The Biz: Independent Music New Zealand
07.12.09
IMNZ is the trade organisation for independent New Zealand record labels and distributors. Our members release the bulk of New Zealand music, including commercially successful artists as well as niche music genres. IMNZ started in 2001 and now has over 70+ members. These labels and distributors collectively represent the majority of all musical acts in NZ, producing the best music on the planet, but hey we're biased!
IMNZ advocates for our members rights, working to spread their message, and lobbies for any changes to the industry that will benefit local labels and their artists. Some of the issues where it is important to represent the interests of our members include government legislation and the copyright act, quotas, commercial and non-commercial radio, parallel importing, government funding allocation and music policy, online licensing, piracy, synchronisation licensing and loads more.
IMNZ is particularly interested in advocating the specific interests of its members in relationship to other groups or organisations within the music industry. Some of these organisations include the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA), the Radio Broadcasting Association (RBA), New Zealand Music Industry Commission (NZMIC), New Zealand on Air, Creative New Zealand, New Zealand Trade & Investment and others.
Previous to IMNZ there has been no single organisation advocating the interests of one of the most important parts of the New Zealand music industry - that is, independent New Zealand owned companies. These are the businesses that have been, and continue to be, the most supportive of New Zealand music.
We are also involved with the independent scene internationally, as members of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) the global umbrella organisation for independent record label trade bodies and MERLIN the global independent digital licensing body.
The 3 IMNZ core objectives are:
1. To advocate the values and interests of our members and the New Zealand independent sector; working with the government, other cultural agencies and music industry bodies;
2. To aid the development and knowledge of our members by providing them all the necessary tools to develop their art and grow their business; and
3. To provide collective group benefits for our members and their copyrights
We also produce the TOP 20 independent album chart and the TOP 10 independent singles chart which highlight the top selling IMNZ member artists each week and the TOP 10 independent airplay chart which highlights what's popular out there on radio.
