08 May 2003 - 0 Comments

An Air New Zealand campaign to help struggling local bands get out into the world - like the fictitious Los Angeles-bound Kiwi rock group in its new advertisement - comes with a catch.

The airline and Capitol Records announced yesterday it was holding a public vote to decide on the country's most popular band.

The winner gets a $34,000 prize package including $30,000 worth of travel.

But the six nominated bands - Salmonella Dub, Blindspott, Goldenhorse, Goodshirt, Tadpole and The Brunettes - are already signed or distributed through Capitol Records' parent label EMI.

Air New Zealand spokeswoman Jill Dryden said the competition was designed to give an emerging New Zealand band an opportunity they might not otherwise get.

But Salmonella Dub already has multiple label deals abroad and Tadpole are signed to an Australian label.

Capitol label manager Morgan Donoghue said the six bands were chosen based on album sales. "No one would be interested in an unsigned band," he said. "The six we've chosen are New Zealand's biggest bands."

At last week's New Zealand Music Awards Bic Runga won the Highest Selling Album Award, The Datsuns dominated the major categories and Nesian Mystik won the People's Choice Award. Figures out yesterday show local music got 2 per cent more airtime on commercial radio in the first quarter of this year than for the same period last year.

Radio Broadcasters' Association statistics for January to March showed New Zealand music made up 15.36 per cent of the playlist - up 2 per cent on the same quarter last year, Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said.

Broadcasters were working towards a 20 per cent contemporary New Zealand music target by 2006 under a voluntary industry code.

Domestic sales of recordings by local bands and musicians made up nearly 10 per cent or $11 million of sales annually.

"Getting more Kiwi music played on radio stations across the country supports the careers of creative New Zealanders and showcases local talent," Mr Maharey said.

Locally produced recordings increased from 4 per cent of the domestic market in 1998 to 9 per cent last year.

To vote for New Zealand's most popular band go to http://www.zephyrs.co.nz/

Thanks to www.nzherald.co.nz for this story.

Next: MPs Get Quizzed On NZ Music

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