The Latest Breaking News from the NZ Music Commission

NZ’s small music venues are struggling – but there are ways to help them thrive

Grassroots music venues are essential to the development of new talent and audiences. But right now, those small clubs and spaces are struggling, putting Aotearoa New Zealand’s local live music sector at risk.

The Conversation · Sep 10, 2025

Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections

Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what’s already happening ?

The Conversation · Jul 13, 2025

Discovering new NZ music in the streaming age is getting harder – what’s the future for local artists?

New Zealand Music Month turned 25 this year, and there’s been plenty to celebrate – whether it be Mokotron’s Taite Prize-winning Waerea, Lorde’s recent return (though not to New Zealand – yet), or the fact that live performance revenues post-COVID have been strong.

The Conversation · May 27, 2025