Sounds Aotearoa Music Expo, 10-11 Mar, New Plymouth

Creative New Zealand has identified Sounds Aotearoa as an extremely important and worthwhile event for the New Zealand music industry. The programme includes seminars and networking opportunities with key international and local presenters and buyers.

Emere Wano, a Taranaki businesswoman and organiser of Sounds Aotearoa wants to sell New a Zealand music to the world, saying it was cheaper to bring international buyers to watch artists here than to send the artists to perform on the other side of the world.

They really wanted a point of difference which I think New Zealand can offer not only through our Maori and Pacific artists by our New Zealand artists, we have a different sound and look and way about us,” Ms Wano told Waatea News.

She hopes Sounds Aotearoa can lead to acts like Anika Moa, Kora and Little Bushmen getting overseas releases and tours.

Local presenters and buyers including:

• Michael Walling (Origins Festival – UK)
• Daniela Teuber (WOMEX – Germany/UK)
• Di Mills (Woodford Folk Festival and The Dreaming Festival – Australia)
• Richard Hunter (iNative Festival – Canada)
• Teresa Patterson (Scribe, Big Day Out, Music Managers Forum, CRS Music Management)
• Lorraine Barry (Dave Dobbyn, Lucid3, L.A. Mitchell, Music Managers Forum)
• Moana Maniapoto (Moana and the Tribe)
• Te Miringa Hohaia (Parihaka Festival Director)
• Cath Anderson and Gary Fortune (NZ Music Commission)

The programme will run over two days and includes two showcase sessions featuring:

• Anika Moa
• Kora
• Little Bushman
• Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns
• Bella Kalolo
• Maisey Rika and Tama Waipara
• An Emerald City