The Fold - podcast cover

The Fold

The Spinoffwww.thespinoff.co.nz
Conversations about the intersections of media, culture and technology in New Zealand, hosted by Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff.
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Episodes

The double radio life of BrianFM's mysterious owner

Andrew Jeffries might be the most influential New Zealander in the global music industry you've never heard of. For many years he was a senior executive, in charge of programming more than 800 stations at iHeartRadio, the biggest radio company in America, with massive digital and events businesses too. But while he worked on the big show by day, by night he built out a really different operation. BrianFM disobeys many of the rules he enforced in his main job – no DJs, no ads, and a very eclectic...

Jun 30, 202552 min

TVNZ turns to sport – will it turn away from Shortland St? Plus a big result for Stuff

Glen Kyne returns to The Fold to recap the big takeaways from a new interview with TVNZ CEO Jodie O’Donnell. TVNZ is back in profit and looking at rugby and the Olympics, with an intriguing pay-per-view model on the horizon. He and Duncan Greive also discuss the implications of a widening lead for Stuff in Nielsen’s digital news rankings, and close on what the structural separation of WBD internationally means for Three and the rest of the local business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...

Jun 23, 202545 min

Why festivals are failing as live music is booming – and the battle for Western Springs

Campbell Smith trained as a lawyer, but was quickly drawn into the music business. He started out offering advice on bFM, then began representing artists like Brooke Fraser and The Naked and Famous. Then came his first promotional gig – running one of the country's most iconic festivals in the Big Day Out. At the same time he represented recorded music rights holders in a doomed battle against music downloading in the Napster era. He joins Duncan Greive to reflect on all this and discuss the cur...

Jun 16, 202559 min

Bauer, five years after part II: The Listener and Are Media rise from the ashes

Are Media was a new company born out of the end of Bauer, taking some of its biggest magazines and running them on a much leaner model. Are's NZ GM Stuart Dick and The Listener's editor Kirsty Cameron join Duncan Greive on The Fold to talk about bringing those magazines back to life, and how Cameron revived a title which had lost its way at times in the Bauer years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 202546 min

Bauer, five years after part I: Ensemble, Here and the rise of the independents

New Zealand's magazine industry suffered a catastrophic event five years ago, when many of the biggest and most famous titles in our history shut down on a fateful Zoom call. The first of a two part series looks at the independent publications which rose up in its wake. Duncan Greive is joined by Rebecca Wadey and Zoe Walker Ahwa, founders of Ensemble to discuss lifestyle media and first joining then leaving Stuff. Next comes Simon Farrell-Green, to talk about why after years editing Home, he de...

Jun 09, 20251 hr 4 min

Emergency Pod, part II: Inside the final showdown at the NZME's annual meeting

A massive day of media news concludes with Duncan Greive joining Anna Rawhiti-Connell on The Fold to break down the NZME ASM, which marked the conclusion to an epic three month saga involving Canadian billionaire Jim Grenon. He and former National finance minister Steven Joyce were both elected to the board, with shareholders were both elated and terrified for what that might entail. Greive traveled straight from the meeting to tell Rawhiti-Connell what went on. Learn more about your ad choices....

Jun 03, 202540 min

Emergency pod: Trade Me buys 50% of Stuff Digital – what?! And why?!

Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss today's announcement that Trade Me has purchased a 50% stake in Stuff Digital, with an explicit focus on growing its property audience. Kyne and Greive break down the strategic rationale, the challenge it represents to NZME and how this new battle might play out in the coming months and years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 03, 202535 min

On the budget, radio ratings – and NZME loses a star while gaining a channel

Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive to pick through a week of small but instructive media news. There was a miniscule new announcement in the budget, on the same day radio ratings dropped to confirm little had changed. Then they review the first show from the Herald’s new FAST channel, fronted by Ryan Bridge, set against news that Madison Reidy was buying her channel and going solo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 202553 min

Voyagers debrief, the NZME saga seems over and a big boost for movies

Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to recap a significantly smaller but somehow considerably better Voyager Media Awards. (Apologies to Gulf News and NZ Geographic, each of which had notable wins which didn't get mentioned). Next they discuss the latest, potential the final developments in the NZME board coup saga, before addressing a big financial boost to inbound movie subsidies – and The Spinoff's own major editorial news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

May 19, 202541 min

Why are there suddenly two country music stations in New Zealand?

For a long time New Zealand's country music audience was presumed to be the town of Gore and its immediate surrounds. Few albums got released, and major artists almost never toured. That all changed in the past few years, with streaming both proving and generating a huge global audience for country – and artists like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen playing shows to massive local crowds. That has prompted two separate radio stations to launch, the first an independent led by veteran broadcaster Mike...

May 12, 20251 hr 1 min

Emergency podcast: Trump’s tariffs go to the movies – plus the latest NZME drama

Yesterday US president Donald Trump announced 100% tariffs on all foreign-made movies. It was an extraordinary and potentially hugely destructive piece of news for the mighty but embattled film industry. It was also extremely unclear exactly what it meant. Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on an emergency edition of The Fold to discuss the news and try and game out its impact both globally and locally. They also dig into the latest beats of the ongoing NZME board takeover saga – with big changes to ...

May 06, 202535 min

What really matters in the battle to save NZ TV?

Dylan Reeve has spent his whole career working on iconic New Zealand television shows, from Shortland Street, to Treasure Island to Outrageous Fortune. But after listening to last week’s episode of The Fold, he wonders whether we’re even asking the right questions. He sent a provocative note which questions whose interests are being served by incremental reforms to NZ On Air or the screen production rebate (or SPR), and joins Duncan Greive to discuss whether the current institutions can or shoul...

May 05, 202547 min

If not advertising, then what?

The media has always been largely funded by advertising – but that's unlikely to be the case in future. Two stories over the past week addressed different aspects of what might step into the void it creates. Duncan Greive returns alongside Glen Kyne for an episode which explores how media was, is and might be funded in future – taking the NZ on Air system, the screen production rebate, tech funding, audience revenue and private funders, addressing requests to expand each, and the challenges they...

Apr 29, 20251 hr 1 min

The big job ahead for TVNZ’s news and content chief and Google is dealt a blow

The job of chief news and content officer at TVNZ has been one of the most talked-about leadership roles in New Zealand media. Last week, it was announced that Nadia Tolich will leave her position as managing director of Stuff Digital to take up the role. Glen Kyne joins Anna Rawhiti-Connell to discuss the enormity of the task ahead for Tolich and why high profile exits mightn’t be as scandalous as you think. They also analyse the case laid out by Philip Crump on Monday for a Jim Grenon-led boar...

Apr 22, 202548 min

Are print magazines really making a comeback, or is it wishful thinking?

It’s been five years since Bauer exited New Zealand, devastating the magazine industry and heralding an era of enormous disruption for media in this country. Iconic Auckland title, Metro Magazine, was a casualty of that closure. The publication has found its feet again and is flourishing under independent ownership. As Auckland evolves, so too does Metro. Henry Oliver has been the editor of Metro for over six years now. He joins Anna Rawhiti-Connell to discuss magazine life five years after the ...

Apr 14, 20251 hr 4 min

What Trump’s tariffs could mean for media and the latest on NZME

Last week, NZME’s board laid out its case against Jim Grenon’s attempt to take control of the board, introducing previously unspoken concerns about editorial influence to the fight. It prompted a new round of reactions and letters and the introduction of a few new players. Following Donald Trump’s tariff announcement, $6.6 trillion was wiped off the value of US stocks in 48 hours, creating fresh concern about a global economic downturn. While the tariffs don’t yet extend to services, lobbying ef...

Apr 07, 202549 min

Careless People, Adolescence and where Meta is at

It's been a rough PR month for Meta, with two of the most-discussed cultural artefacts of the year both directly concerning their two biggest products. Duncan Greive is joined by Anna Rawhiti-Connell to discuss Careless People, the explosive memoir by New Zealand diplomat Sarah Wynn-Williams about her time at Facebook; and Adolescence, the extraordinary Netflix series about a murder which occurs after radicalisation and bullying on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Mar 31, 20251 hr 3 min

Analysing the Grenon Letters – and is Trade Me buying Stuff?

Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on the Fold to discuss a torrid few weeks in media ownership, with billionaire Jim Grenon's attempt to install a new board at NZME and revelations that both parts of Stuff are potentially in play. Kyne and Greive discuss both of Grenon's letters, both the business analysis and the vision for news, while also looking at what Stuff could do if it was part of Trade Me's empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 202554 min

A Gen X, a Millennial and a Gen Z talk about culture, media and reputations across generations

Love Song is a piece of research that Live Nation has been running for six years. It targets Gen Z and its relationship with music and culture, and – they don’t just do it for fun – about how brands can fit into all that. Duncan Greive is joined by his colleagues Gabi Lardies and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith to talk about that research, using it as a jumping off point to have a wider conversation about generations. Together they talk about the truths, the myths, the tensions and the weirdness of all this...

Mar 24, 20251 hr

Kevin Chesters says there never was a golden age of advertising

Kevin Chesters has 30 years of experience leading strategy on both agency and client sides, serving as CSO at W+K London, Dentsu, and Ogilvy, as well as Head of Strategy at BT, the UK’s equivalent of Spark. He joins Duncan Greive on The Fold as part of The Spinoff’s 2025 partnership with the Comms Council. The pair cover off Chesters' career, what drew him to advertising, dig into the challenge of creativity after the death of the monoculture, and, inevitably, about what AI will do to creativity...

Mar 17, 202554 min

A new world order: big tech and regulation in the second coming of Trump

The second Trump administration has blown apart a multi-decade long rules based order for trade. The White House has put the whole world on notice that it will use tariffs against any perceived slight against its companies. What does that mean for our media reforms? How are we hamstrung by our trade agreements? Do we even have sovereignty on the internet? Duncan Greive is joined by trade specialist Charles Finny and Brainbox's tech regulation expert Tom Barraclough to dive deep into the theoreti...

Mar 10, 20251 hr 3 min

Emergency pod: A revolution at NZME?

Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive for an emergency episode of The Fold after an NZX announcement this afternoon revealed that new NZME shareholder James Grenon is seeking to clear the board and install a new set of directors, himself included. He owns 10% of its shares, and claims the backing of 37% more – putting him very close to a majority for the motion. There's a lot we don't know, and a lot of water to flow under the bridge – but Grenon's media history is very much preoccupied with particular ...

Mar 06, 202533 min

The Big Three #3: Sky has turned itself around – and the rugby deal seems when, not if

In the third of a three part series analysing the results of the Big Three media companies (or those that release their results, anyway), Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive to look into an impressive result for Sky. After weeks of bad headlines driven by a failing satellite and seemingly stalled negotiations with NZ Rugby, news it had won back the rights to home cricket internationals was welcome. Kyne and Greive dig deep into the results and report on background conversations with NZ Rugby and Sky t...

Mar 05, 202558 min

The Big Three #2: TVNZ has survived a year from hell – but challenges loom

In the second of a three part series analysing the results of the Big Three media companies (or those that release their results, anyway), Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive to look into the results for TVNZ. The state broadcaster has many huge advantages, but remains hamstrung by the lack of audience revenue – newish CEO Jodi O'Donnell is very keen to change that. The loss of cricket was a bitter blow, but after a brutal year, these results contain a lot to be proud of for O'Donnell. Learn more abou...

Mar 04, 202536 min

The Big Three #1: NZME's plans (and owners) could reshape our media

In the first of a three part series analysing the results of the Big Three media companies (or those that release their results, anyway), Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive to dig into NZME's 2024 results and some quietly impactful future plans. These include a potential sale of One Roof, shedding writers to launch a new TV-like news "channel" and a mysterious new owner who just bought almost a tenth of the business's shares. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 03, 202538 min

The Fold Live in Wellington: will Substack save journalism? Or destroy it?

Duncan Greive is joined by two of New Zealand's most successful Substackers in Bernard Hickey (The Kākā) and Lucy Blakiston (Shit You Should Care About) on stage in Wellington as part of the Fringe Festival. They explore the origin stories of their brands, while delving deep into their relationship with institutional media and the different incentives of a paying audience versus advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 20251 hr 5 min

Australia's media lost more than half its value in five years. How and why?

Tim Burrowes is the author of a book and a Substack called Unmade, which are truly essential guides to media in Australia – and a useful way of understanding the similarities and differences which define our two closely linked markets. He joins Duncan Greive ahead of Unmade's first Auckland live event to talk about a torrid decade in Australian media, the forces which are driving that and whether there are reasons to be optimistic amid the carnage. A reminder: The Fold is live in Wellington this...

Feb 16, 202551 min

Emergency monopod: on the seismic media reforms Paul Goldsmith just floated

Duncan Greive goes solo to break down a discussion document with profound implications for local media. He explains why he thinks this is the best and most coherent policy outline we've seen in a decade, what's in it, what the challenges are and how it would impact local media if it went through. A reminder: The Fold is live in Wellington next week! Get your tickets here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 202517 min

Bonus episode: How the media covers Waitangi

Recorded on the sandy shores of the mighty North, guest hosts Liam Ratana and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (along with regular producer Te Aihe Butler) take over The Fold for a behind-the-scenes look at how the media covers Waitangi. After three days of politician stand ups, haukāinga-led forum panels and more story leads than we had time to cover, what stood out? What did we learn? And how can The Spinoff get a golf cart for Waitangi 2026? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 07, 202529 min

The extremely online weirdness of the Ted Cruz tweet affair

Toby Manhire joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss a minor diplomatic incident involving Texas senator Ted Cruz, and what it says about the chaotic information space we now operate in. They also discuss former Spinoff writer Madeleine Holden's new Substack, which launched with a tirade for the ages about a recent Apple ad; Sky TV's satellite woes and an Auckland Council campaign which could very easily have been something else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 03, 202546 min
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