The Fold How a new history of NZ pop music reveals media's revolutions
Aug 4, 2025
Gareth Shute, a music writer and historian, discusses his new book, 'Songs From the Shaky Isles', offering a comprehensive overview of New Zealand's pop music history. He highlights the transformative influence of television and commercial radio on music production and artist exposure. Shute dives into the significance of Māori show bands and the emergence of a vibrant counterculture in the 60s and 70s. He also tackles the challenges artists face in gaining international recognition today, especially in the streaming era.
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Later Rediscovery Rewrites Value Of Obscure Tracks
- Rediscovery in later decades lifted obscure local garage and psychedelic tracks above the era's mainstream covers.
- Many bands that were locally huge became valued later for originality rather than their contemporary chart success.
Commercial Radio Pushed NZ Acts Aside
- Commercial radio competition in the 1980s narrowed playlists to safe overseas hits and sidelined many local artists.
- Student radio, indie labels and magazines like Rip It Up provided the counter‑culture distribution that mainstream radio refused.
Leverage Music TV To Cross Over
- Use music TV and niche channels as springboards to mainstream exposure when radio is closed off.
- Promote videos on youth channels and late-night music shows to cross into national audiences.
