Latest news with #NZOnAir
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
KORA Return Bigger, Bolder, And More Electrifying Than Ever With New Album Fifth Season And Nationwide Tour
Kora are back-and sound bigger, deeper and more electrifying than ever. With a long-awaited new album Fifth Season set for release August 22nd digitally and on vinyl and a national tour to match, the iconic Aotearoa band is set to reawaken the hearts of fans both old and new Fifth Season showcases the dynamic range of Kora from the funky, upbeat rhythms of ' Dancing in the Rain ', to the broken-hearted power ballad ' Gone'. ' Falling For You ' taps into the unmistakable Minneapolis sound, while the latest single, ' Revolution ' (featuring brother Laughton Kora) is a compelling reggae anthem for 2025 that cuts right to the heart of political accountability. 'Revolution' rides on a buoyant groove, driven by punchy guitar skanks, a bass-heavy groove and soulful vocals, making it as danceable as it is politically charged. Pre-save / Pre-order Fifth Season D igitally and on Vinyl. Listen/Purchase ' Revolution ' – thanks to the the support of NZ On Air. The Fifth Season Album Release Tour sees the band hitting the road for a run of unmissable headline shows across the country. Kicking off in Hamilton at The Factory on Friday 20 September, followed by a night at Auckland's iconic Powerstation on Friday 3 October, before wrapping up in the capital at Wellington's newest venue, Meow Nui, on Saturday 11 October. Tickets for all dates go on sale Monday 21 July at midday. Known as one of Aotearoa's most powerful and dynamic acts fusing elements of roots, reggae, funk, rock, dub, and electronic music into a sonic identity that is entirely their own. Kora's music is heavy and melodic and grounded in kaupapa Māori, driven by innovation, storytelling, and groove. Their breakout hits ' Politician ', 'Burning', and ' On My Mind ' propelled Kora to the top of the charts, with their debut album going double Platinum and Light Years cementing their status as innovators. Recent singles like ' Secret Lover ', ' Weekend ', ' Dancing In The Rain', and ' Gone ' have kept Kora's sound fresh and their fanbase growing, blending bass-heavy grooves with soulful hooks and sharp production. The current live ensemble, consists of core members Fran and Stu Kora, Dan McGruer and Richie Allan, along with new additions Darren Mathiassen (Trinity Roots, Shapeshifter) on drums, Marika Hodgson (Hollie Smith, Troy Kingi, Alae) on bass, and Karlos Tunks (Troy Kingi, MMQ) on rhythm guitar and BVs. Long renowned for their explosive live shows, Kora remain one of Aotearoa's most formidable headline acts on stage, wowing crowds at the likes of The Big Day Out, Rhythm & Vines, Rhythm & Alps, One Love, Synthony In The Domain, Electric Avenue, Homegrown, and Splore. Their performances bring together heavy bass, soaring vocals, and raw energy, blending musical mastery with raw power to create an immersive experience. Whether headlining major festivals or packing out venues around Aotearoa, Kora's ability to move a crowd is unmatched. 01 – Revolution 02 – Dancing In The Rain 03 – U Wanna Give This Up 04 – Gone 05 – Wrong 06 – Sandbox 07 – Falling For You 08 – Bull Rush 09 – Easy Now (Final Season) 10 – Azza Content Sourced from Original url
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
KORA Return Bigger, Bolder, And More Electrifying Than Ever With New Album Fifth Season And Nationwide Tour
Kora are back-and sound bigger, deeper and more electrifying than ever. With a long-awaited new album Fifth Season set for release August 22nd digitally and on vinyl and a national tour to match, the iconic Aotearoa band is set to reawaken the hearts of fans both old and new Fifth Season showcases the dynamic range of Kora from the funky, upbeat rhythms of ' Dancing in the Rain ', to the broken-hearted power ballad ' Gone'. ' Falling For You ' taps into the unmistakable Minneapolis sound, while the latest single, ' Revolution ' (featuring brother Laughton Kora) is a compelling reggae anthem for 2025 that cuts right to the heart of political accountability. 'Revolution' rides on a buoyant groove, driven by punchy guitar skanks, a bass-heavy groove and soulful vocals, making it as danceable as it is politically charged. Pre-save / Pre-order Fifth Season Digitally and on Vinyl. Listen/Purchase ' Revolution ' - thanks to the the support of NZ On Air. The Fifth Season Album Release Tour sees the band hitting the road for a run of unmissable headline shows across the country. Kicking off in Hamilton at The Factory on Friday 20 September, followed by a night at Auckland's iconic Powerstation on Friday 3 October, before wrapping up in the capital at Wellington's newest venue, Meow Nui, on Saturday 11 October. Tickets for all dates go on sale Monday 21 July at midday. Known as one of Aotearoa's most powerful and dynamic acts fusing elements of roots, reggae, funk, rock, dub, and electronic music into a sonic identity that is entirely their own. Kora's music is heavy and melodic and grounded in kaupapa Māori, driven by innovation, storytelling, and groove. Their breakout hits ' Politician ', 'Burning', and ' On My Mind ' propelled Kora to the top of the charts, with their debut album going double Platinum and Light Years cementing their status as innovators. Recent singles like ' Secret Lover ', ' Weekend ', ' Dancing In The Rain', and ' Gone ' have kept Kora's sound fresh and their fanbase growing, blending bass-heavy grooves with soulful hooks and sharp production. The current live ensemble, consists of core members Fran and Stu Kora, Dan McGruer and Richie Allan, along with new additions Darren Mathiassen (Trinity Roots, Shapeshifter) on drums, Marika Hodgson (Hollie Smith, Troy Kingi, Alae) on bass, and Karlos Tunks (Troy Kingi, MMQ) on rhythm guitar and BVs. Long renowned for their explosive live shows, Kora remain one of Aotearoa's most formidable headline acts on stage, wowing crowds at the likes of The Big Day Out, Rhythm & Vines, Rhythm & Alps, One Love, Synthony In The Domain, Electric Avenue, Homegrown, and Splore. Their performances bring together heavy bass, soaring vocals, and raw energy, blending musical mastery with raw power to create an immersive experience. Whether headlining major festivals or packing out venues around Aotearoa, Kora's ability to move a crowd is unmatched. 01 - Revolution 02 - Dancing In The Rain 03 - U Wanna Give This Up 04 - Gone 05 - Wrong 06 - Sandbox 07 - Falling For You 08 - Bull Rush 09 - Easy Now (Final Season) 10 - Azza
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
NZ On Air Announces New Touring Support For Local Musicians
NZ On Air, with support from the NZ Music Commission, is proud to announce a new initiative to aid Aotearoa's music scene: the New Music Project Touring fund. This pilot fund is designed to help local artists take their music on the road, connecting with audiences across the motu through live performances to promote their album or EP release. The New Music Project Touring initiative will provide between $10,000 and $50,000 per successful application, depending on the scale of the tour, to support a headline national tour for an NZ On Air New Music Project-funded album or EP. A total of $500,000 will be available in this first pilot round. 'Live performance is a vital part of how audiences connect with music,' says NZ On Air Head of Music, Teresa Patterson. 'This initiative recognises the importance of touring to promote a new body of work, as well as building fanbases and audiences. We're excited to help more audiences across Aotearoa experience the incredible music being made right here.' The funding is open to artists who have received NZ On Air New Music Project (NMP) funding and have not yet released their project or announced a tour. It will cover a range of touring costs including transport, accommodation, marketing, production, venue hire and session musician fees. 'NMP funding supports the creation, release and promotion of new music and this initiative will support the live promotion of that music. We have been told by the music community that the cost of touring has become prohibitive, as it's a major financial undertaking with a lot of risk. This funding will help bridge the gap between recording and releasing music and reaching audiences.' Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Applications can be submitted by artists, managers, artist representatives, booking agents or tour promoters – with the requirement that funding must benefit the artist directly. The New Music Project Touring fund is led by NZ On Air and supported by the NZ Music Commission, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening Aotearoa's music ecosystem. 'Live performance is an incredibly important part of building an audience for artists, so it is great that NZ On Air has committed these funds to help artists promote their recordings. This pilot programme will really help to maximise the promotion and grow audiences across Aotearoa for New Music Project recipients,' says Cath Andersen, Chief Executive of the NZ Music Commission. Artist manager Pippa Ryan-Kidd says that being able to add more ways for the industry to build visibility for new music releases is a great initiative. "In Aotearoa, our musicians are privileged to have opportunity to access funding through our various music industry bodies. This funding can allow for creation, promotion and the overall visibility of our music in Aotearoa today. This visibility is vitally important in today's market where global platforms dominate. We are incredibly grateful for these opportunities, and the New Music Project Programme is an important goal for many artists.'
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: Andrew Shaw, TV executive
Andrew Shaw. Photo: screenshot/NZ On Air Andrew Shaw was a highly influential broadcasting manager, but for New Zealanders of a certain age he will always be remembered for his first job in the medium: as a children's television host of the wildly popular 1970s' show Hey Hey It's Andy. In the days of just two TV channels Mr Shaw quickly became a beloved star of daytime TV, as well as a respected presenter of other shows. Unlike many a youthful presenter, he stayed in the industry and became a producer, director and ultimately an executive commissioner with TVNZ. He became head of programming for both TVNZ channels in 1996, before leaving five years later to become chief operating officer at South Pacific Pictures. After a range of other roles in the industry, and various projects through his own production companies, Mr Shaw returned to TVNZ in 2007 as general manager of commissioning, production and acquisition. A long-serving NZ On Air board member, Mr Shaw was named a "Television Legend" at the 2020 NZ Television Awards. He died on May 24, aged 68. — APL/agencies
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
NZ On Air Announces Second-Year GDSR Recipients — Showing Improved Economic Value And Job Creation
Press Release – NZ On Air The key objectives of the GDSR from the outset were to retain industry talent, keep studios from heading offshore and enable studios to stabilise, scale and invest in long-term capability. The data is showing that were on the right track. Forty game development studios across Aotearoa New Zealand will receive a share of $22.44m in the second year of the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR), with initial data showing a 20.5 percent increase in roles and each GDSR-funded employee generating over $525,000 in revenue. In the second year of the GDSR, the number of studios receiving the rebate has also grown by 24 percent, up from 33 in 2024, showing more studios are meeting eligibility thresholds and actively scaling in response. 'These figures are hugely encouraging to see,' says Chantelle Cole, NZ On Air GDSR Programme Director. 'They show that the GDSR is not only allowing studios to sustain jobs but actively grow their teams.' 'The key objectives of the GDSR from the outset were to retain industry talent, keep studios from heading offshore and enable studios to stabilise, scale and invest in long-term capability. The data is showing that we're on the right track.' The GDSR, introduced in 2023, provides a 20 percent rebate on eligible expenditure to support the growth of Aotearoa New Zealand's game development sector. The GDSR is administered by NZ On Air, with policy oversight from MBIE. The rebate is capped at $3 million per studio per year, with a minimum qualifying expenditure of $250,000. This year's recipients represent a diverse range of studios from across the motu, developing original IP and contributing to a thriving digital export industry. 'The GDSR is clearly starting to play a big role in retaining talent and IP in New Zealand, while also boosting our presence and capabilities in the global marketplace,' says Cole. 'Over the next few years, its impacts will continue to become even clearer– but it is evident that the rebate's existence has already resulted in studios continuing to do business in Aotearoa New Zealand and ignited further investment in our local sector.' Key GDSR 2025 data highlights: • Eligible staff numbers grew from 1,141 to 1,353, an 18.6 percent year-on-year increase. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) roles similarly grew, up 20.5 percent from 1079 to 1300. • Average revenue per GDSR-funded employee reached approximately $525,260, up 14.8 percent from 2024 – highlighting the sector's high-value, export-oriented output. • Overall, total eligible expenditure increased by 16 percent, with three studios more than doubling their eligible spend. Preliminary data for 2025 from NZGDA shows revenue is now tracking 61% higher than it was two years ago, before the introduction of the rebate, when annual growth had slowed to just 7%. Finalised 2025 revenue figures are expected in September. 'These early indicators suggest the GDSR is delivering on its economic promise — supporting a high growth sector that's making a meaningful contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand's creative economy and export success,' says Cole. GDSR 2025 Recipients 2Up Games A44 Balancing Monkey Games Beyond Studio Big Adventure Blind Squirrel Entertainment Camshaft Software CerebralFix Conical Deep Field Games Digital Confectioners Dinosaur Polo Club DreamLoft Dry Cactus Evans Taylor Digital Flightless Floating Rock Studio Futureverse Geo AR Gfactor Grinding Gear Games Insight Creative Melodics Mighty Eyes Mytona Niantic Aotearoa Ninja Kiwi Outerdawn PikPok PlaySide Studios RiffRaff Games RocketWerkz Runaway SharpMind Games Snickerdoodle Games Space Rock Games Splitting Point Staples Productions Synty Studios Wētā Workshop * The rebate amount received by each individual studio is confidential and commercially sensitive. The amount each business received – grouped in dollar bands – will be published on the NZ On Air website two years after the rebate is paid out.
