Round 20 Applications are now closed - the results were announced in October 2021.
Details of future rounds will be announced in due course
About the Scheme
The Music Export Growth Scheme is designed to make available grants ranging from £5,000 - £50,000 to UK-registered independent music companies to assist them with marketing campaigns when looking to introduce successful UK music projects overseas.
Applicants must complete the application form online and submit it on or before the deadline. Word limits must be respected. Additional attachments are limited to a biography only.
Applications will be reviewed by the BPI and DIT and those successfully shortlisted will be considered by a panel of music industry experts, chaired by John Kennedy OBE. The panel will draw on the marketing expertise of a number of music organisations as well as representatives of independent record labels and BPI.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible to apply if you are a UK-based music company with a turnover of less than €50 million and fewer than 250 employees, as per the EU definition of an SME (Small to Medium Enterprise).
A company will not be able to receive more than two grants per year and will not be able to access more than €200,000 in any three-year period, as per EU State Aid rules.
How do I apply?
Eligible companies seeking financial support must complete the application form online from the link found on this webpage. Applications not submitted electronically on the scheme application form will not be considered.
The application submitted may include the following information which takes the form of a marketing campaign plan:
1. Evidence of domestic sales & success levels achieved to date for the specific artist(s) (including touring and media support);
2. Experience of the domestic repertoire owner or management team;
3. Proven interest from the target market;
4. A full marketing plan for the targeted territory setting out how the grant would be used, which might include:
a. launch/introduction marketing campaign (including PR costs, physical/digital advertising, plugging into radio and TV, social media campaigns etc.);
b. showcases & other opportunities to secure international distribution deals or licensing;
c. personal appearances (such as TV/Radio media opportunities in the country);
d. tour support to enable the artist to travel to and showcase/perform in the targeted market; and/or
e. any other plans for targeting record labels/license partners, distributors, publishers, media and concert promoters in target markets.
5. A list of the UK companies (and their contact details) working with each artist including: Label, Management, Publishing company, Artist, Digital Distribution co, Merchandising company and the UK agent where applicable. (All potential service deliveries for DIT)
Funding will be tied to the ambition of the campaign, measured by financial commitment, sales targets and business outputs.
Expenditure to be taken into account will be external costs to the label or management, not normal running costs. The panel will require some information to be collected and supplied back to the scheme administrators for evaluation purposes but this is intended not to create a disproportionate burden on companies.
Companies must part-fund from their own resources, demonstrating their own commitment to the proposed activity. The grants will cover no more than 60% of the costs of the campaign.
How does the Selection Process Work?
The Selection Board will meet three times a year to consider applications. It is independently chaired by John Kennedy, who has been appointed by DIT to oversee the process. The board will be made up of a 10-15-strong panel of industry experts and representatives from a number of music organisations as well as BPI and DIT. It will also include professional and business advice.
Applications that do not meet the criteria or do not show relevant potential will be sifted out and the applicants informed. Due to the high number of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to provide individual feedback on all submissions.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply at a later date.
The Scheme will be closely monitored and evaluated against strict performance targets and success measures that will seek to determine its impact on overseas exports.
What role does the BPI play?
The Scheme will be managed by BPI as the “Accredited Trade Organisation”.
This will include marketing the fund and its benefits to the music sector; advising on applications before they are submitted to the Board; administering the disbursement of grants; and monitoring the impact of approved campaigns against agreed performance criteria. However, it is not a scheme only for BPI members; BPI is administering the scheme on behalf of the whole industry.
The scheme will be independently assessed to ensure that each grant is awarded on merits.
Any Questions?
If you have any queries on the application process or the scheme itself, please contact [email protected] or call Chris Tams on 020 7803 1300.
The Small Print for Applicants
Funding is not designed to support attendance at trade fairs or conventions (Midem, SXSW, CMJ etc.) - this is covered by the PRS for Music Foundation ‘International Showcase Fund'.
The Music Export Growth Scheme is for overseas activity only - no UK activity can be funded.
The scheme is targeted at artists/projects that have achieved reasonable levels of impact in the UK and are now looking to break internationally.
It is expected that successful applicants selected to receive funding will be required to agree to a set of Terms and Conditions indicated below.
1. Successful applicants will sign a contract outlining the responsibilities of each party. The requirements may be different for each applicant depending on the project and the level of funding allocated.
2. Funding will be distributed in arrears by BPI on evidence of expenditure presented by the successful applicant. Please note that this may be distributed in tranches and not in one lump sum. It is always paid in arrears.
3. The successful applicant will be required to gather information to assist with the evaluation of the scheme. This will be outlined on a case-by-case basis in full consultation with the applicant.
4. The successful applicant will permit BPI and/or DIT to name the relevant company and/or artist in subsequent promotional material, case studies, and press releases to raise awareness of the scheme.
5. The successful applicant will be asked to display the logo of the Music Export Growth Scheme on relevant artist promotional materials where the funding is being used to promote an act internationally.
The Unsigned Guide to Funding
Our friends at the Unsigned Guide have collated a really useful guide to music funding. You can view that guide HERE