Department for International Trade (DIT) Awards a Further £220,000 to UK Acts through BPI administered Music Export Growth Scheme

Talented artists from the British music scene are benefiting from long-term Government investment through the Department for International Trade (DIT) as part of the Exporting is GREAT campaign designed to help build their international fanbases and to boost sales of their music outside of the UK thanks to the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS).

The scheme, now coming up to its fifth year and managed by UK record label association the BPI, supports small to medium sized music companies by contributing to their artist marketing campaigns and touring overseas.

In this latest (14^th) round of funding, 12 British acts have received grants totalling £220,052 to help fund their projects across Europe, North America, Australia and Jamaica.  Artists to benefit include Scottish pop artist Nina Nesbitt, saxophonist and composer YolanDa Brown, indie quintet Ten Fé and Kilsyth’s post-punk outfit The Twilight Sad.  See Notes to Editors for full list.

Since its launch in January 2014 the Music Export Growth Scheme has distributed over £3 million to support a diverse range of artists drawn mainly from the indie community. The scheme has seen a return of over £11 to the UK economy for every £1 invested.  One of this round’s recipients, Nina Nesbitt, is promoting her latest single in America with MEGS support and said:

“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. Huge thank you once again!”

Chris Tams, BPI Director of International overseeing the MEGS programme, 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.”    

MEGs recipient and jazz musician YolanDa 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”

Speaking on behalf of Django Django and Wots that Smell, Peter McGaughrin said:

“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”.

Soul singer and MEGS recipient, Samuel Jack said:

"I’m absolutely thrilled and whole heartedly 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”.

Wiltshire-born singer-songwriter 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!”

Applications for the next round (15^th) of MEGS funding will open in 2019. For more details on the Music Export Growth Scheme please visit the BPI website here.