UK Independent Music Companies To Receive Export Help

Fourteen talented UK-signed acts will receive financial support to help market themselves around the world, Trade Minister Lord Livingston announced.

The successful applicants from the first round of the Music Export Growth Scheme were revealed after last night’s BRIT Awards celebrated some of the world-beating UK artists who have helped to accelerate export sales of British music to over 13% of the global market.

The Music Export Growth Scheme has been established by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the BPI to help small and mid-sized independent music companies promote their artists overseas as part of wider Government efforts to get another 100,000 businesses exporting.

The music companies and acts receiving the grants span the genres of rock/alternative, pop, dance/electronic, urban, classical, jazz and world music and are from London, Glasgow, Bath, Sheffield, Wiltshire, Leeds, Nottingham and Monmouth (Wales).

Trade Minister Lord Livingston said “Last night’s BRIT Awards showed the depth of music talent in the UK and why we sell more records around the world than almost any other country.

“50 years on from the Beatles arriving in the America, the Music Export Growth Scheme will give more talented young British artists the chance to be successful on the international stage.

“This scheme is just one of a number of ways UK Trade & Investment helps music businesses to get into the rhythm of exporting.”

The artists are:
* Afrikan Boy
* Beth Jeans Houghton
* Catfish and the Bottlemen
* Drenge
* Filthy Boy
* Fred V & Grafix
* George Benjamin
* Holy Mountain
* Melt Yourself Down
* Public Service Broadcasting
* The Crookes
* The Temperance Movement
* Throwing Snow
* Zara McFarlane

The successful signed acts and music companies were selected from a pool of 118 applications received in the first round of the programme. The decision to allocate funding to a specific campaign was taken by a panel of music industry experts, independently chaired by John Kennedy OBE, with advice and guidance provided by BPI, UKTI, the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and representatives from some of the UK’s leading independent record labels.

John Kennedy – Music Export Growth Scheme Board Chairman – said “This is a wonderful opportunity for emerging artists and growing independently-owned music businesses.

“The number and variety of the applications for the first round of funding was very impressive and it is now important that the successful applicants maximise the return from the funding they receive in order to justify the belief shown in their project and the commitment made.”

BPI and BRIT Awards Chief Executive, Geoff Taylor said “The very strong response we’ve had to the Music Export Growth Scheme clearly demonstrates the demand from independent labels for support in boosting their exports.

“The quality of the applications was encouraging and I’m delighted that BPI can play a role in helping UK indie labels to grow their businesses overseas”.

Phil Patterson, Music Sector Specialist for UK Trade & Investment said “The Music Export Growth Scheme is a great addition to the support that UKTI gives the music sector and we’re delighted to be in a position to do that.

“We are very keen that this scheme is successful and UKTI will work closely with the BPI and music industry generally to ensure that it is and that many companies benefit from it, giving them the opportunity to support campaigns that will increase the UK’s share of the international music market in all areas.”

The scheme, funded by UKTI, will make up to £2.5 million of grants available over a two and a half year period. It was announced in October 2013 at a Number 10 meeting with music executives chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Further application rounds will take place periodically over the next two and a half years, with the next round now open for submissions until 17th March 2014. Applications are open to all UK music companies meeting the application criteria.

Sources: http://www.bpi.co.uk/export-scheme.aspx