AUCKLAND — Universal Music New Zealand is on the hunt for the next generation.

With effect from today, June 4, the major music company presses play on nextWAV., a 12-month industry-first development program that’s designed to find, give a platform to and support emerging young Kiwi talent.

The first-of-its-kind initiative is a holistic one, bringing together organizations and professionals from across NZ’s music industry for provide mentorship and development opportunities for aspiring artists on the way up.

“We created nextWAV. to help shape the future of New Zealand music by supporting local artists at the very beginning of their journey,” comments Matt Kidd, UMNZ co-managing director and co-program creator.

“At a time when discovery is global and competition is greater than ever, it’s critical that aspiring artists are given access to the right tools, networks and opportunities early.”

Adds Myra Hemara, co-managing director, Universal Music New Zealand and co-program creator: “nextWAV. is designed to play a role in this by bringing together the right expertise, partners and support to help shape the next generation of recording artists.”

Participants will receive one-on-one guidance from industry professionals across songwriting, production, branding, live performance and digital strategy, reads a statement, in addition to practical experience in studio environments, creative development spaces and live performance settings.

nextWAV., Kidd continues, “is about building confidence, capability and connection, while establishing a pathway for New Zealand artists to develop sustainable careers both at home and on the global stage.”

The program’s principal funding partners are NZ On Air and Creative New Zealand, while supporters include APRA AMCOS, Big Fan, Live Nation New Zealand, The Tuning Fork, New Zealand Music Commission, Launchpad and Play It Strange.

New Zealand has no shortage of world-class talent, from Lorde, to Benee, Broods, Ladyhawke and the legendary Split Enz, which reunited in 2026 for their first tour in almost 20 years. What NZ and its artists do struggle with are conditions that are no fault of their own. The tyranny of distance and the cost of touring is one challenge, another is being seen and heard above the frontline talent on both sides of the Atlantic, and the mine of golden oldies that lives in perpetuity on streaming platforms.

“Aotearoa has a proven track record of producing globally successful artists and remains an independent and well-established environment for developing talent,” comments Sean Warner, president of Universal Music Australia & New Zealand. “Continued investment in emerging artists is key to sustaining that momentum, and initiatives such as nextWAV. support long-term growth across the wider music ecosystem.”

Those young developing artists (aged 16-18) who are “ready to take the next step” are invited to apply.  Hopefuls must be permanent residents or citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand, have parent or guardian consent, and available to participate in the program on the key dates outlined in the Programme Structure. 

Applications open today, Thursday June 4, 2026 and close Sunday, July 19, 2026. Further information is available at www.nextwav.co.nz.

Billboard is now live in India, the world’s most populous nation.

Launched in partnership with Other Side Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and headquartered in Mumbai, Billboard India is said to mark a new chapter in how Indian music is documented and celebrated worldwide. 

The new title will be familiar to readers of the flagship Billboard, coupling a deep range of multimedia editorial content with charts, lists, music awards, and more, cut with a domestic flair to reflect the diversity of India’s vibrant music communities.

“India is already one of the world’s largest music markets by volume,” comments Priyanka Khimani, media advisor and driving force behind Other Side Ventures. “Our growth story isn’t from one city or one language. It’s from every corner of this country,”

Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja is the first cover star of Billboard India. The homegrown screen music icon has composed for 1,500 film soundtracks, and this year celebrates his 50th year in music.

“There couldn’t have been a more superlative name to launch our first cover than Ilaiyaraaja,” adds Khimani. “His legacy, body of work and music superiority speaks for themself. It was our privilege to be able to capture him as he celebrates an important milestone in his career.”

A culturally rich nation, India, of course, is home to Bollywood, a film industry that creates stars who shine globally. Its 1.4 billion population is mostly young, and many are plugged into the country’s vibrant music and movie scenes. Some 450 million Indians are under the age of 30, and, according to the IFPI, are increasingly captivated with the next generation of Indian music stars that are crossing over from Bollywood.

Experts predict a boom is on the way.  Domestic creator collections roared to roughly US$75 million in 2024, according to data published by CISAC data, representing 42% year-on-year increase. Separately, India now ranks as the world’s 15th largest recorded music market, the IFPI reports.

The new platform aspires to document and analyse the dominance of film soundtracks, through to the explosive rise of independent artists, and serve as the definitive voice of Indian artists across all languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and more.  

The Billboard India leadership team is helmed by Preeti Nayyar, who is appointed chief operating officer, and Mohini Chaudhuri as content strategy director. Other key appointments include, Amruta Ramesh (creative director), and Vidya Sivalenka (charts lead). 

“At Billboard, we are committed to celebrating any music ecosystem that includes artists, executives, trends, achievements and stories shaping today’s global music landscape,” notes Mike Van, CEO of Billboard. “Billboard India marks an exciting step in that mission, as the Indian music industry and its global diaspora continue to command growing attention and influence worldwide. With a market as culturally rich and diverse as India, this launch reflects both the scale of the opportunity and the strength of the Billboard India team, whose depth and editorial ambition set a powerful foundation for what’s ahead.” 

Billboard India is headquartered in Mumbai and is now live at billboardindia.com and across social platforms.