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Government provides new funding for indie artist export initiative
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 10 October 2016
The UK government has committed up to £2.8 million for the next phase of the Music Export Growth Scheme, the BPI-managed programme that offers funding to independent music companies seeking to launch artists who have enjoyed success at home into international markets.
Over £1.6 million was awarded in MEGS grants between January 2014 and March of this year, with the likes of Young Fathers, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Ghetts, Afrikan Boy, Fearless Vampire Killers and Eska amongst those to have received funding to date. Under the programme eligible artists and their business partners can apply for anywhere between £5000 and £50,000.
This time the funding is coming from the all-new, nice-and-fresh, post-Brexit, we’re-gonna-get-lots-of-super-deals-in-place-super-quick-honest-guvnor Department For International Trade, from which minister Mark Garnier shouted: “UK music has a long history of inspiring millions across the world and influencing generations of artists”.
He went on, in a more calm fashion: “We are the second biggest exporter of music in the world and one in every six albums sold globally belongs to a British act. From The Beatles to Skepta, British music is part of the very fabric of our nation and heritage. Our Music Export Growth Scheme will champion the incredible raw talent that we have to offer by giving the support and financial backing many artists need to take that next step”.
Meanwhile Geoff Taylor, boss at record industry trade group BPI, said: “The Music Export Growth Scheme has proved a big hit with independent UK artists and their labels, supporting their promotional plans with crucial investment as they look to break into new markets and helping to boost British music sales overseas”.
He went on: The strength of Britain’s music and creative industries are a strategic asset for this country and can act as a powerful international calling card in a world in which new international trading relationships need to be forged”. Yeah, too right.
Applications are now open for the latest round of MEGS funding, full information on which can be found here.
