N.Z. music content criticised

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 8

N.Z. music content criticised

PA New Plymouth Heated discussion broke out at the music convention in Wellington when people pushing for a compulsory quota of New Zealand music on radio challenged a panel of radio executives. The former “Radio With Pictures” presenter, Karyn Hay, criticised the panel of radio executives for what she described as a denial of the right of New Zealanders to hear their indigenous music. “If New Zealand re-

cords aren’t played on radio, no-one knows about them,” she said. Radio programmes were bereft of any cultural commitment and there must be a legislative quota system to promote creativity, she said. For these comments, Ms Hay received a standing ovation from about 200 people. But the programme director at Radio Hauraki, Mr Ross Goodwin, said surveys by commercial radio stations showed

audiences did not want local music played. “We want New Zealand music which enhances our broadcast and we want recordings which are of a good standard,” said a commercial network producer, Mr Peter Fyers. "Bands don’t have to go to Australia to make it big, but they have to give radio stations playable material.” Ms Hay said that it was a cultural incompetence on the part, of radio not to have a compulsory quota.

People did not know what they wanted to hear until they heard it There were eight discussions — on creativity, management, funding, recording and publishing, radio, video, performance, and promotion — over the two-day convention which finished on Wednesday. The music convention committee resolved 'to recommend a compulsory 10 per cent New Zealand music quota to the Broadcasting Tribunal.