NZ On Air will fund 23 new music projects in its first MakingTracks funding round for the 2016 calendar year.

The 23 projects were selected from a field of 150 applications.

There are 16 $10,000 grants for recording a song and making a music video to back up the release of the song and 7 $6,000 grants for making a music video only.

This is the sixth of 10 MakingTracks funding rounds for the 2015-2016 financial year. So far, we have had 794 songs submitted and we have funded 135 projects.

"It was my 46th Making Tracks funding round and it’s my last”, said NZ On Air Music Manager, Brendan Smyth who is retiring at the end of this month. “Over that time, we have heard some amazing songs by some very cool artists and worked with some wonderful panel people and yesterday was no exception. It has been a privilege.”

Decisions are based on the broadcast, music and audience merits of the songs that have been submitted, judged by a panel of broadcasting and music professionals.

The list of 23 projects funded in the February round is as follows –

(a) Funding of up to $10,000 for each of the following 16 MakingTracks projects in the February 2016 round, comprising up to $4,000 for recording a song and $6,000 for making a music video of that same song –

  • Boyboy / Vices
    Cavalcade / Dead In The Water
    Cymbol 303 / Slipping featuring Tamagotchii
    Finlay Tate / Control
    indi. / Precipice
    Jesse Sheehan / Droplets
    Ladi6 / Beffy
    Louis Baker / Fade
    Mae Valley / Glitter
    Miss June / Anxiety On Repeat
    Nomad / Oh My My
    Shapeshifter / Stars
    So Below / Far
    The Upbeats / Ultraviolet featuring Mara TK
    Will Slugger / Waterslide
    Yumi Zouma / Keep It Close To Me

(b) Funding of $6,000 for each of the following 7 MakingTracks projects in the February 2016 round, being funding for making a music video only –

  • Denelle / The Lights
    Great Danes / Where The Down Bit Starts featuring Kimbra
    Nadia Reid / Reaching Through
    Opiuo / Sneakers
    Orchestra Of Spheres / Trapdoors
    Silence The City / Voices
    Wallace / Negroni Eyes

The February Making Tracks Panel was –

David Brice [iHeartRadio, NZME; Auckland]
Janine Russell [Noise PR; Auckland]
Jeff Newton [NZ On Air; Auckland]
Pennie Blair [95 bFM, Auckland]
Simon Gooding [Record Producer; Wellington]
Will Maisey [More FM; Auckland]
Zac Arnold [Music 101, RNZ National; Auckland]

The next MakingTracks funding round closes at 5.00pm on Tuesday 01 March 2016.

Applications can be made online here.