NZ Music Month for beginners

Every May, New Zealand music gets the spotlight. Radio leans harder into local tracks, gigs pop up in libraries and cafés, schools hold concerts, and you'll probably spot a few people wearing the same T-shirt. That's NZ Music Month, or Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa. If you've never paid much attention to it, this is a quick guide to what it is, where it came from, and how to get involved, whether you're a listener, a beginner musician or somewhere in between.

What NZ Music Month actually is

NZ Music Month is a month-long celebration of music made in Aotearoa. It runs every May and is led by the NZ Music Commission, a government-funded organisation that supports local music, working with partners across the industry, including NZ On Air and organisations representing songwriters, independent labels, managers and the recording industry.

There isn't one big central event. Instead, the month is a bit of a nudge to everyone: radio stations, venues, schools, libraries, record shops, artists and fans are all encouraged to do something that puts local music front and centre. Artists often time new singles, videos or tour announcements for May, because people are paying more attention.

Where it came from

The idea grew out of a simple frustration: not enough New Zealand music was being played on the radio. According to AudioCulture, local music made up an estimated two percent or less of commercial radio airplay at the start of the 1990s.

The first step was NZ Music Week, which ran in the late 1990s. Then in May 2001, the NZ Music Commission launched the first full NZ Music Month. Over the years that followed, local content on commercial radio climbed well into the double digits, and the month became a fixture on the calendar.

A few traditions have built up along the way:

• The T-shirt. An official NZ Music Month tee has been part of the month since the start, and it has been sold to the public for years. The official site notes that profits from the tees go to MusicHelps, a charity supporting people in the music community.
• Gigs in unexpected places. Libraries, shops and community spaces regularly host shows during May.
• Design competitions. In recent years artists have been able to enter a T-shirt design competition, with the winning design printed for their own use.

How to take part as a listener

Being a fan is the easiest way in, and it genuinely helps artists.

• Make a local-only playlist for May and add a few new names each week.
• Go to a gig. The official NZ Music Month site has a gig guide you can filter by region, including free shows.
• Follow the artists you discover on streaming services and socials. Follows and saves help local musicians get noticed.
• Buy something directly from an artist if you can: a download, a vinyl, a shirt. Even small purchases make a difference to independent musicians.
• Dig into the history. AudioCulture, the online encyclopaedia of New Zealand music, is full of stories about bands from every decade. Pick a year you were born and see what was big.
• Share what you find. Telling a friend about a band is still the most powerful promotion there is.

How to take part as a young musician

If you play, sing or write songs, May is a good excuse to put yourself out there.

• Play somewhere. School assemblies, lunchtime concerts, church events, open mic nights, community markets and library sessions all count.
• Release something. A song recorded on a phone at home is still a release. Put it up and tell people it's for NZ Music Month.
• Cover a New Zealand song. Learning someone else's song teaches you a lot about how it's built, and it's a nice nod to the artists who came before you.
• Write a song together. Grab a friend and give yourselves a week to finish one.
• Use the free resources. The NZ Music Commission has songwriting guides and resources for young musicians, plus a programme that brings professional musicians into schools as mentors. Ask your music teacher whether your school is involved.

All-ages ideas

A lot of live music happens in licensed venues, which can make it hard for under-18s to join in. NZ Music Month is a good time to look for, or create, alternatives.

• Check the gig guide for all-ages shows. Many daytime and community events in May are open to everyone.
• Ask your school or youth group about hosting a lunchtime or after-school gig featuring student bands.
• Talk to your local library. Libraries have hosted music events during May, and they're often keen on youth-led ideas.
• Run a listening party. Get friends together, everyone brings three New Zealand songs, and you take turns playing and talking about them.
• Organise a busking afternoon with friends. Check your council's busking rules first, as many councils have them.
• Make a zine or short video about local artists you love.

A quick starter list of ways to explore

If you're not sure where to begin with New Zealand music, try this:

1. Pick a genre you already like and search for New Zealand artists in it.
2. Look up past winners of the Aotearoa Music Awards (called the New Zealand Music Awards until 2020) and listen to one album from each decade.
3. Find music in te reo Māori, from waiata to pop and hip-hop.
4. Go local: search for bands from your own town or region.
5. Ask an older relative what New Zealand music they loved growing up, then listen to it together.

Keep it going after May

The month is a good kick-start, but local artists need support all year. If you found a few bands you love, keep listening in June. Go to their next show. Buy the next release. That's how a music scene stays alive.

For more on music in Aotearoa, check out our music hub.