Charts in spin over Kiwi music

By ALAN PERROTT

Say what you will about New Zealand Idol, but Michael Murphy and Ben Lummis have helped propel Kiwi music to a record-equalling year.

Idol runner-up Michael Murphy's controversial first single, So Damn Beautiful, yesterday made its debut at number one, making it the fifth New Zealand release to reach the top this year and the second to emerge from the TVNZ series.

With several high-profile releases still to hit the shelves before the end of the year, the five number ones of 2004 have equalled 1970 and 1999, the previous record years for homegrown chart-toppers.

Kiwi singles this week accounted for half of the top 10 and, for the first time, saw New Zealand acts making their debut at one and two. Local acts have also topped the album charts for seven of the past eight weeks.

While Dei Hamo's debut hiphop single We Gon Ride shaded Murphy in several RadioScope rating categories, Murphy finished just ahead in sales, thought to have been generated largely by The Warehouse chain.

Paul Ellis, who manages Murphy and Lummis, said a number one debut was a fantastic achievement given the scrutiny of So Damn Beautiful's origins and the time that had lapsed since the NZ Idol series ended.

Cath Anderson, executive director of the New Zealand Music Commission, said the success of domestic releases this year reflected the rapid growth within the industry.

Sales of Kiwi music have doubled since 1990 and account for about 10 per cent of the $200 million New Zealanders spend on music each year.

And while homegrown music accounted for only 3 per cent of the songs broadcast on commercial radio in 1997, it hit 24.9 per cent during New Zealand month this year.

"These are huge steps for the industry and have forced the recognition of music as an important economic force. Investment in local acts has improved the production quality of what is being produced and the exposure they are being offered.

"No one can now accuse New Zealanders of not comparing to overseas artists," Cath Anderson said.

Anthony Healey, New Zealand director of the Australasian Performing Rights Association (Apra), said the result reflected the voluntary local music quota among broadcasters and the efforts of NZ On Air and the NZ Music Commission.

"Having made it easier for people to hear our own music, we have been able to prove what we've been saying all along: New Zealanders love to hear New Zealand music."