Music Good For The Soul

If music is good for the soul, then NZ On Air has ensured that young New Zealanders are kept soulful with plenty of New Zealand music due to burst onto their TV screens in 2002.

Funding from NZ On Air, to the tune of just over $1.1 million, has been allocated to three youth-oriented music and entertainment projects in the latest funding round.

Space and Squeeze, both produced by Satellite Media Group, showcase New Zealand arts, performance and music to youth. Polyfest 2002 celebrates the huge fountain of talent from local secondary schools in an annual Maori and Pasifika cultural festival.

"Space has really come into its own over the past two years, developing a format that is more than a music show. Space is also increasing its reach into the community by featuring stories and interviews from around the country," said NZ On Air chief executive, Jo Tyndall.

"The combination of music videos, stories relating to music, studio guests, live artists performing in studio, competitions and the Space website adds up to a whole lot of quality entertainment and variety for viewers," she said.

Space will screen on TV2 on Fridays from 10.30pm.

Squeeze, the sole champion of exclusively New Zealand music currently on television, has also received support from NZ On Air.

"Squeeze is a New Zealand music masterpiece, focusing on local content that relates to Kiwi music, bands and entertainers. In 2002, Squeeze has plans to extend and grow with the booming New Zealand music scene and NZ On Air is pleased to support this," said Ms Tyndall.

Polyfest 2002 is a Maori and Pasifika cultural festival, which will enjoy its fourth round of coverage, thanks to funding from NZ On Air.

To be held over three days, the competition encompasses a range of traditional and contemporary urban music and dance performance.

"The 2002 programme will capture the highlights of this fantastic festival and will also include interviews with performers, their whanau and friends," said Ms Tyndall.

NZ On Air has allocated $698,965 to Satellite Media Group for the production of 35 one and a half hour episodes of Space and $272,647 for the production of 35 half-hour episodes of Squeeze. Front of the Box Productions received $200,000 for the production of five half- hour specials of Polyfest 2002.

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