This post was inspired by some of the details in the latest Mike Chunn book A Sharp Left Turn. Mike (ex-Split Enz) worked for APRA (NZ) in the 1990s.

You all know I am writing about NZ musicians in Oz. As part of this book there will be introductory sections that cover topics like the state of radio in NZ from 1959 – 1976.

Some background … Until 1967 NZ radio stations played only tiny amounts of pop or rock. It had been observed in the 1960s (when bands were popping up everywhere) that the country considered local songs were inferior to imports regardless of whether they were or not. So it is not surprising that Kiwi musicians were not encouraged to write their own songs.

When Radio Hauraki (at the top of the dial) went to air in December 1966 (on board the Tiri) the amount of pop played on air increased but commercial radio stations (on land) didn’t change what they provided until 1970. Concerns then began about the % of NZ songs played on air.

By the early 1990s radio stations were using a computer program that could collect stats about all music played. Around that time (early 1990s) of all songs played on radio (in NZ) analysis showed only 2.9% were NZ songs (songs by NZ songwriters). In 1995 the stats showed that the number of NZ songs played on radio had fallen to less than 2%.

Pluggers began to be used to encourage radio stations to play NZ songs. Radio began to change. Slowly. More stations were playing songs by NZ songwriters. But no-one in the National Govt in power at that time displayed any concern or interest in the issue of local content.

In 1998 representatives from APRA (NZ) & other relevant people in the NZ music industry met with members of the Opposition Party (Labour). For the first time those representatives felt they were heard. They were able to discuss quotas for NZ music played on radio & the formation of a music industry commission.

To close … 2 thoughts … It is a sheer miracle that any song written by a Kiwi songwriter was heard on commercial radio in NZ prior to 2002. No wonder sooooooooooo many Kiwi musicians crossed the ditch from 1959 – 1976 to settle in Oz, where from the 1960s radio had to play 10% local content. This 10% was a mix of new & old but it was local. And of course Kiwi musicians continued to cross the Tasman  after 1976.