So it's New Zealand Music Month again.
And that usually means it's time to dedicate some column inches to debating whether or not we still need a month dedicated to local music.
But to be honest, I'm not particularly interested in that debate - I still think it's a great idea and, as far as I can see, it's not hurting anyone. Sure, the NZ Music Commission, which is funded by the Government, spends a nominal amount on hosting an event or two, but it's so nominal, if they were to divide it up and hand it out to the population instead, they'd have great difficulty because we don't have 1c pieces any more.
Mostly they act as a sort of conduit, or figurehead. NZMM has been rolling along so nicely for the last decade that the local industry is fairly well promoting itself, and local media don't need any reminding. It has simply become a month where fans and musicians can discover a new star (check out our story on Lorde), revisit some old favourites (see Dave Dobbyn's collaborative tour), and remember that our local acts can be world class (like the Veils). These days, spending $30 to see a local outfit put on a quality show at an intimate venue can often be just as rewarding as a $130 show by a heritage act at Vector.
That last sentiment has become much easier to say with conviction in the past five years, as what were up-and-coming local acts have frequently become totally awesome and find themselves just as popular overseas as they are at home.
