MMF Aotearoa Announce the Return of Back To Basics Pōneke, Ōtautahi, Tāmakai Makaurau
MMF Aotearoa Announce the Return of Back To Basics Pōneke, Ōtautahi, Tāmakai Makaurau
October 9th, 2025
The Music Managers Forum Aotearoa (MMF) is proud to announce the return of Back to Basics, a free seminar series designed for those in the early stages of artist management — including self-managed artists — who are building the foundations of their music careers.
Back to Basics explores the essentials of artist development, release planning, and the business of music, with practical insights and first-hand experiences from artists and managers working across Aotearoa.
Guest speakers include:
MĀ – Artist (Pōneke | Wellington)
Minnie Robberds – Artist, There’s a Tuesday (Ōtautahi | Christchurch)
Bella Bavin – Self-managing artist, Coast Arcade (Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland)
Audrey Siataga – Manager, Christoph El Truento, Ladi6, Mokomokai (Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland)
The sessions will be led by MMF Chair and Mentor, Cushla Aston (Manager – Louis Baker).
This year’s series is dedicated to the memory of Lorraine Barry, a long-time MMF advocate who passed away earlier this year. Lorraine led Back to Basics for many years and was deeply committed to helping emerging artists and managers gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the industry.
A huge mihi to NZ On Air, Recorded Music New Zealand, APRA, and the New Zealand Music Commission for their continued support in bringing this important kaupapa to life.
Further sessions will be announced soon for Dunedin, Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay in early 2026.
PŌNEKE | WELLINGTON
When: Tuesday 28 October
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: The Cinema, Block 10 Tokomaru, Massey University
Former Dominion Museum, Wellington 6021
(Enter through Pukeahu Park Entrance D at the top of Tory St)
Guest Speaker: MĀ – Artist
ŌTAUTAHI | CHRISTCHURCH
When: Thursday 30 October
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: The Chamber @The Piano, Centre for Music & the Arts,
156 Armagh St, Christchurch
Guest Speaker: Minnie Robberds – Artist, There’s a Tuesday
TĀMAKI MAKURAU | AUCKLAND
When: Wednesday 5 November
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Big Fan, 25 McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland
Guest Speakers: Bella Bavin – Self-managing artist, Coast Arcade,
Audrey Siataga – Manager, Christoph El Truento, Ladi6, Mokomokai
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Music Managers Forum Aotearoa is the collective voice for music managers and self-managed artists, both signed and independent. The MMF Aotearoa is an independent, non-profit trade association dedicated to helping grow artist manager businesses through education, networking and advocacy. The MMF Aotearoa work towards a fairer, honest and more transparent music industry which operates with the highest of integrity in the interests of the artists our members represent. We aim to represent the wide diversity of voices and backgrounds of music managers and their artists.
The New Zealand Music Commission Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa is a government funded organisation that promotes music from New Zealand and supports the growth of New Zealand music businesses – both culturally and economically, at home and abroad. The hub of NZ Music Month, the Music Commission also deliver contemporary music programmes in schools, including the Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme; provides music upskilling tools and resources; and runs the international market development & trade show programme Outward Sound.
NZ On Air is an independent government funding agency that funds the recording and promotion of single songs and multi-song projects that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand and have the potential to reach both significant broadcast and online audiences. We do this by funding artists and musicians to professionally create, record, release and promote new music that aims to resonate and engage with audiences.
Recorded Music NZ® represents recording artists and right holders in Aotearoa through licensing, advocacy and promotion. Recorded Music collects broadcast and public performance income from music users and distributes it to right holders and recording artists, advocates to government and others on behalf of recording artists and right holders and promotes artists and recorded music through initiatives such as the Aotearoa Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ also operates The Official NZ Music Charts® and data analysis services and supports the wider music community through collaborations and its music grant programme.
APRA AMCOS Aotearoa are all about fostering respect and value for songs and songwriters. Music and songwriting has great cultural and economic value, and songwriters need to be rewarded for their work. We create pathways for music to be legally shared. APRA AMCOS is an Australasian member-owned society representing around 120,000 members across Aotearoa, Australia, and the Pacific.