Flying Nun Records has just announced their new General Manager, Matthew Davis, who has stepped up to oversee the day to day operations of the independent label.

Former GM, Ben Howe will take on the role of Company Director and Strategic Advisor for the label house’s wider team.

Howe, who also manages Arch Hill Recordings and lectures in music industry studies at Massey University, has been Flying Nun’s General Manager since 2012 when the label relocated to Auckland. During this time, he oversaw the label’s international expansion, the re-issue programme with US label Captured Tracks, as well as successful new release campaigns from artists such as Aldous Harding and Fazerdaze.

Under the new setup, Howe will continue to provide strategic advice for Flying Nun Records, and sits on the label’s board of directors, alongside label founder Roger Shepherd.

“Each generation has their own unique connection to the Flying Nun catalogue - their favourite Flying Nun records and acts which represent the different decades we have been alive. This is exciting, and makes me look forward to experiencing what the next generation has in store,” says Howe of the changes.

“I have every faith in Matthew to bring us into the new era of Flying Nun, and continue to expand our reach worldwide. I am also looking forward to stepping back and overseeing the wider development of the label, which has and always will be home.”

Matthew Davis has been with Flying Nun since 2009 and moves from his current position as Label Manager, though he will also continue to oversee Flying Out - the music retail, distribution, event and marketing company co-founded by himself and Howe in 2013.

Davis comments: “I am honoured and excited to be taking on the General Manager role at an independent record label that I love, and having the opportunity to work with people and artists that I greatly respect. As GM, my focus will be to continue to support and work alongside our incredible roster of artists - the very heart and soul of Flying Nun.

"It is a privilege to work with everyone involved with the label, and I look forward to continuing to develop and grow Flying Nun Records around the world. It has been great working with Ben at both the label and Flying Out, and I am looking forward to continuing the great work and successes he has achieved over the last 6 years.”

Matthew will continue to work out of the label’s Auckland office, with US label manager Josh Burgess based in New York, working alongside Flying Nun’s North American label partners Captured Tracks.

Flying Nun Records was established in 1981 by Roger Shepherd, and has released some of New Zealand’s best known independent acts The Chills, The Clean, Chris Knox, The Bats, The Verlaines, Look Blue Go Purple, Sneaky Feelings, Headless Chickens, Bailterspace, amongst many others.

Over the last decade, the label has been undergoing a constant reissue programme of many of these artist while continuing to discover and release music from new artists such as Aldous Harding, Fazerdaze, The Courtneys, Grayson Gilmour and Mermaidens.