Featured Music Stories
Shona Laing: 50 years later
Shona Laing, one of New Zealand's most fêted musicians, joins Karyn Hay to reflect on her long career as a singer-songwriter, and the highs and lows ahead of a new photo exhibition about her. Audio
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Dawn Raid - a movie about an important local record label
A new film follows the story of two Manukau Polytechnic students who turned a bootleg T-shirt business and hip-hop night at a local bar in Otara into the influential Dawn Raid Entertainment empire. Video, Audio
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Songs about NZ places
17 Jan 2021Many songs have been sung about places in New Zealand so we've marked them on this map to explore and soundtrack your journeys across this land.
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L.A.B. Live at Spark Arena
2 Jan 2021Funk soul powerhouse L.A.B have found themselves top of the charts and playing sold out venues across the country. Here's a rousing set to an enthusiastic and energetic crowd at Auckland’s Spark Arena. Audio
RNZ Concert
RNZ Concert is New Zealand’s fine music network. Concert promotes New Zealand music and composition and features live broadcasts of concerts and recitals, as well as international content from other public radio broadcasters, podcasts, and on-demand programmes.
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Playlist: The Stars are Comforting
17 minutes agoBeatrice Tinsley would have been 80 years old this week. Download the story of her career in astrophysics and her love of music, as described in letters to her family, from student days to her tragically early death.
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Hymns on Sunday
41 minutes agoHear hymns sung in some great acoustics, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, Washington National Cathedral, and the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul right here in New Zealand. ‘Amens’ have never sounded so good! Audio
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Playlist: On Wings of Song
18 Jan 2021Enjoy music inspired by the birds of Aotearoa and the world, with this collection from RNZ Concert.
Featured Music Programmes
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Andy and Brotha D on the new Dawn Raid film
23 Jan 2021Dawn Raid - the new film directed by Oscar Kightley - follows the story of two Manukau Polytechnic students, Andy Murane and Tanielu Leaosavai'i (aka Brotha D)… Video, Audio
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Summer Song Crush - Dianne Swann
23 Jan 2021Tony sits down with musician and critic Dianne Swann, to share some of their favourite musical discoveries of 2020. Audio
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The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector
23 Jan 2021Spector, who transformed pop with his "wall of sound" recordings, worked with the Beatles, the Righteous Brothers, and Ike and Tina Turner has died.
In 2009… Audio
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Summer Song Crush - Trevor Reekie
16 Jan 2021Tony sits down with the host of Worlds of Music Trevor Reekie, to share some of their favourite musical discoveries of 2020. Audio
Recent Music Stories
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Sofa Session - New Zealand String Quartet
27 Jan 2021The New Zealand String Quartet join us live in the studio for a special hour-long Sofa Session. Audio
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Lotto and Six60 withdraw controversial scratchie tickets
27 Jan 2021Lotto scratchie tickets featuring the pop band Six60 are being withdrawn after a public backlash.
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First Song: Tone6 release their first single
27 Jan 2021A group of six talented singers from SAINTZUP Performing Arts School, Tone6, is releasing their first single today. Another Level of Emotion. Audio
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Music with Kirsten Johnstone
27 Jan 2021Kirsten joins Kathryn to look at some new covers of songs by Kate Bush, Dire Straits and Amy Winehouse. Audio
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The NZ music industry's #MeToo reckoning
27 Jan 2021Following the months-long investigation by Stuff's Alison Mau detailing allegations of harassment and exploitation in the local music industry, Charlotte Ryan shares her story.
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Sea shanty about NZ settlers resurfaces about 190 years later
26 Jan 2021A sea shanty called Wellerman is rising up the UK record charts about 190 years after the Weller family settled in Aotearoa.
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How to write: A jingle
26 Jan 2021For this week's 'How to Write' session, Larry Killip, joins Jesse talk about writing jingles. Audio
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First song with Paul Cathro
25 Jan 2021Paul Cathro from the band Ha The Unclear joins us for First Song today. Audio
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New Zealand sea shanty takes the world by storm
25 Jan 2021There's a certain trend this summer that's taking the world by storm - the humble sea shanty First it was a viral sensation on TikTok sung by a Scottish postman, Nathan Evans - he's now got a record… Audio
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Nashville Babylon 24 January 2021
24 Jan 2021On this week's Nashville Babylon Mark has birthday tunes for Sam Cooke and Lucinda Williams plus tracks from the Front Lawn, Dave Alvin, Nina Simone and Esther Phillips. Audio
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The Through Line #8
24 Jan 2021Karyn takes us on a musical journey from Prince Tui Teka to Snow Patrol, think six degrees of separation. Audio
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Being performs new song 'Speak Softly' live in the RNZ studio
24 Jan 2021Being is the indie-pop project helmed by Auckland-based musician and poet Jasmine Balmer. Being will be performing at the Auckland Folk Festival alongside the likes of Troy Kingi, The Eastern, Delaney… Audio
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Worlds of Music - Ep 215 features an interview with Jimmy Carter, from the Blind Boys of Alabama
23 Jan 2021Music from the world, for the world, hosted by Trevor Reekie. Audio
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Six60 fans reminded to turn on Bluetooth before concert
23 Jan 2021Hawke's Bay health officials are urging people to turn on the Bluetooth function of their Covid Tracer app ahead of a major concert today.
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The Through Line #7
23 Jan 2021Karyn takes us on a musical journey from Shona Laing to Siouxsie and the Banshees, think six degrees of separation. Audio
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Learning the art of deep listening
23 Jan 2021Listening is like breathing, it's something we do without even thinking. But if we really want to dive into a piece of music, we can practice 'Deep Listening' - a way of hearing every possible element… Audio
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Dawn Raid Entertainment's story heads to the big screen
20 Jan 2021The story of the rise and fall of Dawn Raid Entertainment - the ground-breaking South Auckland Hip Hop and RnB label - is coming to the big screen this week.
Directed by Oscar Kightley, the feature… Audio
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Joe ZAWINUL arr David Bremner: Birdland
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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Joseph John RICHARDS arr D Broadbent: Midwest March
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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Johnny RICHARDS arr Harper: La suerte de los tontos
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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Anders EDENROTH, Matti KALLIO arr Harper: Nordic Polska
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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Etienne CRAUSAZ: Balkan Dance
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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Stijn AERTGEERTS: Hope
18 Jan 2021Performed by the National Band of New Zealand conducted by David Bremner in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton, 1 November 2020. Audio
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