RNZ chairman welcomes chance to keep Concert on FM, but no final word on jobs

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

RNZ chairman Jim Mather says the Government's decision to free up an extra FM slot for the broadcaster is a 'game changer' as it consults on the future of RNZ Concert.

However, with the consultations with RNZ staff already in train, RNZ is not commenting yet on whether it will backtrack on its proposal to axe 14 jobs within its music department, including those of all Concert's presenters.

There is speculation that RNZ could now decide to retain some presenters to avoid Concert becoming what some commentators have described as a 'jukebox' on the FM band.

Two FM frequencies for music will allow RNZ to keep its cake and eat one.

But it is believed that any final decisions on the staffing of Concert will need to wait until after the existing consultation process closes on February 21.

* For youth orchestra members, RNZ Concert is the lifeblood of music-making

* Government to free up FM frequency to keep RNZ Concert**

Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay said RNZ staff were in no mood yet to celebrate.

'We need a lot more information before we know what the future of the station will be and whether our members jobs are secure,' he said.

PSA members at RNZ would meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation and plan a response, he said.

RNZ's original proposal would have seen Concert shift to AM with 18 positions reduced to just four, as resources were diverted to a new youth-oriented music brand that RNZ plans to launch on FM later this year and which will have a staff of 13.

But Mather confirmed the Government's decision to allocate an extra FM band to RNZ would allow it to have both channels on FM.

'The news that the Government is looking at granting us a third FM network changes the playing field as we seek to do a better job of providing relevant content for younger audiences in particular,' he said.

'This is an excellent opportunity as it will allow RNZ to launch a multi-media music brand for younger people on multiple platforms including FM while continuing to provide a classical music service broadcast on FM and other platforms,' he said.

RNZ's proposal to slash Concert prompted a furious backlash from some listeners, including former prime minister Helen Clark, but Mather appeared to indicate that reaction had not been a total surprise to RNZ's board.

'As we expected, recent feedback has shown there is strong support for RNZ Concert continuing on FM,' he said.

'We hear that passion for Concert and look forward to completing the consultation process to consider other possible improvements to that service now we have been given the potential of additional FM capacity,' he said.

Mather had words of support for RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson, saying the RNZ board would continue to encourage Thompson and his management team to look for 'bold strategic approaches to help meet the expectations of our diverse audiences within constrained budgets'.

Charitable trust Sounz, which provides networking and other resources for musicians, composers and music teachers, said 'the fight must continue' to ensure Concert's resources were not cut.

'We feel strongly that the network's highly-skilled presentation, production and scheduling staff must be retained, if not increased in number, to support their vital remit to record and broadcast the work of Aotearoa New Zealand composers and musicians,' executive director Diana Marsh said.

Sounz was disappointed it had not been consulted on the original proposal by RNZ given it had worked 'in close partnership' with Concert on many of its projects, she said.