Editing RNZ Concert (section)

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Concert Programme logo.gif|thumb|right|This was the Concert Programme logo when it was launched in 1975]]
Classical music broadcasting began in New Zealand with the opening of '''2YC''' in Wellington on 24 February 1933,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/broadcasting-and-television/page-4|title=New Zealand Broadcasting Board, 1932–35|last=McLintock|first=Alexander Hare|last2=C.MLL|website=An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966.|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06|last3=Taonga|first3=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu}}</ref> with further YC stations starting in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin in the following couple of years (see [[Call signs in New Zealand]]). In 1936, these four stations as well as the YA and ZB stations (forerunners to [[RNZ National]] and [[Newstalk ZB]]) were organised under the auspices of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.

Stations were modelled after the [[BBC]]'s [[BBC Radio 3|Third Programme]], and routinely broadcast local musicians in studio. The National Orchestra (now the [[New Zealand Symphony Orchestra]]) was founded within the NZBS and its very first concert from the Wellington Town Hall in February 1947 was broadcast live on 2YC. The four YC stations and other regional stations in the same format eventually began taking networked programming from Wellington under the banner of "'''The YC Network'''", and these stations in 1975 unified nationwide to form the "'''Concert Programme'''" under a reorganised [[Radio New Zealand]].<ref name="A turning point for radio">{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/radio/page-4 |title=A turning point for radio |publisher=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>

=== Breakup of RNZ ===
The growth of private commercial radio and Radio New Zealand's commercial assets by the [[Fourth National Government of New Zealand|fourth National government]] in the 1990s changed the environment in which the Concert Programme operated. Radio New Zealand's commercial stations were sold to The Radio Network (later known as [[NZME]]), and RNZ became a Crown entity,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1995/0052/latest/whole.html |title=Radio New Zealand Act 1995}}</ref> continuing to operate National Radio (now [[RNZ National]]) and a renamed "'''Concert FM'''". Concert lost many of its music studios including Broadcasting House in Wellington, much prized by orchestras and classical musicians for recording, Until the launch of the [[AM Network]] in 1997, the network carried live coverage of the proceedings of the [[New Zealand Parliament]].<ref name="A turning point for radio" />

===Recent history===

Since 2000, the network has aired a New Year's Day countdown from an annual survey of New Zealand's 65 most popular fine music tracks. First-placed pieces have included [[Messiah (Handel)|Handel's Messiah]] and [[Cello Concerto (Schumann)|Schumann's Konzertstuck first movement]], and a majority of high-ranking pieces have come from English composers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/settlingthescore |title=Setting the Score |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=1 January 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> The highest-ranked pieces are performed live by the [[Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra]] during the previous November, at concerts hosted by well-known New Zealanders like [[John Campbell (broadcaster)|John Campbell]] and [[Wallace Chapman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://taknz.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/review-settling-the-score-live-radio-new-zealand-concert-auckland-philharmonia-orchestra-town-hall-15-november-2012/ |title=Review - Setting the Score Live |publisher=TI's Weblog |date=16 November 2012 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> A print advertising campaign showing the musical scores of popular tracks depicted as battle scenes has been used to promote the countdown since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestadsontv.com/ad/48690/Settling-the-Score-Live-Musical-Battle |title=Print Ad: Setting the Score |publisher=Best Ads on TV |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=23 January 2015}}</ref>

On 22 January 2007 Concert FM was renamed '''Radio New Zealand Concert''' to associate it more clearly with the Radio New Zealand brand,<ref name="A turning point for radio"/> which was subsequently shortened to '''RNZ Concert''' in 2016. As part of its promotion of New Zealand Music Month, the network has produced a series of podcasts of New Zealand performances of classic works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canz.net.nz/uncategorized/radio-new-zealand-concert-celebrates-nz-music-month/ |title=Radio New Zealand Concert celebrates NZ Music Month |publisher=Composers Association of New Zealand |date=2 March 2008 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> [[NZ On Air]] contributes $130,000 each year towards local recordings made by RNZ Concert through SOUNZ - Centre for New Zealand Music's Resound Project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://playitstrange.org.nz/the-calling/ |title=Preserving a place for breaking NZ music radio |publisher=[[NZ On Air]] |date=18 December 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

===War commemorations===

[[Image:Anzac Cove encampment 1915.jpg|thumb|250px|right|RNZ Concert is involved in several events commemorating the [[Australian and New Zealand Army Corps|ANZAC]] [[Gallipoli Campaign]].]]
RNZ Concert has been involved in several contests and performances commemorating [[Anzac Day]] and the centenary of [[World War I]]. In 2014, it broadcast a concert featuring the five finalists of a one-off secondary school song-writing competition - 'The Calling' - in which students had to reflect the emotional impact the declaration of World War I had on New Zealand families through an original musical score.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://playitstrange.org.nz/the-calling/ |title=The Calling |publisher=Play It Strange |date=5 August 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

In the same year it ran a joint competition with [[ABC Classic FM]] and the [[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Australian Department for Veterans' Affairs]] - Gallipoli Songs - for original compositions that best reflected the experiences of the original ANZAC troops and their families. Australian soprano Merlyn Quaife, Australian composer Elliott Gyger, ABC host Stephen Adams, RNZ host Kate Mead and New Zealand composer [[Gillian Whitehead|Dame Gillian Whitehead]] judged the competition - and New Zealand composer Andrew Baldwin was one of the six winners. The compositions were performed, recorded and broadcast on RNZ Concert and ABC Classic FM on Anzac Day 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1405/S00003/composer-competition-for-gallipoli-centenary.htm |title=Composer Competition for Gallipoli Centenary |publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]] |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centenarynews.com/article?id=1696 |title=Australian and New Zealand radio stations launch composer competition for Gallipoli Centenary |publisher=Centenary News |date=6 June 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1411/S00561/nz-composer-wins-song-competition-for-gallipoli-centenary.htm |title=NZ Composer wins Song Competition for Gallipoli Centenary |publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]] |date=30 November 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/news-events/news/new-zealand-composer-wins-song-competition-gallipoli-centenary |title=New Zealand Composer wins Song Competition for Gallipoli Centenary |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

===Funding and proposed changes to service===

RNZ is fully funded by the government through [[New Zealand on Air]], but its funding has been nominally frozen since the election of the [[Fifth National Government of New Zealand|fifth National government]] in 2008. During his time as broadcasting minister in 2008 to 2011, [[National Party of New Zealand|National]] MP [[Jonathan Coleman (politician)|Jonathan Coleman]] asked the organisation to consider alternative revenue sources, including listener donations and commercial sponsorship of RNZ Concert programmes, to help cover the network's operating costs. Commercial sponsorship has been criticised by opposition MPs and activism group Save RNZ, was rejected by former chief executive Peter Cavanagh, and continues to be resisted by current chief executive Paul Thompson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/27620/greens-accuse-government-of-starving-rnz-of-money |title=Greens accuse Government of starving RNZ of money |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=18 February 2010 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/27646/minister-brushes-off-claims-of-political-interference |title=Minister brushes off claims of political interference |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=19 February 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveradionz.co.nz/ |title=Welcome to Save Radio New Zealand |publisher=Save Radio New Zealand |date=2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10859524 |title=Radio NZ boss confirms exit, apologises |publisher=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment]] |date=16 January 2013 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/9879755/Musical-chairs-at-Radio-NZ |title=Musical chairs at Radio New Zealand |publisher=[[Fairfax New Zealand]] |date=29 March 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

The Concert programme has drawn criticism for its Government funding. It has faced allegations of [[elitism]], [[Media bias|left-wing bias]], and serving wealthy audiences and minority interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/columnists/3354408/Broadcaster-tunes-in-to-welfare-state |title=Broadcaster tunes in to the welfare state |publisher=[[Fairfax New Zealand]] |date=21 February 2010 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/05/or-they-could-sell-advertising/ |title=Or they could sell advertising |publisher=[[Whale Oil]] |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> Equally, it has been accused of closely following commercial radio formats and failing to perform as a public broadcaster without commercial constraints.<ref>Reid, D. M. (2014). Solid to liquid culture: The institutional, political and economic transformation of New Zealand state broadcasting (Doctoral dissertation, University of Otago).</ref> Supporters of the network have said it performs well on a small budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11390428 |title=John Drinnan: Concert station gets a tune-up |publisher=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment]] |date=23 January 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> In response, [[David Farrar (blogger)|David Farrar]] has called for the station to be scrapped, saying it "plays basically German classical music" when "almost every piece of classical music in history is available for free and can be streamed, made into playlists and the like".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/01/should_we_ditch_concert_fm.html |title=Should we ditch Concert FM? |publisher=[[Kiwiblog]] |date=24 January 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref>

On 5 February 2020, RNZ announced plans to lay off most of RNZ Concert's staff, including all presenters. The plan would shift broadcasts from its FM frequencies to the AM Network and make the station presenterless, more akin to a music streaming service than a traditional radio station. This was to free up resources and FM frequencies for a new youth-focused network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018732872/rnz-set-to-cut-back-concert-and-launch-new-youth-service|title=RNZ set to cut back Concert and launch new youth service|last=Donnell|first=Hayden|date=5 February 2020|website=[[RNZ]] |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref> Opponents of the plan, including [[Kiri Te Kanawa|Dame Kiri te Kanawa]] and [[Helen Clark]], call the cuts "very concerning" and question whether youth would even tune in the proposed new radio service. The proposed changes were eventually dropped.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/119365298/dame-kiri-te-kanawa-slams-controlling-rnz-executives-over-proposed-concert-changes|title=Dame Kiri Te Kanawa slams 'controlling' RNZ executives over proposed Concert changes|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>