British music export fund tops £2.2 million

British music export fund tops £2.2 million

Fifteen acts have received grants totalling £213,310 in the tenth round of funding through the Music Exports Growth Scheme (MEGS).

The latest recipients include Ibibio Sound Machine, The XCERTS, Ags Connolly, Amber Run, Dan Croll, This Is The Kit and Django Django (pictured).

Peter McGaughrin, Red Light Management, representing Django Django, said: “For the artists I work with, BPI funding has been an essential help in converting success in the UK to momentum overseas. It’s a fantastic resource in supporting long-term sustainable export growth for UK music.”

The Department for International Trade (DIT) and the BPI have awarded a total £2.2 million to promote British music exports since 2014. Through the scheme more than 150 UK artists have received financial support to promote their music and profile in overseas markets.

International trade Minister Mark Garnier said: “From Little Mix to Rudimental, the UK is top of the charts when it comes to musical talent and our artists continue to inspire millions across the world. Our music industry is a hugely successful UK export, with one in every six albums sold across the world by a home-grown act. The £2 million investment, through the Music Export Growth Scheme, is helping to boost the profile of UK acts on the world stage, making us an outward looking and truly global Britain.”

Chris Tams, BPI Director of International overseeing the MEGS programme, added: “The Music Exports Growth Scheme is making a real difference by offering practical support to smaller music companies and their diverse range of artists who have the talent but not always the means to develop their potential in key overseas markets. It’s great news that over 150 mainly indie-signed UK acts have benefitted from more than £2m in funding to date, boosting British music exports in the process.”

Since the scheme launched in 2014, it has helped artists including Catfish and the Bottlemen, Ghetts, Eska and Mercury Prize-winning Scottish act Young Fathers. MEGS is funded by government and managed by the BPI. It was re-launched in October 2016, making additional funding available in grants through to 2020 to help UK music companies, music labels, distributors and management companies promote their artists and export to overseas markets.

Applications for the next round (11) of MEGS funding are now open online here.  

author twitter FOLLOW Andre Paine


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