By James Murray
A New Zealand Herald article criticising the use of taxpayer money to promote Ladyhawke’s latest album has caused an online kerfuffle.
Media commentator Drinnan revealed the singer had received a grant of $59,000 from the Music Commission’s Outward Sound scheme.
According to Ladyhawke’s manager, Dan Medland, the grant will be used to build her international profile.
"Myself and [Music Commission export manager] Gary Fortune see her as a worldwide artist, but she is not there yet," he said.
"She had success in the UK and some parts of Europe - we have been once to US and Japan once - this grant will help us provide the ability to do more ... The cost of these things is astronomical."
Mr Drinnan, who has also written about the controversial $50,000 given to billionaire’s daughter Annabelle Fay by NZ On Air, has caused something of a stir with this article.
Fellow media commentator Russel Brown tweeted – “Drinnan tries to make Ladyhawke's receipt of global markets biz dev grant into a scandal because she's ... touring.”
Other tweets followed a similar line, with one blogger saying the money Ladyhawke makes overseas is called “EXPORTING (sic)”.
In an open letter to John Drinnan music and pop culture blogger DubDotDash wrote:
When Ladyhawke gets $59,000 of taxpayer funds to tour overseas, and says she will remain based in NZ, that means shes going away and earning money and coming back and paying taxes here. In business I believe they call that EXPORTING.
cheers,
Peter.
John Drinnan has now replied to the DubDotDash blog saying:
"Her record company is in the UK - she is not a member of Apra, but her royalties are returned to NZ and she lives here.
Hey,
I like her music and hope she does well. But why does the music
industry go nuts any time its handouts and subsidies are put up for
public view?
The Outward Sound grant is given to five or six musicians each year for business development.
Ladyhawke was nominated for a Brit award last year alongside Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Rihanna and Shakira.
Her debut album sold 300,000 copies.
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