The NZ Music Commission has confirmed 29 grants in the first round of the Capability Grants Programme, which closed on June 25. The programme is intended to support music industry upskilling, training and development opportunities and is part of the government’s NZ Music Covid Recovery Package and the wider Arts and Culture Recovery Programme.

Music businesses, organisations, collectives and individuals are able to apply for up to $25,000 towards new initiatives or to extend and enhance existing initiatives that build industry, technical and business capability in Aotearoa’s music sector. 

Applications for the next funding round will open on September 1, and close on September 24. More information is available on the Artist Resources section of the NZMC website.

Included among those gaining substantial grants were international businesses, several radio stations, city councils, community trusts, venues, studios and a variety of existing music industry service providers:

• The Voices Of Hope Trust for a video and social media campaign about local musicians and mental health.
• Mind Your Music Ltd for a conference and workshops on music synchronisation.
• Base FM for expansion of its existing mentoring programme with MAINZ students.
• Christchurch City Council for free industry workshops and seminars as part of Go Live!
• Depot Art and Music Space Trust for a joint initiative with Waiata Te Ako to develop the capability of rangatahi/emerging musicians.
• Most FM for an introduction to music production and technology programme in Taranaki.
• SOLE Music Academy for a new music business speaker and mentoring series to support Canterbury artists.
• MTCO for a two-day event of seminars and workshops for musicians focusing on the post-Covid 19 environment.
• Centre for New Zealand Music (SOUNZ) for a digital youth engagement strategy focusing on Māori music and composers aged 15-25.
• 95bFM for video production and editing training to support the delivery of quality live-to-air musical performances.
• Radio One 91FM to scope and develop a new demo portal for the SRN to support emerging artists.
• Racquet Club for staff upskilling and training on inclusivity, and safe space policies and measures.
• SwampShack Studio for a new project to enable local musicians to improve live and pre-recorded performances and interviews.
• Bianca Bailey to develop and implement a new event management and scheduling platform for use by Eyegum Music Collective and other smaller festivals.
• Women About Sound for a workshop series around audio engineering and music production skills of women and gender non-conforming individuals.
• Darkroom for a series of free artist development seminars to support and empower emerging music practitioners.
• Aeroplane Music for the creation of user-friendly resources and programmes for musicians.
• Flying Out for the scoping and development phase of new services for NZ artists.
• The Drop for a practical philosophy and mindfulness course for musicians and music managers.
• Backline Charitable Trust for a series of free mentoring workshops for local songwriters and performers.
• Aro to develop new bilingual Māori-Pākeha songs into digital tools and resources for schools and other groups.
• The 13th Floor for a new music live-streaming project to upskill young people with production experience.
• Otago University Students Association for a free one-day educational summit for women and non-binary individuals in the music industry.
• Native Tongue Music Publishing for the creation of an online library accessible to NZ film and TV music supervisors and producers.
• Māori Music Industry Coalition for music industry and kapa haka engagement guidelines.
• Live Nation Australasia for sexual harm prevention training for all employees of the Live Nation group and key contracting staff.
• To The Front Pōneke to expand the Girls Rock! Aotearoa‘s programme.
• Kiwi Kids Music Trust for an online members’ resource.
• The Sensonauts to extend its programme to encourage more line-up diversity in electronic music.