Finest Exports: 16 Artists Announced

The 16 artists set to benefit from the third round of the BPI and UKTI’s Music Export Growth Scheme have been confirmed, including Imogen Heap, Dry the River, Hadouken and Smoove & Turrell.

Each of the independent music companies representing these artists will receive a slice of the £250,000 towards increasing international sales. Other announced artists included The Wombats, The Wytches, Waylayers alongside Fenech-Soler and Fearless Vampire Killers. To see the complete list, go here.

BPI Director of Independent Member Services Chris Tams said: “Landmark albums and popular records from the canon of British music continue to form a strong core of UK music sales around the world”.

Tams continued: “In recent years we have started to witness more artists from the independent community top the charts and perform sell-out shows on the international circuit. The Music Export Growth Scheme has a role to play in this success and we are already seeing an encouraging return on the investment made by the Government, as bands embark on tours with iconic bands like The Rolling Stones and the Manic Street Preachers”.

Over £750,000 of Government money has been granted to 28 different music companies since the scheme was announced in October 2013. A further £1.75 million will be made available over the next two years as part of the Government’s plan to encourage 100,000 small businesses to export. The fourth round of funding is now open, with an application deadline of 15th September. Companies are eligible to apply if they are UK-based, with a turnover of less than €50 million and fewer than 250 employees- the EU definition of a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME).

Find out more here.