New Music Project Kids funding

Our New Music Project Kids funding is for recording and promoting multi-song children’s music projects (with a minimum of five songs) to help connect great New Zealand tamariki songs with Aotearoa audiences.

It is designed for New Zealand children’s music artists who have an established track record of creating music for a tamariki audience.

The funding is not designed for new and emerging children’s music artists who do not yet have a significant pre-existing tamariki audience. If you are a less experienced children’s music artist, we have the New Music Kids funding.

You can apply for funding ranging from $11,000 to $55,000 (including the Artist Creation Fee) for multi-song children’s music projects.

The mandatory 10% Artist Creation Fee (ACF), up to $5,000 plus GST (if applicable), will be added to your grant and paid out only in the final drawdown. This fee covers the artist's creative work on the project. For example, if your funding commitment is $50,000, the addition of the ACF will bring the project's total NZ On Air funding to $55,000.

Before you apply, make sure:

• your music has a children’s focus with an established track record of broadcast and online outcomes
• you meet the pre-application criteria
• your music qualifies as New Zealand music
• you have contacted the Music Team with an Expression of Interest

You will need confirmation in writing of the Project Manager and the third-party New Zealand-based professional music company involvement with your project. Or if a self-managed artist, a proven track record for releasing, marketing and promoting a project is mandatory. This includes relevant releases and their:

• marketing outcomes
• promotion outcomes
• broadcast outcomes (i.e. streaming and viewing numbers)
• any notable achievements of such releases.

Make sure you meet the pre-application criteria before you send in an EOI for New Music Project Kids funding.

If you meet the pre-application criteria then you can email an Expression of Interest (EOI) to project@nzonair.govt.nz at least two weeks before the funding deadline. Your EOI must include:

• the artist's name
• details of the supporting third-party Aotearoa-based music company, or topline details of your proven track record to successfully release an EP or album as a self-managed artist
• Project Manager details
• A brief overview of the proposed project you are seeking funding for.

Please note, it is at the discretion of NZ On Air who is accepted into the round.

If you are eligible to apply for New Music Project Kids funding, the full application must contain:

• a project overview, including KPIs
• recording, production plan and budget
• release plan for the project
• marketing and promotional plan plus budget
• full project timeline
• artist track record
• company track record for music releases
• audio of two to three demo recordings, provided as MP3 files or as a link to download.

A financial co-investment towards the total funding budget is no longer required, however you need to demonstrate co-investment in aspects of the project release that are not funded by NZ On Air, such as:

• domestic or international touring
• showcases
• international release, marketing or promotion costs
• record label or distributor internal costs
• branding or creative direction.

NZ On Air funding can only be used for activities that occur after the application round opening date. Costs incurred before this date (such as pre-production, recording, mixing, mastering) are not eligible for funding, even if they were invoiced at a later date.