Pacific Music in 2019

New Zealand Music Month is an annual event which takes place in May to celebrate music from Aotearoa and the people who make it. It’s in its 19th year now. NZ Music Commission’s Rodney Fisher joins Breakfast for more.

PART II: Swiss began with a major music label while Tree hustled on her own and through personal networks from the start. They're now running their own music label BLK Entertainment and are seeing the struggles and benefits of doing it on your own. They share about BLK's journey and their thoughts on Pacific music now compared to when they started.

PART I: Swiss and Tree both discovered their passion for music at a young age. Now as a married couple, they continue pursuing music as a career while raising a family and running their own music label. They share about how it all started.

Pos Mavaega is a founding member of art collective Pacific Underground that was formed in Christchurch in 1993. He talks about how the music landscape has changed and how much Pacific music has progressed since 20 years ago.

(Photo: Stuff NZ)

The government funding agency for New Zealand content NZ On Air is for the first time opening a funding round specifically for new Pasifika music. Niuean artist Tommy Nee knows what it’s like to be funded to make music and he’s been through the process of it. But what struggles does he face as a Pasifika artist in 2019.

The government funding agency for New Zealand content NZ On Air is for the first time opening a funding round specifically for new Pasifika music. Last night a workshop was hosted by Pacific Media Network in partnership with the Pacific Music Awards Trust to inform Pacific musicians about the funding opportunity and how they can apply. Liana Frangipani, a 21yo Niuean, Samoan, Irish up and coming artist who’s been pursuing music for the past four years.