Important NZ Music Industry Dates

Listed below are upcoming NZ music industry dates.
These dates should only be used as a guideline, as they are subject to change.
Dates are for 2023, unless otherwise specified.

NZ ON AIR – IRIRANGI TE MOTU

Website
Music Funding
Resources For Musicians

PLEASE NOTE:
Complete applications must be received by 4pm on the relevant closing date, with the correct application form.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for a single song.
This can now include a $1,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

Application Form

Round Opens
5 January
16 March
1 June
3 August
12 October

Applications Close
19 January
30 March
15 June
17 August
26 October

Funding of between $10,000 and $40,000 is available for multi-song projects.
This can now include up to $4,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

Potential applicants must first email a one-paragraph project overview to [email protected], at least two weeks before the funding deadline.

Round Opens
12 January
6 April
29 June
31 August

Applications Close
2 February
27 April
20 July
21 September

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for artists of Pacific background, for a single song.
This can now include a $1,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

Round Opens
20 April
28 September

Applications Close
11 May
19 October

This is a co-fund launched as a collaboration between NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.
Funding of up to $14,000 (+GST if registered) is available.

Applications Open
19 October

Applications Close
9 November

Notification Dates
December

Funding of up to $6,000 (+GST) are available to producers for a development of a body of work with one artists, with a minimum of three demo recordings to be delivered at the end of the development period.

Round Opens
16 February
10 August

Applications Close
9 March
31 August

Funding of between $2,500 and $10,000 is available, depending on the scope of the project.

Round Opens
9 February
20 July

Applications Close
23 February
3 August

NewTracks is a monthly compilation of new songs from NZ artists that NZ On Air distributes to radio stations and other broadcast and online media through Aotearoa.

More Info

Round Opens
2 January
1 February
1 March
1 April
1 May
1 June
1 July
1 August
1 September
1 October
1 November

Applications Close
20 January
20 February
20 March
20 April
20 May
20 June
20 July
20 August
20 September
20 October
20 November

CREATIVE NZ – ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND TOI AOTEAROA

Website
Creative NZ Funding Calendar

PLEASE NOTE: Complete applications must be received by 1pm on the relevant closing date.

ARTS GRANTS

Opening Dates

30 January
18 April

Applications Close

All funding
rounds close
when 250 apps
submitted

Notification Dates

7 April
23 June

ANNUAL ARTS GRANTS

Opening Date
TBC

Applications Close
TBC

Notification Date
TBC

TOI TIPU TOI REA – EMERGING MĀORI ARTIST FUND
$5,000 – $12,000

Opening Date
TBC

Applications Close
TBC

Notification Date
TBC

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
The Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship and The Jack McGill Music Scholarship.

Opening Date
18 April

Applications Close
12 May

Notification Date
23 June

TE MĀNGAI PĀHO

Website

PLEASE NOTE: Complete applications must be received by 5pm on the relevant closing date.
Dates are indicative only.

ORO KURA ROA
To support an emerging music artist to write a series of waiata in te reo Māori.

Applications Open
4 September

Applications Close
22 September

Notification Date
20 October

ORO HĀPAI
To support the coming together of contemporary music writers and creatives to create new waiata reo Māori to demo level.

Applications Close
TBC

Notification Date
TBC

WAIATA REO MĀORI
Funding for the production and promotion (including aligned video assets) of single waiata containing 50% or more reo Māori, that are original and have not been released before.

Applications Open
6 February
3 April
3 July
30 January, 2024
2 April, 2024

Applications Close
24 February
21 April
21 July
23 February, 2024
19 April. 2024

Notification Dates
17 March
19 May
18 August
22 March, 2024
17 May, 2024

WAIATA REO MĀORI PLATFORM FEATURES
This contestable funding opportunity will support media and broadcast organisations to resource the making of Waiata Reo Māori Feature content for their platform.

Applications Close
19 January

Notification Date
17 February

WAIATA REO MĀORI SHOWCASE

Applications Close
19 January

Notification Date
17 February

WAIATA TUAREA
Funding for the production and promotion (including aligned video assets) of multiple waiata intended for an EP or album.

Applications Open
6 March

Applications Close
24 March

Notification Date
21 April

AOTEAROA TOURING PROGRAMME

More Info

Eligibility Guidelines

Are you tour ready?

Prospective applicants need to contact Emily Crowther for access to the online application portal.
Complete applications must be received by 5pm on the relevant closing date.

Applications Open
10 October, 2022
23 January
13 March

Applications Close
18 January
8 March
10 May

Notification Dates
16 February
20 April
15 June

APRA AMCOS

Website

APRA MUSIC GRANTS

Applications Close
16 February

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

More Info

Entries Open
TBC

Applications Close
TBC

RECORDED MUSIC

RECORDED MUSIC GRANTS
More Info

Applications Close
24 December, 2022
31 March
30 June
30 September
24 December

Notification Dates
31 January
30 April
31 July
31 October
31 January, 2024

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC COMMISSION – TE REO REKA O AOTEAROA

INDUSTRY INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

More Info
Application Form

Closing Date
30 November, 2022
Internships start in January or February

The Capability Quick Response Grants is a contestable fund from the New Zealand Music Commission being delivered as part of the wider Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme.

More Info

Applications Open
1 February
1 March
1 April
1 May

Applications Close
28 February
31 March
30 April
31 May

Notification Dates
Mid-March
Mid-April
Mid-May
Mid-June

MUSICHELPS – ĀWHINA PUORO

MUSICHELPS GRANTS

More Info

Applications Close
31 January
31 July

Notification Dates
31 March
30 September

THE ARTS FOUNDATION SPRINGBOARD

Website

Nominations Close
TBC

OUTWARD SOUND

Website

PLEASE NOTE:
Applications must be received by 5pm on the closing dates, with the relevant application form and supporting documents.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Applications Close
12 December, 2022
10 April
11 July
9 October
11 December

Decision Dates
14 February
13 June
8 August
5 December
13 February, 2024

INTERNATIONAL DELEGATE APPLICATION DEADLINES

BIGSOUND – SEPTEMBER 2023 – BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Applications Close
TBC

Decision Date
TBC

WOMEX – OCTOBER 25-29 – A CORUÑA, GALICIA, SPAIN

Applications Close
TBC

Decision Date
TBC

TO THE FRONT YOUTH MUSIC PROGRAMMES

Website

Te Papaioea / Palmerston North
TBC

Pōneke / Wellington
TBC

Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
16 – 21 January

GOING GLOBAL MUSIC SUMMIT

Website

Artist Applications Close
September

SMOKEFREE ROCKQUEST

Website

Region
Auckland Central
Auckland Solo/Duo
Bay of Plenty
Canterbury
Central Otago
Hawkes Bay
Manawatū
Manukau
Nelson
North Shore
Northland
Otago
Rotorua
Southland
East Coast
Taranaki
Timaru
Waikato
Wairarapa
Wellington
Whanganui

Heats
13 May
–
27 May
27 May
27 May
27 May
21 May
13 May
13 May
12 May
6 May
20 May
27 May
–
26 May
–
–
28 May
–
20 May
–

Finals
10 June
14 May
23 June
10 June
17 June
23 June
9 June
16 June
26 May
9 June
22 June
16 June
23 June
10 June
24 June
30 June
20 May
24 June
16 June
17 June
10 June

National Final
TBC

SMOKEFREE TANGATA BEATS

Website

Region
Taranaki
Southland
Wairarapa
Whanganui
Waikato
Canterbury
Bay of Plenty
Hawkes Bay
East Coast
Manawatū
Central Otago
Auckland
Otago
Wellington
Timaru
Nelson
Northland
West Coast

Event Date
30 June
24 June
16 June
10 June
28 May
27 May
27 May
27 May
26 May
21 May
21 May
20 May & 17 June
20 May
20 May
20 May
13 May
6 May
TBC

National Final
TBC

ROCKSHOP BANDQUEST

Website

Region
TBC

Heats
TBC

PLAY IT STRANGE

Website

Open to all NZ students – years 9 – 11
More Info

Entries Due
11 May

Open to all NZ students – years 9 – 13
More Info

Entries Due
21 July

Open to all NZ students – 9 – 13
More Info

Entries Due
16 June

HOOK LINE AND SING-A-LONG

Write the song for NZ Music Month

Entries Due
Early March

Winner Announced
Late March

TAITE MUSIC PRIZE

Website

Nominations Close
1 February

Winner Announced
18 April

INDEPENDENT MUSIC NZ CLASSIC RECORD

Winner Announced
18 April

AUCKLAND LIVE BEST INDEPENDENT DEBUT AWARD

Nominations Close
1 February

Winner Announced
18 April

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD

Winner Announced
18 April

NZ ON AIR OUTSTANDING MUSIC JOURNALISM AWARD

Nominations Close
1 February

Winner Announced
18 April

NZ MUSIC MONTH

Website

NZ MUSIC MONTH
May

NZ MUSIC MONTH QUIZ
TBC

NZ MUSIC T-SHIRT DAY
TBC

NZ MUSIC MONTH SUMMIT
TBC

TE MARAMA PUORU WAIATA MĀORI – MĀORI MUSIC MONTH

August

MATAURA LICENSING TRUST (MLT) – GOLD GUITAR AWARDS

Includes the MLT Songwriting Award Competition
Website

Entries Open
22 January

Entries Close
7 April

Finals/Winners Announced
2 – 4 June

NZ COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Website

APRA BEST COUNTRY MUSIC SONG

Entries Open
17 February

Entries Close
10 March

Finalists Announced
Early May

Winner Announced
The winner will be announced at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in June

MLT SONGWRITING AWARD

Entries Open
January

Entries Close
2 April

Finalists Announced
Early May

Winner Announced
The winner will be announced at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in June

TE KAIPUORO TUAWHENUA TOA – RECORDED MUSIC NZ BEST COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST

Entries Open
Early February

Entries Close
Early March

Finalists Announced
Early May

Winner Announced
The winner will be announced at the Aotearoa Music Awards

KAIWHAKAHAERE PUORO O TE TAU – MMF AOTEAROA MUSIC MANAGER OF THE YEAR

More Info

Returning in 2023

Finalists Announced
Finalists will be announced at the Aotearoa Music Awards – Artisan Awards.

AOTEAROA MUSIC AWARDS

Celebrating 53 Years
Website

Nominations Open
TBC

Nominations Close
TBC

Finalists Announced
TBC

ARTISAN AWARDS
The artisan awards include the following:
Te Kaiwhakaputa Toa – Best Producer
Te Kaipukaha Toa – Best Engineer
Te Toi Ataata Pukaemi Toa – Best Album Artwork
Te Kiko Puoro Ataata Toa – Best Music Video Content
Kaiwhakahaere Puoro O Te Tau – MMF Aotearoa Music Manager of the Year
Kaiarahi Puoro o te Tau – Music Teacher of the Year (bi-annual award)

Awards Ceremony
TBA

TE KAIPUORO TAUTITO TOA – BEST JAZZ ARTIST
APRA BEST JAZZ COMPOSITION AWARD

The 2023 Best Jazz Composition entries will open later in the year

Entries Open
February

Entries Close
March

Finalists Announced
May

Winners Announced
The winner will be announced at the Wellington Jazz Festival in June

TE KAIPUORO WAIATA TAMARIKI TOA – RECORDED MUSIC NZ BEST CHILDREN’S MUSIC ARTIST
APRA BEST CHILDREN’S MUSIC SONG
NZ ON AIR BEST CHILDREN’S MUSIC VIDEO

Entries Open
17 February

Entries Close
6 March

Finalists Announced
April

Winners Announced
The winners will be announced at the Children’s Music Awards on 7 May.

TE KAIPUORO TAKETAKE TOA – BEST FOLK ARTIST

Auckland Folk Festival Website

Entries Close
October / November

Winners Announced
The winners will be announced at the Auckland Folk Festival – 27-30 January, along with The Martin Blackman Young Folk Performers Award and the Frank Winter Award.