Highlighting five organisations and campaigns using Music to help our communities

The Aotearoa Music Awards are shining the light on five different organisations and initiatives that are helping those affected by COVID-19 and using music to help communities and heal our whānau.

MusicHelps, Crescendo, Girls Rock! Aotearoa, Raukatauri Music Therapy and Save Our Venues all use the medium of music to inspire people and help others, and never has their work been more important, especially in the wake of the global pandemic.

For anyone wanting to donate to these five deserving organisations, New Zealanders can text MUSIC to 2448 to make a $3 donation, which will be split equally between the initiatives.

Established in 2012, MusicHelps is an industry charity dedicated to developing and sustaining exciting projects to make a positive difference to people in need. This year when COVID-19 began to affect the New Zealand music industry they launched a fundraising appeal MusicHelpsLive in conjunction with Recorded Music NZ, and with the support of Spotify who matched contributions dollar for dollar.

Specifically targeting those workers in the music sector whose livelihoods have been threatened, the appeal has raised almost $1million to date and has managed to distribute hundreds of individual response grants to affected individuals, as well as supporting many businesses and venues that play and champion NZ music throughout the country.

Crescendo offer mentoring programmes for disadvantaged and at-risk young people to directly engage and connect with people working in the creative industries around Tāmaki Makaurau.

Using music, film and photography, they connect with young people between the ages of 12-24, and help them build confidence, learn new skills and make industry connections in order to empower them with a strong sense of self and the courage to make positive decisions for the future.

Girls Rock!Aotearoawas established in 2017 and is a series of week-long holiday programmes where music is the medium to build confidence, empowerment and foster social change. Campers between the ages of 12-17 years form bands, learn instruments, attend workshops and write original songs.

The goals of Girls Rock! are to help youth build confidence and practical skills in songwriting and music through tutoring and practice, by utilising the talent of local songwriters and music-makers to help mentor and guide participants.

The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre provides music therapy services to individuals with special needs, working with over 500 children & adults each week to offer quality, accessible music therapy services to all people, whatever their needs and regardless of ability to pay.

They also deliver outreach programmes in partnership with over 25 schools and organisations, allowing children and adults to receive music therapy directly in their classrooms, group homes, hospital rooms and rehabilitation units.

And finally, Save Our Venues NZ was created by a group of passionate people from the Aotearoa music scene who came together to raise funds and awareness for local live music venues across the country.

Our country’s smaller live music venues make up a crucial national touring circuit and provide vital community hubs for local music lovers. The campaign aimed to help them get back on their feet, survive and thrive in response to the impacts of COVID-19 on live music.

Recorded Music CEO Damian Vaughan said the support and aroha New Zealand’s music industry has received this year is encouraging as we band together as a nation to recover and rebuild post-COVID.

“The incredible work being done by these passionate individuals and organisations – and many more nationwide – proves that music is an essential part of helping each other through these difficult times,” says Vaughan.

“We all know that music helps, and in times of tragedy music heals and unites us. We’re encouraging everyone to make a donation if they can. Simply text MUSIC to 2448 will donate $3, which will be split between all these initiatives.”

The Aotearoa Music Awards will take place Sunday 15 November at Spark Arena and will be broadcast live on The Edge TV from 7pm and continue on Three from 8.30pm. The entire broadcast will be streamed on ThreeNow.

Thanks to the official Aotearoa Music Awards audio streaming partner Spotify please check out all the finalists via these links: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4lHXsFEotTOtAntq8bdY2O?si=NH8XfF8lRMyU2cP65NWbjA

Official links

  • MusicHelps
    • https://musichelps.org.nz/
  • Crescendo
    • https://www.crescendo.org.nz/
  • Girls Rock! Aotearoa
    • https://girlsrockcamp.co.nz/
  • Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre
    • https://www.rmtc.org.nz/
  • Save Our Venues
    • https://www.saveourvenues.co.nz/