BPI Supply Growth Hormone

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and BPI have announced the latest recipients of the Music Export Growth Scheme that supports British music companies behind some of the UK’s up and coming artists.

The sixteen successful acts will join more than forty previous recipients including Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers, and the MOBO award-winning jazz artist Zara McFarlane. This fourth round of the Music Export Growth Scheme brings the total amount of grants given to 60 independent labels, artists and management companies across the UK to more than £1 million this year.

The £2.5 million Music Export Growth Scheme was announced by the Prime Minister David Cameron, in October 2013 and is a partnership between the BPI and UK Trade & Investment to boost sales of British music overseas.

Commenting on the Music Export Growth Scheme, Phil Patterson, UKTI Music Sector Specialist said: “The UK has a strong musical heritage that dates back through many decades. UKTI is proud to support this thriving sector which strengthens the reputation of our country as a world leader in creativity whilst helping to grow the UK economy”.

He continued “Now in its fourth round, the Music Export Growth Scheme has already helped independent label acts such as Imogen Heap, Public Service Broadcasting and Metronomy get much deserved global recognition and go on to support acts at sell-out international tours”.

Still in its first year, the funding is already bearing fruits for successful applicants with acts securing support slots on tours with the Rolling Stones, Manic Street Preachers, Kaiser Chiefs, Black Sabbath, Kasabian and Keziah Jones. Behind the scenes, a number of distribution, sync, live and publishing deals have been agreed on behalf of the artists – all of which are a direct result of the business facilitated by the scheme’s funding.

BPI Director of International, Chris Tams, said: “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”.

He enthused, “If you have an act that has successfully toured the UK and is ready for an international audience, now is the time to explore the scheme. With £1 million already distributed and more funding to follow, we would call upon musicians and independent music companies across the whole of the UK to get in touch to see how they can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity”.

The sixteen acts that will benefit from funding are from Scotland and England and span the genres of rock, soul, RnB, hip hop, reggae, electronic and folk music. They are:

• Andy Burrows (London)
• Esben and the Witch (Brighton)
• FEMME (Rugby)
• Happyness (London)
• Hollie Cook (London)
• Jo Hamilton (Scotland)
• Jo Harman (Sussex)
• Kindness (London)
• Kyla La Grange (London)
• Lewis Watson (Oxford)
• Mamas Gun (Brighton)
• Pulled Apart by Horses (Leeds)
• Steve Wilson (Hemel Hempstead)
• Tom Vek (London)
• Wild Beasts (Kendal)
• Wolf Alice (London)

Earlier rounds of funding have supported the careers of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Drenge, Public Service Broadcasting, Metronomy, Imogen Heap, Hadouken, Slow Club and Dry the River.

To find out more go here.