Finding faces for music

By REBECCA BARRY

Calling all camera-friendly music buffs - TV4 is conducting a nationwide talent search for its upcoming free-to-air youth music channel.

4music, which launches in October, wants budding presenters to send in a two-minute tape of themselves if they are knowledgeable about music, said programme manager Andrew Szusterman.

He said he was discussing job possibilities with presenters from TV4 and TV3 - including Alex Behan, host of the now defunct music show Pepsi Chart - but wanted to see what other talent was available.

Two core presenters plus a number of other new faces will be chosen to front genre-based shows, which will range from hip-hop, New Zealand music and possibly film.

"I'm not too interested in singing and dancing.

"I just want to see how they project themselves to the camera and how they have a relationship with the music," he said.

"That is what the channel is all about."

Highlights from the audition tapes will be used to promote the show before it goes to air.

"They may not make the grade as a presenter, but we're sure there'll be undiscovered talent the rest of the country would love to see anyway," Szusterman said.

Judging by the channel's 8pm-midnight live component, presenters will also need to be confident at improvising.

The channel will broadcast from studios in Auckland from 4pm to midnight Monday to Thursday and 4pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday, funded by a mixture of infomercials and other commercials that will screen the rest of the time.