New Zealand lost its music media, and what we're building to replace it
New Zealand's vibrant music scene, despite contributing nearly a billion dollars to GDP, is struggling with visibility after the collapse of its dedicated media. This piece details how the closure of iconic venues highlighted a broader problem: a thriving cultural sector with no one left to cover it. The author's platform, Propel Music, steps in to fill this void, providing coverage and tools to ensure local artists aren't economically invisible.
The Lowdown
New Zealand's music scene faces a critical challenge: a thriving, economically significant industry that has lost its media voice. This article explores the recent wave of venue closures in Auckland, such as Neck of the Woods and Flying Out, which underscored the deeper issue of a vanished music journalism landscape.
- A string of beloved music venues and record stores on Auckland's Karangahape Road recently closed or faced liquidation, despite community efforts to save some, such as Neck of the Woods.
- This physical collapse followed an earlier, quieter decline in music journalism, with dedicated music writers and magazines disappearing, mirroring a global trend exemplified by Pitchfork's integration into GQ.
- Despite the media void, New Zealand's music sector is robust, contributing over $900 million to GDP annually, with live performance revenue exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
- However, local artists capture only 9% of domestic streaming, download, and physical sales revenue, largely due to a lack of visibility and coverage, not a lack of talent.
- Propel Music was founded to be the "mirror the scene lost," providing consistent coverage of electronic music, mapping venues, and offering free tools (profiles, press kits, booking pages) to artists.
- The platform aims to connect coverage with opportunity, creating a loop where visibility leads to bookings and economic benefit for artists, moving beyond traditional gatekeepers.
The author concludes by asserting that New Zealand's music community is rebuilding its media infrastructure itself, rather than waiting for external forces, inviting artists, venues, and fans to participate in Propel's mission to ensure the scene is seen and supported.