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R.I.P. RADIO HITS

The scheme was introduced in 1993, before NZ On Air started funding recording projects. It was a reward-based funding scheme which reimbursed record companies for the costs of recording and releasing a song that achieved “significant airplay” on commercial radio.
In its day, it was a creative and ingenious funding scheme but since 2000, when the Phase Four schemes for funding recordings were launched, it has become harder to find bona fide radio hits that are not already funded by NZ On Air via one of the Phase Four mechanisms. The scheme had outlived its original purpose and it was time to put it to sleep and to channel the funds into making more albums.