The music industry is seeking immediate assistance from government in the face of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
Since the start of the August lockdown, hundreds of live music events have been postponed or cancelled across the country, impacting artists, crew, workers and businesses in the live music sector.
While some businesses can open at Alert Level 2, larger music events are impossible, and smaller gigs are not economically viable, especially with the new Delta Alert Level 2 restrictions.
The music industry supports the government’s Covid response which enabled kiwis to enjoy a summer of live music in 2020/2021.
However, targeted financial assistance is urgently needed now to support artists and the infrastructure that enables live music, including crew, support staff, workers, production suppliers, venues and promoters. Music organisations have written to government requesting urgent targeted assistance including:
• extension of the wage subsidy to cover the live music sector at alert level 2 as well as higher alert levels, or an equivalent income support payment from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Arts and Culture Covid Recovery Fund
• a contribution to charity MusicHelps to fund emergency relief grants to individual artists and support payments for music businesses and
• funding an extension of the NZ Music Venue Infrastructure Fund.
The organisations have also sought targeted support for the sector over the coming six months, by way of setting aside a fund for future needs, providing cancellation insurance for live events, review and reallocation of remaining funds in the MCH Arts and Culture Recovery Fund, further funding to continue the Aotearoa Touring Fund and music making via NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho, and expediting the commitment to support for creative careers similar to the previous PACE scheme.
For further information or media enquiries please contact:
Lydia Jenkin at APRA AMCOS on ljenkin@apra.co.nz or
Jo Oliver at Recorded Music NZ on jo@recordedmusic.co.nz
