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Kindness, Wild Beasts and Femme latest to benefit from BPI’s Music Export Growth Scheme

By | Published on Thursday 13 November 2014

Music Export Growth Scheme

So, in rolls another wave of supportive cash from the Music Export Growth Scheme, as its parents organisations the BPI and UK Trade & Investment reveal the names of the sixteen UK artists set to receive grants from the government-funded funding initiative’s fourth round of funding. What fun(ding).

Kindness, Tom Vek, Wild Beasts, Wolf Alice and Pulled Apart By Horses are all on the list of ‘winners’, who will – via their label or management partners – each get between £5,000 and £50,000 to facilitate their overseas marketing and live/release activity.

This latest phase of grants brings the total cashflow given to various independent labels, artists and management companies (over 60 so far) to more than £1 million since the scheme first came into play a year ago. Record label trade body the BPI is keen to emphasise that one of those acts was reigning Mercury Music Prize winners Young Fathers, which I think says it all.

What do you mean it doesn’t say it all? Honestly. Well it’s a good thing BPI’s Director of International Chris Tams has said more on ‘it’ all, specifically, this: “The Music Export Growth Scheme has delivered an exceptional Class Of 2014 with acts like Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers high profile tour support slots, and releasing high-charting albums. Such achievements demonstrate that we are on the path to success with this scheme and that the funding provides practical and vital support to artists at a tipping point in their careers”.

One of those artists, pop star Femme, adds that: “Without the support of the MEGS fund I would not have been able to accept Charli XCX’s personal invitation to go on tour with her in the USA this year. As an independent artist it’s support from schemes like MEGS that enable me to survive in an ever-changing and challenging music industry”.

Indeed. The scheme re-opens for applications on 17 Nov (so this coming Monday), and more info is listed on the BPI site.

Speaking of listed things, here’s the latest lot of artists, labels and companies cashing in internationally c/o the latest MEGS:

Andy Burrows / Play It Again Sam
Esben And The Witch / Nostromo Records
Femme / TAPE Music
Happyness / Gift Music
Hollie Cook / Mr Bongo
Jo Hamilton / Poseidon Music
Jo Harman / BiGiAM
Kindness / Too Damn Funky
Kyla La Grange / Kyla La Grange
Lewis Watson / Lewis Watson Music Ltd
Mamas Gun / Candelion
Morning Parade / The League International
Pulled Apart By Horses / Brontone Management
Steve Wilson / Snapper Music
Tom Vek / Moshi Moshi Music
Wild Beasts / Domino Records
Wolf Alice / Wolf Alice



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