Latest news with #NewZealandOnAir
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Netball TV deal reportedly comes at huge cost for NNZ
By Ross McNaughton of RNZ Domestic netball may be returning to free-to-air television, but it has come at a huge cost to Netball New Zealand. It is understood Netball New Zealand is paying TVNZ hundreds of thousands of dollars for championship games to be shown on the state broadcaster next year Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie would not confirm or deny the arrangement, which is believed to be costing between $600,000 and $700,000. "I do not know what that figure is relating to, but we certainly aren't going to discuss any commercial arrangements we have in place." Netball New Zealand admitted to investing in production costs, despite the deal for next year's Silver Ferns games still under negotiation, and nothing in place for 2027. "Whilst it might set a precedent it gives us a lot of control over the product and how we give exposure to our partners within the broadcast product," Wyllie said. It was hoped sponsorship revenue would be boosted by the increased visibility of being on free-to-air television. The players' collective employment agreement was still being finalised, and New Zealand Netball Players Association executive manager Steph Bond could not confirm whether wages would drop, but said the agreement would "look different." "That's probably all really that we can say right now." Wyllie was resigned to the fact netball could no longer rely on big money offers from TV networks to fill the coffers. "The whole broadcast and media landscape has changed. It's not what it was the last time around when everyone locked in their deals." That had led to them looking elsewhere, including to the government. "Increasingly, this is a space where New Zealand On Air needs to consider that production of New Zealand made content and the storytelling that you see in a sports game is no different to a Shortland Street, is no different to some of the diverse projects that are funded under New Zealand On Air, so I think that landscape will and should change." While it could not be done this year due to the Commonwealth Games, Bond said Players Association wanted to see the ANZ Premiership shifted so it did not clash with the Australian domestic competition. "We have put on the table for the last year or so that moving the competition would obviously allow players to play across the ditch, but also in this competition, which is only going to be great for the sport and great for players, because in the shortened time they have to make a living from the sport they have more ability to do that by playing in more competitions." But the market remained difficult for women's sport "We're not a rugby and a cricket with a men's game cross subsidising us, we don't have an India and we don't have FIFA, we don't have a World Rugby so this is just us trying to work through it for ourselves," Wyllie said. TVNZ declined to comment, citing commercial sensitivity.
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Viral sensation Sophie-Maude joins forces with Devilskin's Nic Martin
'I saw it absolutely take off,' Martin said. Their paths crossed after Martin's fiancée was hired as Sophie-Maude's make-up artist. Not long after, Sophie-Maude secured new music funding from New Zealand On Air. Martin said the two come from vastly different musical backgrounds. 'But then there is so much in common,' he said. When Sophie-Maude visited Martin's home in Pāpāmoa, a conversation with her mother, Sarah-Maude's 'mumager', sparked plans to assemble a live-performance band for the rising star. Determined to shed the polished, pop-star image she had outgrown, Sophie-Maude said she wanted to bring more authenticity to her performances. 'I grew up with pop songs and anything sparkly,' she said. Since debuting on Spotify in 2020, Sophie-Maude has climbed to the top of the NZ Hot New Singles Chart on ZM, featured with bands Blindspott and A Perfect Storm, and has released six singles. Martin, a cornerstone of New Zealand's rock and metal scene, now mentors Sophie-Maude in songwriting and music production. 'It's been cool talking to someone directly who's been in the music industry for a long time,' Sophie-Maude said. 'Just to hear his experiences.' The explosion of viral videos has transformed how artists reach audiences, which Martin acknowledged is very different from when Devilskin first broke into the scene. 'It's breaking down the barriers and helping artists reach their niche audiences,' he said. Still, Martin warned that virality alone isn't enough. Without a clear strategy, he said artists might struggle to sustain momentum. 'It's always been a challenge because there is always competition.' Sophie-Maude admitted she would have handled her viral moment differently in hindsight. The now-famous video that launched her career featured a then-15-year-old, home-schooled Sophie-Maude inhaling helium and singing Ariana Grande's High. After seven deep puffs, she passed out and had full-body convulsions—a moment that quickly caught the attention of media outlets like LADbible. 'It's been a huge learning opportunity,' she said. 'It made me learn a lot more about algorithms.' Now, during Aotearoa Music Month, both artists are focused on new projects. Martin is preparing to tour with Devilskin later in May, while Sophie-Maude will perform an acoustic cover of an iconic Kiwi song, yet to be revealed. Despite lacking industry connections and navigating life with ADHD and autism, Sophie-Maude is determined to succeed on her own terms. 'I think my neurodiversity is definitely a superpower,' she said. She said the structure of a traditional job wouldn't suit her. 'Or anything to do with maths,' she said. For Martin, working with Sophie-Maude is a rewarding reminder of where he started - joining a band at 15 and learning the ropes largely on his own. 'I've learnt so much from [Devilskin] and our manager, but there was a lot I had to figure out on my own.' The music industry in New Zealand presents its own challenges, particularly for independent artists, Martin said. 'It can feel like this constant weight on your shoulders - like pushing a boulder up a hill.' Sophie-Maudes' work ethic gives her an excellent chance of overcoming this weight, Martin said. 'She is so receptive, and I can tell she's so passionate and genuine about this pursuit.'
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Flying Nun Power-Pop Band Voom Releases New Single/Video ‘Crazy Feeling'
Auckland power-pop band Voom's latest single ' Crazy Feeling' is here! An instantly infectious, deeply relatable dose of heart-on-sleeve pop that romantics everywhere will connect with. 'I usually try to say something clever or cryptic about our songs because I'm embarrassed by how dorky and emotional they are,' says Buzz Moller. ' But 'Crazy Feeling' — like most of our songs from the past two decades — is just about my lovely, gorgeous girlfriend Janey!' In addition to the new single, the band has shared a video for ' Crazy Feeling ', directed by Frances Carter and featuring some of Auckland's most notorious characters from the indie music scene. Supported by New Zealand On Air. Voom, who have spent years releasing and performing music for their dedicated following, recently announced a brand new album, Something Good Is Happening, set for release on May 16th via Flying Nun Records. To celebrate the release, the band have announced a four-date New Zealand tour, taking their new songs (and some beloved classics) on the road for the 'Something Good Is Happening Tour'. Beginning at Auckland's hottest new venue Double Whammy on Friday 23 May, the band head off the beaten track to Raglan's The Yard on Saturday 24th before firing up the following weekend with shows at The Loons in Lyttelton on Friday 30 May and finally San Fran in Wellington on Saturday 31 May. The release of the latest Voom album has taken just short of two decades to be officially announced. Is this pace glacial, or considered? Sloth-like, or discerning? The Tāmaki Makaurau-based foursome will tell you the nineteen years since their much-loved 2006 record, Hello, Are You There?, have been spent jamming and gigging, writing, rewriting and sifting, reflecting on what surely must be some of the strangest times in human history to present fans with their latest offering. Something Good is Happening is the child of strange seasons and tides, strange minds, pedals and fingers. After accumulating literally hundreds of demos over the years, Flying Nun Records thought it was about bloody time Voom got at least some of these songs packaged up and released into the wild. The band agreed, and so have been painstakingly whittling and curating and bashing these tracks into shape, to form the 2025 album Something Good Is Happening. Each track has walked a different path into being a part of this record. Written and recorded in a variety of locations, with a plethora of different equipment, over decades of seasons and life stages, but always steered by the unsteady hand and watchful ear of frontperson Buzz Moller — seen by some as one of NZ's most treasured songwriters. All members of Voom (Buzz Moller, Murray Fisher, Nick Buckton, and Josh Sorenson) are multi-instrumentalists and producers in their own right, consequently this combination of minds has helped forge the sound and vibe of this new album. While this is fresh material, existing fans hearing Something Good is Happening will recognise the Voom-ness of it all - an eclectic rumble of raucous pop ear-worms and heartfelt ballads, with sonic experimentation wedged in to keep things sensible. Voom's songs have an earnestness to them that feels refreshingly free of irony; a quality that sets them apart in a musical landscape often dominated by cynicism. Voom embraces a raw, unfiltered honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. Their tracks are often brimming with youthful defiance, but it's not the jaded, world-weary attitude you might expect from a band with such a reputation. Instead, they channel a certain innocence and optimism into their sound, even when grappling with themes of frustration or disillusionment. On Something Good Is Happening, the band stays true to this unpretentious style, weaving together skewed pop melodies that are as endearing as they are infectious. Despite the thick layers of playful cynicism and an occasionally rebellious edge, the album doesn't stray from the fresh, heart-on-sleeve sincerity that has earned them a loyal fanbase. It's that rare combination of vulnerability and attitude that makes Voom's music feel both timeless and immediately relatable. The inception of Voom dates back to 1982, when Buzz Moller met Andrew "Mac" Macaskill at the Sweetwaters Festival. Voom's notable impact on audiences, however, began in the '90s, when they established themselves in New Zealand's music scene with a raw indie sound. By the time Danny Manetto joined on bass, they had already played numerous shows across New Zealand. In 1998, they unveiled their highly praised debut album, Now I Am Me. Their 2006 follow-up, Hello, Are You There?, was initially released by the legendary independent label Lil' Chief Records. It was met with critical acclaim and quickly earned a special place in the hearts of New Zealand's music fans and critics. One track from the album, ' King Kong ', was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll back in 2002. Hello, Are You There? later earned a spot in Nick Bollinger's book 100 Essential New Zealand Albums, and in 2021, it was reissued by Flying Nun Records on vinyl. Over the years, Voom's timeless tracks from the past three decades have been covered by a range of artists, including Princess Chelsea, Anna Coddington, and Julia Deans. In 2025, Voom is made up of lead vocalist and front person Buzz Moller, long-time Voomer and Goodshirt member and guitarist Murray Fisher, bass player Nick Buckton (AKA sidekicknick), and drummer Josh Sorenson. After years of promising the team at Flying Nun Records that they're sitting on a vault of unreleased and brand new material, the next legendary album from Voom is just around the corner; Something Good Is Happening is out digitally, on vinyl LP and CD on May 16th via Flying Nun Records.
