I'm reaching out to you on behalf of the cover musicians in Otautahi, Christchurch and potentially the rest of New Zealand. 

I'm an events coordinator for six venues in Christchurch, who provide many performance opportunities for covers musicians here in Christchurch. During red light we are in a position where we can't offer bands the gigs we used to. 

In addition to being a coordinator, I'm also a musician in a band and play as a soloist. 

Where the government once provided a wage subsidy they now have introduced funds for musicians through the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. As an events coordinator I had to cancel many events so I applied on behalf of the musicians affected for the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme on the 1st of February. I applied for a total of 12 weekly events and hundreds of musicians affected just within our venues. 

The Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme was extended from 8 weeks to the end of January 2023, they then changed their PDF application information form on Wednesday the 9th February. They decided to implement certain clauses that weren't there previously. We along with other event's registered were deemed un-eligible for the following reasons: 

1. Events are held and paid for by a hospitality venue
2. "Just covers music" does not count as a live music event. Events must be for original artists.
3. There are too many events being held to be supported by this scheme, therefore events that are for the sole purpose of 'live music' are only being funded. Events in Hospitality are not to be accepted. i.e. Canceled Wine and Food Festivals are also not covered.

I understand that the Ministry is only allocated a certain amount of funds for events. However, $70.7 million to original events and nothing currently applicable to covers musicians is something I can't justify. It has left an incredible amount of musicians with financial hardship and no support. 

Many cover musicians perform on a weekly basis for both private and public gigs. For most musicians, cover gigs are what 'pay the bills' or are their 'bread and butter'.. They can offer 3-4 hours of music, sometimes 3-5 times a week to the hospitality sector. Covers musicians were essentially made 'redundant - until orange is resumed'  the day our red light restrictions were released. 

These musicians pay tax just like everybody else, they perform at events run by councils and support the wider community, all across New Zealand. They play kiwi music in their performances and support artists with APRA subscriptions and applications for copyright purposes.  They should be recognised for their hardship. 

For some they have residency gigs that are similar to a 'pay check' that has disappeared with no subsidy to back this up. 

How can the government or wider community help support these musicians? There is only so much diversifying and resilience they have left. 

There is currently a Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund for original music affected businesses and co-operations. They are extending this to self employed individuals/sole traders at the end of February with a one-off payment of $5000.00. However, they have not released any information on the criteria or process for this. I hope they at least offer this to covers musicians, even if it doesn't come close to their lost income for the foreseeable future. However if they can't be covered under the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme with some of the $70.7 million I struggle to understand how they plan to include us in a fund of only $35.5 million. 

Please sign this petition if you agree that: 

1. The New Zealand Government and Ministry for Culture and Heritage should support the need covers musicians have with more than a one-off $5000.00 payment (if we even can apply for this).

2. Covers music should be recognised as a live music event by the Arts and Culture Event Scheme. 

3. The Ministry of Culture and Heritage should remove clauses that ostracise musicians who provide live music events that support the hospitality industry.

4. More funding must be offered for covers musicians to meet the requirements of the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme, or a new scheme made available to them that offers them the support they need. 

OR Please sign this petition if you are a musician who: 

1. Has had cover gigs cancelled without compensation.

2. Are struggling with the hardship of red light restrictions.

3. Call upon the Government to see your need for financial hardship and make a change.

4. Agrees that covers musicians should be covered by the Arts and Culture Covid Recovery Program

 

Thank You.