UK government announces Music Export Growth Scheme for 2025
The UK government has announced details of the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS), which will support 58 UK artists in touring the world thanks to £1.6 million issued by the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport.
In a statement, Gareth Thomas, Minister for Exports and Small Businesses, said: “The UK has always led the way with its world-renowned musical acts, and this funding is vital to supporting smaller music companies to seize opportunities abroad. Not only will this help shine a spotlight on the best of British talent globally, but it will drive exports abroad, amplifying growth at home in the UK.”
Additionally, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy commented: “The Music Export Growth Scheme has helped so many of our talented homegrown artists launch their careers internationally. As part of our Plan for Change, we are supporting our creative industries to reach their full potential including through this latest round of funding, which will help the next generation of artists to tour abroad, market themselves to new audiences and showcase the best of British culture and creativity to the world.”
The 58 beneficiaries of the scheme are :Panic :Over, Andrew Cushin, Anna B Savage, Antony Szmierek, Aurora Orchestra with Abel Selaocoe, Bar Italia, Blackgold, Blossoms, Cassia, Coach Party, Corto.Alto. Dan Whitlam, Dana Masters, Divorce, Dolores Forever, Ego Ella May, Electric Enemy, Fabiana Palladino, Far Caspian, Fat Dog, Flyte, Grace Davies, Halina Rice, Heartworms, HotWax, Jadu Heart, Katy J Pearson, Kokoroko, Lambrini Girls, London Contemporary Orchestra, Lusaint, Maribou State, Matt Maltese, Ms Banks, Nippa, Nova Twins, Nubiyan Twist, Oscar Jerome, Penelope Trappes, Punk Rock Factory, Red Rum Club, Robocobra Quartet, Rosie Lowe, Ryan McMullan, Soft Play, Somebody’s Child, Songer, Tara Lily, The Bug Club, The K’s, The Lottery Winners, The Molotovs, The Vernon Spring, The Wellermen, Tom Speight, Tunng, Tyler Lewis, and Wunderhorse.
In previous years, the likes of Dave, Jungle, and Ezra Collective are among the names that have been helped by the funding which allowed them to break new ground internationally.
Bangor-based indie band :Panic :Over, who recently released their debut album False Alarm, exclusively explained the process of securing a place on the scheme to Far Out, stating, “It was all a bit mad actually! Chris Tams from The BPI came to Belfast for our local music industry conference, Output. He was speaking at a seminar on MEGS that we attended – and we’re very glad that we did! Apparently, Chris came to our showcase that night and the place was bouncing!”
They continued: “To be filed in the same category of previous MEGS funding winners, such as Blossoms, Dave, Self Esteem, and Ezra Collective – not to mention our very own local legends Max Cooper and Bicep – is just utterly bizarre! We still can’t take it in tbh.”
:Panic :Over are already beginning to see the positives of the scheme, revealing, “The opportunities that have been opened up to us already have blown us away! We’ve been invited to play at the World’s Fair in Osaka as part of the MEGS project. It doesn’t get more international than that really! But because of other commitments, we have to come straight back. We’re essentially taking a day trip to Japan! But hey, we are not complaining!”
Meanwhile, Dave Cronen, manager of The Bug Club, who is a beneficiary of the scheme, exclusively told Far Out of the scheme’s importance: “Quite simply, it would be impossible. We can’t push ticket prices any higher as there is a danger of us pricing ourselves out of the market. The MEGS funding gives us the opportunity to tour in these territories to get us to a point where breakeven is a possibility. We would then rely on merch sales to tip us into profit. Our financial offers to play in Europe have not increased at all in any of the territories over the past two years even though we have released two more studio albums in that time. Promoters are not prepared to take the risk which we understand. We refuse to work with national or corporate promoters in the UK as we want all the profit to stay with the independent promoters and venues who have supported us over the past four years who we are eternally grateful for.”
Cronen also revealed the monumental costs attached for The Bug Club to tour the United States, adding, “The band are off to the US in a couple of weeks for a three-week tour, and the deficit will be in excess of $25,000. Included in this is a one-year visa which has cost us over $9,000 alone. This is for the visa lawyer, expedited service payment due to the huge backlog and US embassy interviews. We have to fit as much touring into that one year period to justify the visa costs.”
Additionally, Cronen, a seasoned veteran of the music business, stated that the costs attached to touring have soured beyond anything he’s previously seen in the last decade due to Brexit and Covid-19, remarking, “I have been in the industry for 40 years and this is, by far, the worst I have ever seen it.”
Although the scheme is powered by funding from the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, it is run by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
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