Apply for Music funding Mō ngā tono Waiata

Before you apply there’s some essential information that will help you understand how we invest and give you the best chance of securing funding.

Our strategy for investing is outlined in the NZ On Air Investment Strategy. We focus on new puoro that stands out from the crowd - that is, great songs by artists with a good story to tell, or a unique perspective or sound.

Our NZ Music Strategy, updated in 2016, indicates the increasing emphasis placed on funding projects that reflect Aotearoa and have the potential to reach significant broadcast and/or online audiences.

Before you apply, ensure your music qualifies as New Zealand music by reading the criteria here.

Thursday 19 January – New Music Single*

Thursday 2 February – New Music Project

Thursday 23 February – New Music Kids*

Thursday 9 March - New Music Development

Thursday 30 March – New Music Single*

Thursday 27 April – New Music Project

Thursday 11 May – New Music Pasifika

Thursday 25 May – New Music Pan-Asian

Thursday 15 June – New Music Single*

Thursday 20 July – New Music Project

Thursday 3 August - New Music Kids*

Thursday 17 August – New Music Single*

Thursday 31 August  New Music Development

Thursday 21 September – New Music Project

Thursday 19 October – New Music Pasifika

Thursday 26 October – New Music Single*

Thursday 9 November – Waiata Takitahi

The 20th of every month – NewTracks Monthly Compilation

*Please note: the New Music Single and New Music Kids application period from 2023 onwards will be slightly shorter - applications will need to be submitted within two weeks of the round opening.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for a single song - which can now include a $1,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

NZ On Air will pay a maximum of $10,000 (plus GST if registered) for the eligible costs of recording a single, creating video content to promote the single and other promotion costs to increase NZ audience awareness and engagement with the audio and video content.

To be eligible to apply for New Music Single pūtea tautoko we ask that you have reached at least 10 out of 30 criteria benchmarks for your music to date. If you can reach at least 10 out of these 30 benchmarks then your waiata and application can be submitted to be assessed by our expert funding panels.

Please note: the 10% Artist Creation Fee is optional. The artist or rights holder can decide to invest that fee into the overall single campaign if they wish.

The button below will take you to an online portal where you must register to apply for funding.

Funding of between $10,000 and $40,000 is available for multi-song projects- which includes an up to $4,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

NZ On Air will pay on a 80% reimbursement basis, meaning that the music company/applicant must co-invest a minimum of 20% of the costs of completing the Project.

Please note: the 10% Artist Creation Fee is optional. The artist or rights holder can decide to invest that fee into the overall project campaign if they wish.

To determine your eligibility to apply for New Music Project funding, please read the pre application criteria document below.

Project funding requires the involvement of a third-party NZ-based professional music company in the kaupapa. Confirmation of this involvement will be required in writing.

If you are eligible to apply for Project funding the full application must contain:

• A project overview including KPI's
• Recording and production plan and budget
• Release plan
• Marketing and promotional plan and budget
• Full project timeline
• Evidence of co-funding commitment
• Artist track record
• Company track record for music releases
• Audio of 2 – 3 demo recordings

Potential applicants must first email a one-paragraph project overview to project@nzonair.govt.nz at least two weeks before the funding deadline.

Waiata Takitahi – (‘single song’) – is a co-fund launched as a collaboration between NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.

We are seeking applications from New Zealand artists who are interested in recording and releasing a bilingual single with potential general audience appeal and a minimum of 25% te reo Māori in the song lyrics. We are looking for songs that will target online and broadcast audiences and have potential to find a home on mainstream playlists.

Artists can come from any background but the use of te reo Māori in the song will be expected to be overseen by a te reo Māori language consultant to ensure quality control and the contextual relevance in the waiata. For applicants who are not in a position to confirm a language consultant before the application deadline, there will be an opportunity to be matched with a range of consultants via Te Māngai Pāho.

Funding of up to $14,000 (plus GST if registered) is available to put towards the costs of recording a single song, creating video content and other visual collateral, and putting resource towards promotion, publicity and marketing for the single release. Funds can also be used to pay for the services of a te reo Māori language consultant.

The next Waiata Takitahi round will open on Thursday 19 October 2023.

Applications for the round will close on Thursday 9 November at 4pm.

New Music Development is a new funding initiative designed to support the development of new songs from emerging artists working with established music producers within New Zealand.

Grants of up to $6,000 (+ GST) are available to producers for development of a body of work with one artist, with a minimum of three demo recordings to be delivered at the end of the development period.

We expect that there will be many waiata ideas created in working towards an overall body of work. The goal is to help develop the writing skills, overall sound and musical direction of the artist through collaboration between producer and artist. Our desire is to see some of these songs go on to be released, however that is not a requirement for the development grant.

NZ On Air has launched the New Music Kids fund to assist with the creation of children’s music content - namely audio recordings and music video content.

Funding of between $2,500 and $10,000 is available for new music for children, depending on the scope of the project.

If you are making multiple songs or multiple music videos, the maximum is still $10,000 for any one children’s music artist.

NZ On Air will pay on a reimbursement basis, meaning that the applicant must advance the initial costs before being able to drawdown the grant.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for artists of Pacific background, for a single song - which can now include a $1,000 (10%) Artist Creation Fee.

NZ On Air will pay a maximum of $10,000 (plus GST if registered) for the eligible costs of recording a single, creating video content to promote the single and other promotion costs to increase NZ audience awareness and engagement with the audio and video content.

The next New Music Pasifika round will open on Thursday 28 September 2023.
Applications for the round will close on Thursday 19 October 2023 at 4pm.

Please see the guidelines below for more pārongo.

New Music Pan-Asian is a new one-off targeted funding initiative for NZ On Air, aimed at supporting Pan-Asian musicians in releasing their songs, creating accompanying visual content and promotion.

The fund was created in response to the lack of equitable representation of Pan-Asian New Zealand musicians in the Aotearoa music sector. *Pan-Asian, as defined by the ‘M49 Standard’ from the United Nations, covers all of Asia (Central, Eastern, South-Eastern, Southern and Western Asia).

Funding of up to $10,000 (plus GST if registered) is available for artists who self-identify as Pan-Asian towards the costs of recording, mixing, mastering; any additional production or work on a single song; creating visual content to aid in the promotion and release of the single; and promotion and marketing.

The next New Music Pan-Asian round will open in 2024.

Please see the guidelines below for more pārongo.

New Tracks is a monthly compilation of new music from New Zealand artists which is distributed to radio stations, broadcast and online media platforms. The song does not need to be funded by NZ On Air - both funded and non-funded songs are included each month. NewTracks is also a great avenue to get your song across our NZ On Air Music team.

Starting in 1990 and now with over 250 volumes, New Tracks (previously called the Kiwi Hit Disc) is the most comprehensive catalogue of New Zealand contemporary puoro ever assembled.

To apply for New Tracks you must have:

• A completed, airplay-ready song in MP3 and WAV
• An accompanying single cover image in JPEG or PNG
• Release information to help promote your song

Please ensure your song is sitting within our NewTracks recommended release dates for the current month, which can be found on the homepage of the NewTracks website. These dates are to ensure we are servicing new songs which are released within the month.

You can only submit one song each month.

Contact newtracks@nzonair.govt.nz with any queries.

You can see all the latest funding decisions via the button below.

All funding decisions are also available through our funding decisions search.

If your application is successful there are a number of steps you will need to take to receive your funding.

Check out the resources for musicians page to find all the pārongo you'll need for the next step in the post-funding process and for information on how to promote your music.

In today’s global music market, it’s becoming more and more challenging to get your music noticed. We want more great NZ music on radio and online platforms, enjoyed by more people.

Click below for more information on how we can assist you in promoting your music, resources on social media, and approaching New Zealand's local media platforms.