The NZ Music Month and Outward Sound Make Good Funds are to provide support for NZ artists and music businesses who had outlaid funds for planned activity in NZ Music Month 2020 or for Outward Sound projects that were unable to proceed as a result of COVID-19.
The NZ Music Month Make Good Fund is available to NZ artists, sole traders and music businesses who had confirmed original NZ music activity to occur in May 2020, that was cancelled due to COVID-19. Over 1,000 original NZ music events are usually held during NZ Music Month each year. The Fund is available for recoupment of confirmed outlaid costs and to compensate fees for contracted work that was unable to proceed due to COVID-19. The Fund will also provide a contribution towards confirmed lost income for NZ artists for performances in NZ Music Month as a result of COVID-19.
The Fund will not cover wages or other general business costs that can be addressed through alternative initiatives in the Government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Package.
Applicants must provide evidence of expenditure or loss of income (i.e. invoices for expenditure, contracts for services and confirmation of cancellation or similar), and demonstrate the expenditure or loss incurred is due to COVID-19. Applicants must agree to be subject to audit if required.
Application does not guarantee payment or a full reimbursement of costs.
The NZ Music Month Make Good Fund is open until 5:00pm on Monday 20 July 2020 and the application form is available here. This Fund is for one round only and all applications will be assessed after the closing date. All applications will be processed within 28 days of the Fund closing.
The total investment for the NZ Music Month Make Good Fund is $1million and the full list of successful applicants will be published on the Music Commission website on Monday 17 August.
There are three parts to the NZ Music Month Make Good Fund:
1. Reimbursement of Eligible Costs (with evidence)
2. Contribution Of Contracted Fees (with evidence)
3. Contribution Towards Lost Income Relating To Cancelled Performances (with evidence)
These all related only to original NZ music performances that were confirmed for May 2020 and cancelled because of COVID-19
1. Reimbursement of Eligible Costs (with evidence)
NZ artists and music businesses can apply for reimbursement of eligible costs for activity scheduled occur during NZ Music Month that could not be undertaken due to COVID-19 related cancellations.
These eligible costs are:
· Accommodation (where the costs are not held in credit)
· Air travel (where the costs are not held in credit)
· Ground transportation
· Ticketing fees and inside charges
· Promotion including paid publicist fees
· Advertising and marketing costs
· Artwork
· Insurance
· Venue deposits
· Expenditure on non-CAPEX equipment for events in May 2020.
The Fund will not reimburse per diem costs anticipated to be paid in May 2020.
2. Contribution Of Contracted Fees (with evidence)
NZ artists and music businesses can apply for a contribution towards compensation of contracted work fees for original NZ music activity scheduled to occur during NZ Music Month that could not be undertaken due to COVID-19 related cancellations. This includes:
· Sound engineer fees for confirmed dates
· Tour manager and crew fees for confirmed dates
· Booking agent fees
· Publicist fees for confirmed campaigns
· Advertising fees for confirmed campaigns
· Session musician fees for original NZ music performances (i.e. a drummer who performs with a musician performing original NZ music can apply for lost income due to the cancellation of confirmed shows).
3. Contribution Towards Lost Income Relating To Cancelled Performances (with evidence)
NZ artists can also apply for a contribution towards lost guaranteed performance fees, or lost ticketing income that has been refunded to audiences for shows scheduled occur during NZ Music Month that could not be undertaken due to COVID-19 related cancellations. (NB. The Fund will not contribute to events where the sold tickets have been transferred to a performance at a later date.) Evidence of income and subsequent cancellation will be required.
One application per band or activity will be accepted. If an application relates to a multi-band or multi-artist line up event, only one application will be accepted for the event.
If you are submitting an application for the NZ Music Month Make Good Fund, please ensure you read the Acknowledgement and Confirmation section at the end of the form, which outlines the release of information pertaining to grants and legal confirmation.
The NZ Music Month Make Good Fund application form is here.
The NZ Music Month Make Good Fund closes at 5:00pm on Monday 20 July 2020.
The Outward Sound Make Good Fund is for for artists who had active Outward Sound grants where the artist had incurred costs, and the international activity was cancelled or disrupted due to circumstances related to COVID-19. All eligible artists have been contacted directly by the Outward Sound team. The total investment for the Outward Sound Make Good Fund is $400,000 and the list of supported artists will be published on the Music Commission website on Monday 17 August.