N.Z. music quota level ‘exceeded’ by RNZ

Press, 11 September 1987, Page 19

N.Z. music quota level ‘exceeded’ by RNZ

PA Wellington Radio New Zealand is exceeding the 10 per cent New Zealand'music quota it is required to play, according to an RNZ programme consultant, Mr Peter Fyers. Mr Fyers represented Radio New Zealand at the Kiwi Music Convention earlier this year. “The 10 per cent quota level has been rising steadily over the year and is currently running about 15 to 16 per cent," Fyers said. Mr Fyers said that while the quota was in the form of a voluntary agreement it was now Radio New Zealand policy. He said New Zealand music was getting a “good deal” in many different ways from commercial radio stations. Most stations had a twohour Kiwi music show on

Sundays, he said, and this was not included in the quota figures. •We also have promotions like Kiwi mini-con-certs which we promote during the day,’’ he said. These took the form of a four-record session. As the agreement was voluntary, Radio New Zealand would be reviewing it early next year. It would look at whether increased air play had had any positive impact on New Zealand music, and whether the quality and quantity of music justified the quota. Mr Fyers said he had his doubts. "Our research indicates a public backlash against New Zealand music. Even material like Shona Laing’s ‘Kennedy’ song is not popular with our listeners,” he said. He said the New Zealand music industry was in a sad state, and gave the close down of the EMI

pressing plant, the last such plant in New Zealand, as the most recent example of the industry’s plight "Regardless of the increased air play I don’t believe an artist can survive financially in this country. I’m sure if you ask bands like the Nares, and Helio Sailor, about touring this country, they would tell you the future is limited, and they’ve done it often enough,” he said. He said there could be a positive effect for the music industry if New Zealand bands had their records pressed in Australia. The EMI plant in Lower Hutt would do short runs of a disk of about 300 copies, but the plants in Australia may require longer runs of between 1500 to 2000, he said. "This will encourage our bands to become

more market-oriented and get away from a cultish mentality,” he said. This was important If artists were to sell records overseas, he said. On a more positive note, Mr Fyers said the quota had helped some artists gain recognition. “Expatriate Al Hunter is one who has earned a following since the quota system was introduced, and a new band out of Rotorua, Three Days From Cairo, is also producing a very marketable sound," he said.