Features
CRS Management Wins At NZ Music Managers Awards
The firm’s Teresa Patterson took out Manager of the Year for her work last year with chart-topping electronica act Six60, rock band I Am Giant whose debut album The Horrifying Truth debuted at No. 2 in the local charts and went gold, and award-winning soul singer Iva Lamkum.
Patterson also won Best Independent Tour, for Six60, whose series of mini-tours last year has seen them embark on their current two-month world tour.
CRS’s Paul McKessar and Campbell Smith took International Achievement for the second consecutive year, for their work with post-punkers The Naked and Famous and Sydney-based Sony Music-signed Brooke Fraser.
The awards, which this year added more categories, were May 16 at Auckland’s Backbeat bar. They are organised by the Music Managers Forum NZ.
1814 guitarist Patu Colbert was named best Self Managed Artist for his achievements with the seven-piece roots reggae band he formed with his son Shaun.
The act, which plays many community events delivering its love and peace message, took its name from the year that the first western missionary arrived.
The Outside The Box award, introduced this year to reward lateral thinking, went to Ingrid Bennie for setting up a three-day pop-up store for rapper David Dallas for the release of his Rose Tint album. The album was downloaded 50,000 times when it was initially released for free online, before a physical release.
Tim Youngson and Scott Maclachlan, who look after international dubstep production duo Mt. Eden, were recognised for their online achievements with the act drawing close to 95 million views on its Youtube channel and more than 250,000 Facebook followers.
Haddon Smith was awarded Breakthrough Manager for his work with singer Annah Mac, whose independently distributed single “Girl In The Stillettos” was certified platinum.
Cushla Aston was given the Upcoming Manager title for her work with The Thomas Oliver Band and Rio Hemopo & Cornerstone Roots. Rock guitarist Ryan Kershaw, who this year organised the Underground festival, was presented with the MMF Mentoring Success award.
Leigh Sawmill in Leigh, which in the early 19th century was an integral part of the timber trade, took the Best Venue award for its support of new acts. The Industry Champion award again went to the NZ Music Commission, which works at building the local music industry domestically and abroad.
MMF spokesperson Wairere Iti says he is particularly excited about the volume of new and emerging managers represented in the winners lineup.
“It’s so good to see such a fresh group of upcoming managers receiving accolades,” Iti said. “These managers are vital to the future of New Zealand Music and being able to acknowledge the long hours, hard work and passion that they have for their artists is why we hold the awards every year.”