Six-months on from agreeing our trade deal with New Zealand, the UK’s music industry hail the benefits which will help "support British music and artists"
Six-months on from agreeing our ambitious new trade deal with New Zealand, the UK’s music industry praise the trade agreement as it will help to “support British music and artists and grow exciting opportunities for our thriving music industry.”
The UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is set to benefit the entire music industry as the deal will give UK music producers and performers an extra twenty years to make money from certain rights they own, so British talent can reap the rewards of their hard work for longer in New Zealand.
Top executives from Universal Music, Sony and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) have welcomed the extended protections given to the UK music industry.
International Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said:
Instrument makers are also championing the deal as guitar manufacturer George Lowden who has created a new acoustic guitar range “Sheeran with Lowden” alongside Ed Sheeran, have seen significant growth in exports in New Zealand.
Lowden’s business has seen significant growth since the launch of the “Sheeran with Lowden” range with exports on the rise worldwide and 40 new jobs created in the UK in the past three years.
George Lowden, Chairman and Founder of Lowden Guitars says:
Other benefits of the trade deal to musicians and artists include:
New Zealand was ranked as the third largest music streaming market for UK artists in 2020 with a 17% market share and the enhanced protections secured in this forward-looking trade agreement will strengthen this creative cultural relationship.
The enhanced protections follow a long history of British musical success in New Zealand; with The Beatles holding the country’s chart record for most ever number ones, Dire Straits ‘Brother in Arms’ album going 24 times Platinum, and recent BRIT award winner Dua Lipa touring her ‘future nostalgia’ album in New Zealand after the record topped the country’s weekly chart as soon as it was released.
New Zealand artists have historically enjoyed success in the UK too, with Auckland native Lorde achieving a range of UK music accolades including two BRIT awards for International Female Solo Artist in 2014 and 2018.
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize said:
Nickie Owen, President, International Marketing, Universal Music UK said:
Carina Grace, VP of UK International, Sony Music UK said:
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