The problem with music in New Zealand and How to Fix it
& Why I started and ran puppies

An essay collection by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)

Some of the readers from the Wellington scene may remember Puppies, the little indie venue that took the place of Happy. Others of you who follow the music festival circuit will have heard of Camp A Low Hum and the Square Wave festival. 

The connection between the three is the man behind the music those in attendance enjoyed; a certain Ian Jorgensen, hereafter known by the moniker Blink. The relevance is Blink has written a two part, book-like essay collection.

The first half, the essays regarding The Problem with Music in New Zealand and How to Fix it, are exactly as the title suggest; Blink’s view of the music industry and its short comings, with some special attention given to how to run a successful venue. 

Within this first half I found the section succinctly titled APRA and PPNZ are Ripping Off New Zealand Businesses in the Name of Songwriters who Have no Idea What’s Going On perhaps the most enlightening

The second half, Why I started and ran Puppies, details Blink’s practical implementation of some of the theories he laid out in the first half of the book. Thankfully I’ve heard that the new local DIY venue here in Palmy, Great Job!, has taken a leaf out of Blink’s book, and I’m excited to see how closely they stick to the source, and how successful the venture will be.

The essay collections were a compelling read, and it got the people that saw it on my office desk talking. What is the problem with the industry? What about Lorde? You’ll have to read the book. 

While being mainly centred on the point of view of someone running a venue, something I am not, reading the essay collection made me reappraise my own actions, and lack of, in keeping the music alive in New Zealand.

Being in a bedroom band myself, making music that no one wants to listen to, let alone see live, I took for granted just how much goes into a live show, and how little comes out of it.  Being beaten down by a ten hour office job I can’t even consider going to a gig these days, I don’t have enough me left in this shell to convince my body to stay out until 2am.

Though the times I have managed, I don’t recall a time I didn’t have a drink in my hand, which in some small way is paying the bands performing, more that the $5 entry fee my friends paid, myself being exempt with my press affiliation (SPOILER ALERT: the latter two are not at all beneficial to the band).

This is a must read for any aspiring band, people planning on hosting bands, and anyone with an interest in the music industry here in New Zealand.

While I’ve seen copies on TradeMe, you can get your own copy of Blink’s essay collections from the A Low Hum website. (http://www.alowhum.com/product/books/the-problem-with-music-in-new-zealand-second-edition).

Post Script:

It would appear that since my writing and reading word of Blink’s discontent has got back to APRA. There has been movement on the front, with Blink as well as several others in the industry, representing bands and venues, meeting with the APRA AMCOS Head of NZ Operations to discuss some of the points Blink raised in his Essays. (source: http://lukeappleby.co.nz/author/appleb/)

Since the meeting the line that read “APRA and PPNZ ensure licence income is distributed to the appropriate rights holders” has been removed from the OneMusic Website (www.apraamcos.co.nz/news/2014/july/apra-amcos-response/). Read the book and you'll see exactly how erroneous that statement was.

Blink will be meeting with the Head of NZ Operations again in October to discuss what’s changing and how much is staying the same.

We’ll keep you posted.

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