The latest dozen artists to benefit from the latest MEGS funding round have been revealed.
Funded by the Department for International Trade (DIT) as part of the Exporting is Great campaign, the Music Export Growth Scheme is designed to help artists build their international fanbases and to boost sales of their music outside of the UK.
The scheme, now coming up to its fifth year and managed by the BPI, benefits the independent sector. MEGS supports small to medium-sized music companies by contributing to their artist marketing campaigns and touring overseas.
In this latest round of funding, 12 British acts have received grants totalling £220,052 to help fund their projects across Europe, North America, Australia and Jamaica. Since its launch in January 2014, the Music Export Growth Scheme has distributed over £3 million to support a diverse range of independent artists.
Artists to benefit in this 14th funding round include Nina Nesbitt, Neneh Cherry, Bear’s Den, Samuel Jack, saxophonist and composer Yolanda Brown, Ten Fé, Django Django, Gabrielle Aplin, Bloxx, Ezra Collective, HMLTD and The Twilight Sad.
Nesbitt, a previous MEGS recipient, is promoting her latest single in America with MEGS support.
“I'm currently in the US thanks to this funding and just found out my single Loyal To Me was in the Top 5 most added songs at Top 40 US radio,” she said.
I’ve found that MEGS funding is a truly career-changing opportunity for my artists
Peter McGaughrin
Gabrielle Aplin said: “I am so grateful to have been chosen to have my application accepted by the BPI for the MEGs award. This funding will help me get to Australia, a country that I love to visit that has always been so supportive and receptive of my music. The trip will coincide with my new music so the timing is perfect and I can’t wait to get going.”
Chris Tams, BPI director of international, said: “The Music Export Growth Scheme gives a diverse range of talented British artists the opportunity to grow their fanbase in key international markets through touring and marketing support. In the process, it helps to promote the profile of British music overseas and, crucially, helps to boost our exports with a return on investment to date of over £11 for each £1 put in by the UK Government.”
Brown said: “I am celebrating 10 Years in Music this year and absolutely thrilled to be awarded a MEGS grant. The opportunity to take my music around the world, engage with new audiences in different territories is the most amazing feeling for an independent artist and I am pleased that with this award I can do just that.”
Peter McGaughrin, of Red Light Management, welcomed the funding boost for Django Django.
“I’ve found that MEGS funding is a truly career-changing opportunity for my artists - being able to afford to take their music to the world is incredibly empowering and means that great music from the UK can keep on finding appreciative audience on a global stage,” he said.
Soul singer and MEGS recipient, Samuel Jack, said: "I’m absolutely thrilled and wholeheartedly grateful for the support from the BPI. Being a musician on the road can be costly and as offers increase so too does the cost of being able to accept them. Now, with the BPI’s help I have a real opportunity to not only grow as an artist, but to maintain and continue that growth, it’s an absolute game changer for me.”
Applications for the next round of MEGS funding will open in 2019.
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