JAZZ ZIEDAN (BASE FM) INTERVIEW

Digital Liberation is a new move for Base FM that will see the station, based in Grey Lynn, Auckland, being aired to Freeview boxes all over New Zealand. Managing Director, Jazz Ziedan explains to Grindin’ ‘Going digital means equal rights for us broadcasters. It’s not about being part of a big network with great financial backing, it’s about having the same reach geographically and allowing the people to decide what they want to listen to rather than being limited to what they can get.’

‘No Commercial Bullshit’ has been their point of view even in a time when it didn’t see viable. Arriving at Base and carving out a path for the potential she saw in it nine years ago, Jazz explains in the interview below, that though people tell you it wont work – if you want it bad enough then your job is to prove doubters wrong. Basically It’s the Kiwi dream this German native has helped make possible for many up and coming Kiwi musicians. As part of New Zealand Music Month, Base teamed up with film production company, Reelgood to mark the digital mile stone and celebrate by looking back. Some key artists involved are Tom Scott, Dylan C, Ladi6, MC Slave, Manuel Bundy, Chip Matthews, Isaac Aesili and more.

What was the main motivation/inspiration behind turning Base FM digital?
The NZ radio market is more competitive than any other with more radio stations in Auckland than New York or London. Therefore, all full power frequencies are taken and there was literally no way of increasing our broadcasting range without selling out. I had just purchased BASE and needed to find ways of making it financially viable, which it wasn’t at the time without losing its core values: 100% DJs choice, No Commercial Bullshit. One full power frequency gets auctioned per year and the last one went for $800,000 – even if I would’ve had this much money, which I didn’t, it’d mean 15min adbreaks 3x per hour and becoming mainstream. The Idea of going digital was looking at lot more promising to me than staying limited to our Low Power FM frequency or becoming just another commercial station with a top 40 rotation and annoying & draining adbreaks. This was all in 2008 that I signed up with Freeview and finally, the long term plan is paying off now and everything is falling into place. Base FM is now Nationwide via Freeview (in over 70% of all Kiwi households at current) and worldwide via our live stream online or the TuneIn app. All free to our listeners and still with only 1 minute of ads per hour and Sundays ad-free all together!

Will Base be available on phone apps as well?
Base FM is already available on phone apps. We’ve had an iPhone app for years but are now exclusive on the TuneIn App – it’s free and accessible worldwide. You can even download the Pro-version for a dollar something and be able to record shows, boom!

What were most special about the artists picked for the Digital Liberator series, currently being released in parts?
I guess the special thing about Base in general is that we are really close with our artists. All those djs/producers/musicians featured in the Webisodes are friends of the station, we have supported them from day one and they haven’t forgotten that. Even the more ‘mainstream’ artists such as Ladi6, Base played them first, when no one else did, same with Homebrew. And just how Tom Scott said in our 2nd Webisode ‘it all starts with the underground’. There are a lot more artists that actually came to us saying they want to be part of it too and belong to the Base family, such as Sola Rosa, which is such a huge compliment for us. The series might have to be extended, haha…

Are there any surprises people can look forward to in the series?
To be honest, I don’t even know myself. I came up with the concept and approached the artists, everything the artists said was up to them, I wasn’t even present for the filming process. It’s all a big surprise to me, too but I’m loving them and can’t wait to see what Reelgood Productions will come up for the next one…

Base is coming up to 10 years what significance does this mark for the station?
As mentioned before, the radio market is just so competitive in New Zealand and it’s sad to say that pretty much every radio station is owned by one of the two major networks, TRN & Mediaworks. I wouldn’t call them corrupt, that might be taking it to far, haha, but monopole in any industry is never a good thing. Base FM has been struggling for years, it was never a bout the money bout about our passion for quality music. Base FM is NZ’s biggest independent radio station today, featuring over 80+ DJs each week playing their favourite record collection. Integrity is key for me and it’s making me really proud that when everyone kept saying no, ‘that’s not possible, it’s not gonna work’, we have proven them wrong!

Were there other local stations vying for the Freeview spot? Was it a simple step for Base to take?
Ha, no so far it’s pretty much competition free for us. There’s only National & Concert as well as George FM on Freeview. It is definitely not simple to change from analogue to digital BUT it was a lot simpler and cheaper five years ago when I first signed up and they were in need of content. My motto is always: ‘innovate not imitate’ and that usually pays off with anything.

For people who don’t know yet, what is Base FM’s point of difference in the radio market?
Well, there’s many. Straight up though, there is no set playlist, instead giving the DJs 100% control over what is played on the station. With 56 weekly shows and over 80 DJs on the roaster, Base has always been about the people behind the turntables: a passionate community who use this unique platform to express themselves and pass on their musical knowledge. This freedom ensures the music selections are always fresh & dynamic. The station and its DJs have supported underground music since 2004 and continues to push the best in local & international hip hop, soul & funk, reggae & dub, dancehall, dubstep, experimental electronic beats and d&b. Base FM – From Artists For Artists

Will the Turn It Up mixtape be made available online?
Yes, it will be. We just gonna let the CDs shine; they have been distributed to key outlets around NZ but will be realised digitally at the end of May for everyone worldwide to check out our favourite new local release from the past 9 months http://basefm.bandcamp.com

How does Base get away with out ‘commercial bullshit’?
Haha, I guess it’s that ‘Can you kick it? Yes, we can’ philosophy?! 😉 Stick to your guns and prove them wrong!

What have been some of the most significant moments in Base FM”s history over the years for you?
Oh, significant moments over 10 years… there are plenty. I guess one that was quite major for me was, when we finally got recognition from NZ On Air. Another one of those, ‘nah Jazz, no way, they don’t fund low power radio’. Well, they do now! Getting taken seriously from a government body meant a lot. And it’s definitely been beneficial for both sides, I have no doubt.

What was your initial impression when coming on board with Base?
Chaos. But then, creativity needs a bit a chaos, right?!

What was the culture like and what was the biggest thing that drew you to working there?
Coming from Germany, quite a big country, I had worked in media, however, walking into Base – DJs said whatever they wanted, played whatever they wanted and only show up, whenever they wanted. There was no one employed for the station, when I first turned up. I had never seen anything like this before. And it made for great radio, the djs & artists were having a blast in the studio and the listeners could feel that. I just loved that and knew from that I’d never sacrifice this.

How did the connection between Base FM and Reelgood come about?
Well, funny enough, Reelgood where just up in our studio filming Blu & Houseshoes, when we were interviewing different production companies for our Webisodes. The director Jacob turned out to be an old friend of Base, so he gets it and I knew, he’d do a great job of this.

What’s your definition of Grindin’?
Every day I’m hustling… Grindin’ to me is the street term for hustle.

Interview by Aleyna Martinez