Published 10 June, 2020

Recently, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the relaxing of coronavirus restrictions, including the need for social distancing and limits on gathering sizes. In neighbouring Australia, the music industry is approaching the first reopening phase, with Covid-safe measures in place.

On Wednesday 24th June, we'll be joined by a panel of key players from the NZ music industry to hear about their road to recovery. The discussion will be moderated by Alastair Burns, Heartstop Music.

Panellists include: Cath Andersen, New Zealand Music Commission (Chief Executive); Mark Kneebone, Live Nation (Co-Head of Promotions, Australasia); and Teresa Patterson, NZ Music Managers Forum (Chair).

Teresa Patterson
NZ Music Managers Forum, Chair

Teresa started in the Music Industry over 25 years ago working for major record labels – first at Polygram Records (now Universal) for 5 years in sales, promotion and marketing and then at Virgin Records for 5 years as Label Head. For 15 years she worked as an Artist Manager and was part of the NZ promoter team for the Big Day Out and Auckland City Limits Festival. Teresa is Chairperson of the NZ Music Managers Forum and co-owner/promoter of the Milk & Honey Festival – an annual female focused festival celebrating International Women’s Day.

Mark Kneebone
Live Nation, Co-Head of Promotions, Australasia

As well as leading the music promoters across Australia and New Zealand to deliver the best talent for audiences, Mark runs the New Zealand Live Nation office. After playing in bands himself, Mark’s passion for music naturally led him to enter the music industry nearly 20 years ago. First, running metal music label Roadrunner records in his twenties before turning to promoting shows. As well being involved in promoting the New Zealand shows of some of music’s biggest acts including Adele, P!NK, and Kendrick Lamar, Mark has also had a hand in breaking acts such as Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Schoolboy Q and IDLES across Australia and NZ. In 2018, Mark was one of the promoters involved in bringing Childish Gambino’s experimental festival PHAROS to New Zealand – only the second time the event had been held globally. He was also behind promoting the stadium charity events, You Are Us, which raised more than $1.35 million for the victims of the Christchurch terror attacks in 2019.

Cath Andersen
NZ Music Commission, Chief Executive

Cath Andersen is the chief executive of the NZ Music Commission – a government funded arts agency that undertakes projects in New Zealand and abroad to assist contemporary popular NZ music businesses. The Music Commission runs the annual celebration NZ Music Month, funds international projects through the Outward Sound programme, has a host of resources and services available to support musicians and industry professionals; and also works with the Ministry of Education to deliver New Zealand music programmes into schools. Cath has previously worked as an artist manager, and a tour promoter and booking agent for both international and NZ bands.

Alastair Burns
Heartstop Music, Director

Alastair Burns is the Director of Heartstop Music, a Melbourne based artist management company that represents Marlon Williams, Julia Jacklin, The Weather Station, Merk and Phantastic Ferniture. Burns began his career promoting shows, and releasing local singer/songwriter compilations while studying law at the University of Otago, funding these endeavours by performing popular songs at the university bars. Moving to Melbourne in 2009, he founded BalconyTV Melbourne and The Melbourne Folk Club, and gradually shifted focus to artist management, setting up Heartstop Music in 2012 with a focus on building long term, global touring and recording careers.