Music Commission News

Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Music Commission is pleased to share the results for the Round 14 of the Aotearoa Touring Programme.

The Aotearoa Touring Programme invests in approved domestic touring costs, to enable more Aotearoa artists to grow sustainable careers and increase the access to live music for Aotearoa audiences. The Aotearoa Touring Programme is a contestable fund intended to reinvigorate the live music sector and assist in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 in the domestic touring market.

As one of the initiatives in the Government’s New Zealand Music Recovery Fund, the Aotearoa Touring Programme is part of the Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage led Arts & Culture COVID Recovery Programme, focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector.

The Aotearoa Touring Programme is run by Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Music Commission to grow the potential for original New Zealand artists touring across Aotearoa and enable more New Zealanders to experience live, local music. It is a matched investment programme (i.e. the programme will match the recipient’s investment), so applicants can apply for 50% of the eligible costs for undertaking national tours across Tiers 1 and 2. The two tiers have a different maximum limit for each grant as well as different criteria.

In Round 14 of the Aotearoa Touring Programme, 21 recipients were awarded with grants for their respective touring projects. Applications for this round closed on the 8th of March 2023.

Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Music Commission is pleased to announce the following Aotearoa Touring Programme grant recipients:

Aotearoa Touring Programme Tier 1 Recipients (listed in alphabetical order)

· Black Comet for a regional winter tour, building a solid fanbase in time for their album launch and the touring summer schedule.

· Bryony Matthews for an 8-date tour of the North and South Island in support of second album ‘We’re All The Same’.

· Casper for a 5-date New Zealand tour in support of single ‘Vacation’ ahead of further releases including their debut album.

· East York for a main support slot on Devilskin’s 12-show Let Me Breathe Tour with three independent headline sideshows + a mentoring workshop at Mt Aspiring College, Wanaka.

· Estère for a 3-date tour in support of ‘Mākara Peak’ EP release.

· Guardian Singles for a 5-date national tour of both the North and South Island to support our sophomore album ‘Feed Me to the Doves’.

· Jamie Pye Quartet for a 10-date national tour to promote their original music and contribute to the jazz scene in Aotearoa.

· Jazmine Mary for a 10-date headline tour in support of their sophomore album release.

· Jennifer K. Austin and Zephyr Love for an 8-date tour of the North Island in support of their respective new albums.

· Mac Summer for an 11 date Mac Summer & Friends national tour.

· Mini Simmons for an 8-date tour of the North and South Island in support of their sophomore album ‘Make Up’.

· Miss June for a 3-date come back tour of the North Island.

· Oceanspace for a 13-day tour playing 6 shows across the North Island to debut their original music.

· Saurian for a 4-date tour of the lower South Island to grow their audience ahead of several new music releases this year including 4 singles and 2 EPs.

· Sweet Mix Kids for a 12 date nationwide tour supporting new album ‘Stargazing’.

· Turkey The Bird for a 26-show nationwide tour.

· Viices for a 4-show North Island tour in support of their single ‘Sandcastle’.

· Xile for a 5-date tour of the North and South Island in support of upcoming EP.

Aotearoa Touring Programme Tier 2 Recipients (listed in alphabetical order)

· Devilskin for a 12-date nationwide tour after a 2 year hiatus.

· Kaylee Bell for a minimum 9-date all-ages tour of the North and South Island in support of new single ‘Boots ‘N All’.

· SJD for their ‘Sweetheart’ album tour playing 4 shows across New Zealand.