dream New Zealand music promotions team, bringing real coalface radio experience and expertise into the equation".

"Having that depth of radio inside knowledge and understanding on the team is going to be hugely valuable and will strengthen our already formidable team," said Mr Duncan.

ends

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