RNZ acknowledges receipt of your OIA request. Under the Official Information Act 1982 we have 20 working days to respond, and will contact you via email /post. If for any reason our response is delayed due to illness, or pandemic we will advise immediately.

Kind regards
Maggie Hedge| OIA Administrator RNZ
[email address]

Kia ora Tim

 

I must apologise for the delay in responding to you, we have now sorted
out the issue with incoming emails from the fyi.org.nz website. Please
find below the information you were seeking in your OIA request:

 

Amounts Paid

 

Composition                $10,819.00

Rights in Perpetuity**  $32,858.71

 

** RNZ pays licence fees to composers for music which is broadcast on our
networks.  In this instance, RNZ has purchased perpetual rights to use
this theme music for an unlimited time.

 

Attached below is a statement from RNZ relating to questions raised such
as “[h]ow RNZ came to a decision to choose an Australian company to
produce the songs and the following comments have been made to others
inquiring after the decision that was made.  RNZ has responded to the
Screen Music & Sound Guild Of New Zealand saying we were very pleased to
get positive feedback from SM&SGNZ about the quality of the composition.
The project with Song Zu is focused on our news programmes, and it’s quite
possible that we’ll be updating the audio imaging for other shows in the
future, so an SM&SGNZ offer to provide suggestions for future projects is
helpful, and has been forwarded to the relevant people at RNZ.

 

It’s important to note that this was more than just refreshment of a theme
and it is misleading to imply that RNZ does not support music from
Aotearoa New Zealand.   RNZ programming across the networks is focussed on
recording and broadcasting local music and news about musicians and the
industry.   The Taite Awards announced in May 2022 speak for themselves.
RNZ’s Karyn Hay was recognised for her career as a champion of New Zealand
music, including on her current RNZ National show, Lately, and RNZ’s Tony
Stamp received the inaugural Music Journalism award.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

RNZ Statement

 

“The RNZ head of radio and the RNZ music content director began
exploration of potential external sound imaging providers for RNZ National
over a year ago through a project which developed the new RNZ music brand
TAHI.

 

For this particular project we did consider local and international
options and consideration was given during the search to portfolios from
within Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. This project required specific
experience and in the end preference was given to sound designers who had
completed recent original contemporary work with a public broadcaster

 

After a comprehensive search Song Zu were settled on because of their
impressive original sound portfolio, especially their recent re-brand
imaging work with multilingual and multicultural Australian public
broadcaster, SBS, and also their experience  with use of indigenous
instrumentation.

 

Ramesh Sathiah from Song Zu consulted on this project with Jim Hall- an
outstanding local composer and a specialist in the use of Mâori
instrumentation in his original works. The final music suite includes
Mâori elements including taonga pûoro and porotiti.

 

RNZ is, and always has been, a strong supporter of musicians and the music
industry in Aotearoa New Zealand.  RNZ Music records and broadcasts
performances from up to five local acts each week (Covid willing) across
contemporary, pop, jazz and classical music genres. New Zealand Live with
Jesse Mulligan on Afternoons is a popular favourite.

 

The RNZ National playlist is on average over 30% New Zealand music, with a
figure of 38% last month and we would anticipate a higher figure for May,
being New Zealand Music Month. RNZ Concert plays around 30 hours of New
Zealand performance per week.

This of course excludes specialist content, documentaries, podcasts, and
interviews with New Zealand musicians and industry personalities carried
across the range of RNZ programmes.  Music 101 on RNZ National focuses
heavily on New Zealand artists and RNZ’s new platform, Tahi, plays 50%
local content and has shot and recorded 10 live sessions during the
pandemic. 

 

RNZ is proud to support the music of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

 

As we are required to do, this message is to also advise you that our
response to your request can be referred to the Ombudsman’s Office for
review under s 28 (3) of the Official Information Act if you wish.

 

Kind regards

 

George Bignell| OIA Inquiries Coordinator

RADIO NEW ZEALAND | LEVEL 2 | 155 THE TERRACE

PO BOX 123 | WELLINGTON | NEW ZEALAND 6140 | [1]www.rnz.co.nz

DDI +64 4 474 1424 | [mobile number]

 

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