Terms & Conditions

Eligibility and selection criteria 

NZSO Recording Aotearoa is open to all composers and recording artists with arranger teams that hold permanent NZ Residency or Citizenship. 

The composer must not have been awarded this specific support (either NZSO NZ Composer Scheme or NZSO Recording Aotearoa) in the past seven years and must be able to adhere to all programme Terms and Conditions.

Selection criteria is purposefully open, however projects will be assessed on both artistic premise and audience reach. Projects that align with NZSO’s vision mission and values and have evidence of impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s creative scene will be viewed as strong options. It is also key to know how you will approach financing the project if successful.

Application does not guarantee support of the project. If you are curious about what may work well under this programme please do reach out to the NZSO team for a ‘no-obligations’ chat to discuss your ambition and idea(s).

Application process 

Expression of Interest to NZSO via submission forms available will trigger an internal NZSO review of the project application. We aim to review and respond within 4 weeks of receiving EOIs. To apply, go here.

If approved, the NZSO will provide a quote for our costs and begin planning with the composer/creative team to create a work plan, timeline, and contracting process.  

Within the Expression of Interest, the composer/creative team must show evidence of:

Premise, ambition and potential reach of the project. Artistic personnel confirmed or in discussion; including conductor, soloists, arrangers, producer(s), and engineer team for sessions and post-production.

Written support from commissioning party if work(s) were commissioned (not required if NZSO was commissioning party).

Studio/venue pencilling options if the project is working to a fixed timeline; noting that if Michael Fowler Centre is the desired venue it is recommended that the NZSO team undertakes the availability exercise on behalf of the composer to ensure alignment with the NZSO schedule.

Ability to cover all associated costs of the project, or funding plan, including timelines and support required to achieve fund targets, noting, in particular, the guarantee cover of incumbent contracts for artistic personnel, venue, and the NZSO.

Timeline for recording and release, and a distribution plan.

If approved for inclusion in the NZSO Recording Aotearoa programme, the NZSO quote will include:

Project outline, including forces and guide session plan.

Full commercial hire rate of the orchestra calculated accurately to the project outline.

Operational and administration expenditure the project will incur (freight including orchestra truck, specialist instrument hire, extra players, library services, stage and orchestra management, contracting services, etc).

The NZSO Recording Aotearoa discount, making all staff player costs incurred 'in kind.'

Indicative venue and recording team costs on request only.

The NZSO’s establishment is: 3333 / 4331 / timpani, 3 percussion, harp / strings up to 16 14 12 10 8.

The above includes doubling on piccolo/alto flute/bass flute/cor anglais/Eb clarinet/bass clarinet/contrabassoon. 

Any orchestral instrument required beyond this establishment will be a professional, casual contract player booked by the NZSO (preapproved or specially approved by relevant section principal), and their fee will be charged directly to the composer. 

Prior to contract, the composer / creative team must agree to:

Administrative deadlines for the project.

Payment schedule (standardly 20% of fee due to the orchestra on contract execution, 80% due on completion of planned sessions + any agreed project on charges such as the venue hire contract). 

NZSO right of refusal on recording venue, engineer team, producer, and conductor (approval of which will not be unreasonably withheld).

Advance discussion and NZSO endorsement prior to confirmation of all other artistic personnel and production process.

Written notification of any adjustments to artistic and creative/engineering personnel included on NZSO recorded tracks throughout the process.

Scores and parts delivered to the NZSO library four months prior to the first session date, later date if required by advance discussion, and notice of format (i.e. pre-prepared hardcopy set or new PDF files requiring proofing and printing).

All stems from NZSO sessions being locked for the single purpose of the agreed release, i.e. no material from the sessions can be used in any live formats or transferred to secondary projects/releases unless otherwise mutually agreed in advance and confirmed in writing.

Released tracks featuring NZSO not including any other standard orchestral instruments (i.e. instruments or lines that may mistakenly be perceived as NZSO) or highly produced effects on NZSO stems within the mix unless agreed in writing prior to the session.

NZSO management sign off for any visual (still or AV) material made public.

NZSO brand adherence in all marketing materials, track titling and media/promo copy.

NZSO management final sign-off on relevant tracks prior to mastering (noting this to ensure adherence to agreed terms, not to engage in detailed creative feedback).

Advocacy of the NZSO Recording Aotearoa initiative both within the sector and publicly where required.

Recording inclusion to the list of recipients (ministerial reporting and archive via NZSO website).

It is also important to note that once the project is underway, the NZSO will only be able to dedicate the agreed time for recording. Great care must be given to accurately constructing content capture plans for the orchestral sessions to ensure all cues are recorded with best possible playing quality.

Promotion and distribution

The project and the recording's use, promotion and distribution remain in the hands of the composer and creative team throughout however, NZSO will lend support through press and social media requests as much as possible in the lead up and during the recording’s release. It is recommended that you meet with the NZSO marketing team in advance of fixing your campaign plans to make sure key points can be supported in our own SM and campaign schedules.

Royalties and future earnings 

Standardly, the NZSO's commercially recorded material is contracted as 'buy out', and no further royalties / APRA AMCOS splits or similar are negotiated. 

It is the composer's responsibility to negotiate terms with all associated creative personnel. The NZSO presumes in good faith that all creative parties will be adequately remunerated for their involvement in the project. 

Contact us

For enquiries and project consultancy, please get in touch:
Claire Wackrow, Senior Manager Commercial & Partnership Programmes claire.wackrow@nzso.co.nz.