The New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industry (NZFPI) was established in 1957 to collectively represent copyright licensing on behalf of right owners.

In 1972 a new trade body was established called Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) which carried out industry advocacy functions (such as Government representation), administration of the NZ Music Awards and, in 1975, production of The Official NZ Music Charts which listed albums for the first time.

All charts are compiled from data of both physical and digital sales from music retailers in New Zealand.

[5] As RIANZ, Recorded Music NZ was instrumental in attempting to introduce a possible version of Section 92A Copyright Act.

The amendment would have required ISPs in New Zealand to disconnect users accused but not convicted of downloading copyrighted material; the first law of its type in the world.