15 May 2009

Maori music funding rules widened

7:15 am on 15 May 2009

Te Mangai Paho - the Maori broadcast funding agency - has relaxed its rules for music funding.

Radio funding manager Carl Goldsmith says rather than only funding music in te reo, the agency will now consider bi-lingual proposals.

Waatea News reports the agency is splitting applications into categories such as fluent songs with over 70% reo content, and songs where Maori language content is less than 30% .

Mr Goldsmith says the new formula should create more opportunities for Maori music to be played on mainstream stations.

TMP allocates over $450,000 to musicians and production houses each year. Applications for the current funding round close on Monday.