Gray Bartlett says too much grant money is wasted on

Gray Bartlett says too much grant money is wasted on "rubbish". Photo / Herald on Sunday

Musician and talent scout Gray Bartlett is preparing to celebrate a 50-year career in the entertainment industry and he is angry.

A number of issues have got Bartlett's goat but, in a nutshell, he is angry at what he sees as a waste of taxpayer money on failed government policies to promote New Zealand music.

"The government agencies haven't kept pace with the music industry. They have been more reactive than proactive; they've missed the boat over the last six or seven years."

Bartlett - a former National Party candidate and ex-Auckland city councillor - says the Government's policies are "hopelessly out of date".

Bartlett is about to embark on the first leg of a nationwide tour celebrating his career.

As well as performing, Bartlett has acted as a talent scout in recent years, with Hayley Westenra, Will Martin and Elizabeth Marvelly among those he has discovered.

He is doing a job, he says, using his own money, which the Government should and could also be doing.

Instead taxpayer money is being wasted in New Zealand music, he says.

"Why should someone who wants to finish an album in Hokitika get taxpayer funding?

"It's great for the community interest, but let the councils look after it."

Bartlett is also critical of Mike Chunn's Play it Strange, a trust to encourage young New Zealanders to develop interests and skills in music. While charitable, it does little for creating markets or promoting musicians, Bartlett says.

Bartlett concedes Chunn succeeds where he has failed - by getting government support - because of the politics of the music industry.

"I am angry because when the opportunity is there to apply for something to help an artist, I can't. I'm angry because they will waste money on absolutely ludicrous things.

"They will give grants to friends of the Labour Party - I find it disgraceful."

Bartlett says he wants to see taxpayers' money well spent, "not on policies that allow this mob to keep perpetuating rubbish".

"I would never dream of taking a grant now if I couldn't back it up with facts. The music side of it is really a shambles at the moment."