Fijians and Fijian people are some of the most musical people in the world. In many of the resorts, hotels and villages throughout the islands mellifluous tones can be heard wafting through the air.
There are also excellent digital and analogue recording studios throughout Fiji providing some of the most inspirational atmospheres for writing imaginable.
Former Beatle, George Harrison visited Lomalagi, Vanua Levu with his wife in 2000. After hearing villagers singing local songs he borrowed a guitar and treated them to a rendition of Beatles songs. At the end of his holiday, Harrison sent guitars, ukuleles, a small percussion instrument and ukulele strings to the villagers.
The Rolling Stones visited Fiji in the mid sixties and bought sitars later used on Paint it Black.
Jackson Browne, Nick Lachey and Lance Bass were at the Kelly Slater Invitational 2004.
In 2002 the Australian girl band Bardot performed at the Fijian along with Super Jesus and Taxi Ride. Later in the year, New Zealand band, Garageland, filmed their video clip Life Is So Sweet at the Outrigger Hotel on the Coral Coast on Viti Levu.
The 2 main incentives available to qualifying music productions in Fiji are:
1 F1 AVP - 150% music or audio tax concession for investors
Qualifying Fiji taxpayer investors (including wholly foreign owned corporations) in music and audio productions (music, voice recordings, audio drama performance) can obtain a 150% tax concession on their investment. Further, 60% of the income from that investment will be tax exempt.
The FAVC must be satisfied, amongst other things, (i) that 50% of the production budget will be spent in the Fiji Islands and (ii) that the music and/or audio production was produced or composed by or is the performance principally of a citizen or a resident or that the music and/or audio production is a portrayal of the Fiji Islands, the history and life of the people of the Fiji Islands or Fiji’s flora and fauna. This F1 tax concession can only be applied to 2 audio recordings by the same artist or substantially the same artist.
To find out more please email favc@fijiaudiovisual.org.fj
2 F2 AVP - 125% music and audio tax concession for investors
Qualifying Fiji taxpayer investors (including wholly foreign owned corporations) in certain music and/or audio productions (music, voice recordings, audio drama performance) can obtain a 125% tax concession on their investment. Further, 50% of the income from that investment will be tax exempt.
The FAVC must be satisfied, amongst other things, that 45% of the production budget will be spent in the Fiji Islands and that the music and/or audio production will contain significant and substantial Fiji Islands’ content. This F2 tax concession can only be applied to 2 audio recordings by the same artist or substantially the same artist.
To find out more please email favc@fijiaudiovisual.org.fj
