News & Progress

Building the infrastructure for a more direct music economy.

Updates on HMG’s work across artist opportunity, direct licensing, industry advocacy, government engagement and Fair Play Aotearoa platform development.

Current work

Latest updates

Heart Music Group founder Marty Bryant meeting New Zealand political leaders in two photographs

29 September 2026Industry Perspective

The Missing Eighth Ask

Heart Music Group responds to the 2026 Aotearoa Music Industry Manifesto and calls for competition, creator choice and practical direct licensing to be part of the national conversation.

An artisanal cupcake beside overlapping music licensing documents, illustrating duplicated licensing costs

1 September 2026Industry Perspective

Imagine If We Licensed Cupcakes the Way We License Music

A cupcake analogy explains why direct licensing can exist in theory while remaining difficult in practice, and why workable proportional licence reductions matter for genuine competition in commercial music licensing.

Heart Music Group and Fair Play Aotearoa branding representing Music on Hold opportunities for New Zealand artists

21 August 2026Artist Opportunities

How Music on Hold can support New Zealand artists

Music on Hold can improve the caller experience while creating recurring licensing opportunities for New Zealand artists. A small change by a business can contribute to a creator’s wider career and support greater choice in music licensing.

Editorial image representing a scheduled public-policy discussion at Parliament

8 August 2026Government Engagement

Fair Play Aotearoa to be demonstrated at Parliament

Heart Music Group will visit Parliament this month to demonstrate Fair Play Aotearoa and discuss how the platform could help increase the use of New Zealand music across public-facing government environments.

Fair Play Aotearoa media player interface used during platform testing

8 August 2026Platform Development

Testing Fair Play Aotearoa for Real-World Business Use

HMG is testing Fair Play Aotearoa’s dedicated in-store media players for reliable extended operation, remote management, accurate playback reporting and a more direct royalty pathway for New Zealand creators.

Editorial image contrasting personal music streaming with a professionally managed in-store music system

6 July 2026Business Guidance

Why a Personal Spotify Account Is Not an In-Store Music Solution

A personal Spotify or YouTube account does not provide a commercial music-supply solution. HMG explains the difference between public-performance licensing, authorised music supply and the reporting businesses need.

Editorial still life representing regulatory submissions and competition advocacy

20 January 2026Industry Advocacy

HMG advocates for practical direct licensing in ACCC review of APRA AMCOS

Heart Music Group is participating in the ACCC’s current authorisation process concerning APRA AMCOS, advocating for greater transparency and practical pathways for artists, rights holders and businesses to use direct licensing.

Editorial image representing the signed partnership agreement between Heart Music Group and Retail NZ

12 December 2025Partnerships

Heart Music Group signs partnership with Retail NZ

Heart Music Group is delighted to be partnering with Retail NZ as we work to create greater choice, transparency and value for New Zealand retailers using music in their businesses.

HMG-branded editorial artwork representing visibility within New Zealand’s copyright licensing landscape

5 March 2025Company Milestone

Heart Music Group listed by IPONZ as a New Zealand licensing agency

Heart Music Group is proud to have been added to the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand’s information page on copyright licensing, giving artists, rights holders and businesses greater visibility of HMG as an artist-founded music licensing platform.

What we report on

Progress across the HMG model.

01New artist opportunities

02Partnerships and pilot programmes

03Regulatory and competition matters

04Government engagement

05Fair Play Aotearoa development

06Direct-licensing developments

07HMG milestones