Independent artists receiving support in 23^rd round of funding include Nubiyan Twist, Wunderhorse, corto.alto, Far Caspian, Jadu Heart and Fat Dog  

MEGS has supported over 450 artists over 11 years, generating a return on investment of nearly £14 for every £1 received from Government 

 

The BPI, the trade association for the UK’s record companies and labels and the representative voice of British recorded music, today announces details of the latest (23^rd) round of Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) funding. 

Developed and administered by the BPI, MEGS boosts British music exports by supporting small-to-medium-sized, independent UK companies as they build the commercial profile of their artists in key markets overseas. It is a successful partnership between industry and Government with joint funding received from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) alongside investment from the UK recorded music industry, which on average contributes 64% of total spend. 

For this £1.6 million round, funding has been distributed to support 58 UK artists from a range of genres and backgrounds as they look to grow their profiles on the global stage. Artists receiving support in this round include Nubiyan Twist, Wunderhorse, corto.alto, Far Caspian, Jadu Heart and Fat Dog – a full list of recipients is below. 

While UK music exports continue to grow year-on-year and British artists continue to rank among the world’s most popular acts, British music’s position as the third largest music market is being challenged by rapidly intensifying global competition. Meanwhile, rising international touring costs are making it harder for independent artists and UK SMEs to fully fund the marketing and promotional work needed to reach global audiences.

MEGS is therefore essential to SME music businesses in breaking new talent on the global stage. The scheme has supported the international careers of more than 450 British artists including Dave, Rina Sawayama, Self Esteem, Jungle, Young Fathers, Kae Tempest and 2023 Mercury Prize winners, Ezra Collective. Through 23 rounds over the last eleven years, the scheme has invested over £7.9 million in British music, leading to an estimated £73.5 million financial return to the UK economy and a return on investment of nearly £14 for every £1 received from Government. In 2023, two dozen acts supported by MEGS accumulated over 100 million global streams, including Beabadoobee, Dave, Bicep and Wolf Alice.

The previous Conservative Government announced £3.2m of funding over two years (£1.6 million per year) for the scheme in the Creative Industries Sector Vision in June 2023, and in January 2025, the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy MP announced a further £1.6 million of funding for the 2025/26 financial year.

Sophie Jones, BPI Chief Strategy Officer, said: 
“At a time where new acts face increasing global competition, the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) is needed more than ever to enable the next generation of British talent to reach international audiences and grow their profile. It is a genuine game-changer for the artists supported through the scheme, a critical resource for the UK's burgeoning independent sector, and a proven financial success with a significant return on investment and boost to exports. 

The 58 incredible acts supported by this latest round of MEGS funding are testament to the diverse creative talent that exists across the whole of the UK. We welcome the Government’s continued support of this essential scheme, and look forward to developing continuing our partnership in the years to come." 

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.”

 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“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.”

 

MEGS Round 23 – Artist Quotes

• :Panic :Over: We're thrilled to announce that we will be receiving funding from BPI MEGS board to help us progress our musical career! We are delighted to be able to use this amazing opportunity to play shows and gigs all across the Republic of Ireland over the rest of the year. This support means the world to us, and we can't thank everyone involved enough for believing in our music and the journey ahead. 

• Andrew Cushin: "I am delighted to receive funding from the BPI for a 2nd successive year, this will help me and the band travel to North America for my headline tour later in the year and play to my fans overseas. I will be able to grow my international profile in North America and export my music over there which is very exciting for everyone involved.

• Antony Szmierek: “Huge thanks to the MEGS board for helping make my live show the best it can be. Touring is in a difficult rut at the minute and without grants or support we wouldn’t be able to reach as many people as we’d like to, so it truly means an awful lot. Thanks so much x”

• Aurora Orchestra with Abel Selaocoe: “The Music Export Growth Scheme is supporting our upcoming seven-date tour to some of Germany’s most prestigious concert halls, featuring Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony performed from memory and a joyful collaboration with cellist, vocalist and composer Abel Selaocoe. It’s our most ambitious international tour to date, including debut performances in Berlin and Frankfurt, and we’re so grateful to the MEGS board for helping us to share this vibrant music with a global audience.” – Nicholas Collon, Principal Conductor, Aurora Orchestra

• BLACKGOLD: “Big shout out to the MEGS board for hooking us up and making it possible to re-hit Europe this year... It's a tough game out there and this type of thing helps more than you know…”

• Blossoms : “It was very exciting to hear the news that we’ve been awarded funding by the Music Export Growth Scheme to help support the growth of our music overseas.  This will really help us to reach new audiences and open up new exciting opportunities for the band across the globe. A massive thank you to everyone on the MEGS board who made this possible.” 

• Cassia: “We’ve just found out that we got the Megs Grant, and we’re absolutely over the moon! When we first started this band, bringing our music over to America and Mexico felt like a distant dream. Thanks to this funding, we can finally make it happen. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone at the Megs Board for believing in our music. This grant means more people in the U.S. will get to hear our songs, as we can now promote on a much bigger scale, through social media ads, live shows, and in-person promo. The list really does go on so again thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!”

• Coach Party: 'We are incredibly grateful for the funding we've received from BPI Music. This generous support marks a significant milestone in our journey, and it will open up opportunities as we continue to grow and evolve. We’re excited for what lies ahead and deeply appreciate BPI Music's belief in our vision and potential. Big up the MEGS board’

• corto.alto: “I'm so grateful to be receiving MEGS funding from the BPI this year for my project corto.alto. This support is massively appreciated - it’s helping me bring my music to new audiences in the US as we play our first shows there in 2025, and it has also allowed me to release music that might have never seen the light of day. On top of that, it’s helping me make all sure the creatives involved in the creation and promotion of this music are paid fairly for their work. Huge thanks to the MEGS board for granting corto.alto this funding and for supporting my music.”

• Dan Whitlam: ‘I can’t thank the Megs board enough for awarding me this funding. As a musician looking to take my music and poetry to a wider audience it’s going to really help me with touring across Europe and America. Reaching more people and telling more stories. Without this funding that might not have been possible so truly, thank you’. 

• Dana Masters: “I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have been awarded the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) funding from BPI music. This funding will be integral for the continued growth and momentum of my touring in Europe, the US and beyond. A heartfelt thank you the MEGS board!”

• Divorce: “We are so grateful to have received funding from the Music Export Grant and it will be vital in supporting us to tour in the US. It’s a dream come true to be able to play in the US as so many of the music that inspires our songs was made there.” – Felix

• Dolores Forever: “We are beyond thrilled to receive this funding from MEGS which will be a complete game changer for us. It will enable us to move forward with plans for album 2 and accept international live offers, reaching audiences which we haven’t had the resources to do so before. In the current music industry, support like this really is vital and we would like to say a huge thanks to the MEGS board.”

• Ego Ella May “I’m so grateful to be receiving the MEGS funding! With my 2nd album coming, I’ve been exploring options to tour and promote my music overseas which is extremely difficult for an independent artist, so this funding will mostly help me with that. Thank you to the entire MEGS funding team, it’s a huge deal to be able to promote this album in the way I’ve dreamed of thanks to this fund.”

• Electric Enemy: “Jim here from Electric Enemy, just wanting to express such a huge warmth of gratitude to the MEGS board for believing in Electric Enemy and granting us the funding! Self belief in the creative industry is one thing, but to have such an incredible organization quite literally put their money where their mouths are, is deeply humbling. The support will help us to tour Europe and put the wind in the sails of promoting the upcoming album The Dark In You. We won't let you down! ðŸ”¥”

• Fabiana Palladino: “Thank-you to the MEGS board for granting me funding. I really appreciate the support and I’ve just able to announce a tour of 7 cities across America this spring as a result of receiving this.”

• Far Caspian: “A massive thank you to the MEGS board for providing me with this funding. As an independent artist, funding is vital to make touring possible, especially internationally. This will ensure we can tour comfortably and safely. With the ever rising unsustainable cost of touring, we as musicians need help now more than ever. Every band and Artist deserves the opportunity to tour their music and showcase their passion for their work and creativity in its purest form. I’m grateful that I can do that again thanks to this funding.”

• Grace Davies: "Huge thanks to the MEGS board for giving me the opportunity to explore new territories with my latest album campaign! It’s not something that would have been possible without their support and, as one of many independent artists, it’s such a lifeline to enable us to make a bigger impact internationally and reach fan bases - which until now might have been just out of reach. I’m really excited for what we’ll be able to achieve with this funding.”

• Halina Rice: "Many thanks to the MEGS board and BPI for this funding. It will be hugely impactful in delivering an international live tour both consolidating growth in existing territories and expanding into new markets across Europe."

• Heartworms: “Thank you to the MEGs board for their support. The realities of touring can be financially overwhelming and sometimes insurmountable for any artist, but particularly those early in their career. The generous funding will prove invaluable in allowing me to bring my live show to more people in more cities and more countries.”

• HotWax: “We are very grateful to be given MEGS funding to help us tour our debut album in 2025. We’re especially excited about heading into Europe for our first headline shows there, and building new audiences. Connecting with our fans, playing our music live, and getting to fulfil our dream means so much to us. Thank you so much to the MEGS board for their backing. See you down the front.”

• Katy J Pearson: "Thank you so much to the MEGS board for giving me funding for my upcoming European headline tour. As we all know it’s financially very tough to make touring work at the moment but funding like this means I can actually go on my first ever headline EU run which is just Wonderful. I’m so excited and very grateful!”

• Kokoroko: “Big thank you to the MEGS board for funding us. We're super excited this will allow us to make deeper connections with both our fans and other musicians in the US and beyond".

• Lambrini Girls: “The MEGS grant has been invaluable for our band's growth. It gives us the financial stability to focus on what matters most—creating and evolving artistically—without the strain of money worries. With this support, we're able to immediately secure vans, hotels, drivers, and crew for our biggest headline tour yet. This will also allow us to accept important future opportunities, helping us expand our fan base and build vital industry connections. We’re incredibly grateful for the chance to take this next step in our journey.”

• London Contemporary Orchestra: "We are thrilled to receive MEGS funding, which will enable LCO to forge new relationships, develop a diverse range of projects, and continue nurturing young player/orchestrator/artist talent, all with a greater global reach. A huge thanks to the MEGS board for championing creativity and the future of contemporary orchestral music."

• Lusaint: “I am so incredibly grateful to have been awarded the MEGS grant, this fund is going to really help with promoting my upcoming EP “Apothecary” especially touring outside of the UK in France and Germany. Thank you to everyone on the MEGS board and BPI for believing in my project, it means the world.”

• Maribou State: "Thanks and gratitude to BPI MEGS fund for their support. Sadly, the costs of touring a live show in today’s world are extremely high, making it a challenging and risky venture for us. We’re thankful for their backing."

• Matt Maltese: “I’m very grateful and want to say a big thank you to the MEGS board and Bpi for their support and everything they do to support uk artists overseas.

• Ms Banks: “‘I’m extremely happy to recieve support from Megs, the extra budget is going to help me develop some great marketing ideas and assets! Thanks BPI”

• Nippa: “Big love to the MEGS board for backing me on this journey. The US is a huge priority for me, and this support is gonna help push my music out there in a real way. Breaking through in such a competitive scene isn’t easy, but with this funding, we can run proper US campaigns, reach new fans, and make some serious moves. Excited for what’s next!”

• Nova Twins: “Big thanks to the MEGS board for their support, making our European headline tour possible. At a time when so many bands struggle to make touring sustainable, grants like these mean the world. They allow us to bring our trusted crew, stay connected with our supporters across Europe, and bring our show to as many fans as possible.”

• Oscar Jerome: “Thanks so much to the MEGS board for awarding me funding to help the growth of my music over seas. This will really help me with promoting my new project and to cultivate and build my fan base around the world.”

• Penelope Trappes: “I am thrilled to announce that I have been granted MEGS funding. With the help of this grant I’ll be touring my live show around the UK, Europe and the rest of the world in support of my album ‘A Requiem’. Eternal gratitude to the MEGS board!”

• Punk Rock Factory: “We are super excited to have been chosen for MEGS funding, this truly means so much to us. We are excited to be able to push our music growth outside of the UK and this funding will be a huge help to that. We would like to thank everyone on the MEGS board for their support and belief in us as a band.”

• Red Rum Club: "Red Rum Club want to say a massive thank you to the MEGS board for the support they have shown to us. They have provided us with the means to take opportunities in our career that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. We are incredibly grateful for their continued support."

• Robocobra Quartet: "Thanks a million to the folks on the MEGS Board who kindly funded us to help make our 2025 campaign a reality."

• SOFT PLAY: “Thank you to the MEGS board for awarding us funding to help us tour North America for the first time since 2018. With the ever rising costs of touring this funding will help immensely. We can’t wait to come back and play.”

• Somebody's Child: “We're delighted to have the support of BPI - the funding will enable us to tour North America to promote our second album, when it would have been financially difficult otherwise. This kind of support is essential in the development of artists and it's not lost on us 🧡”

• Tara Lily: “Thanks so much BPI for awarding me this fund for my debut North American tour. We wouldn’t be able to do it without your support!”

• The Bug Club: “We're really pleased to be a recipient of MEGS funding. In the current climate, it’s near impossible for artists to be able to broaden their horizons without additional financial support, so we would like to thank the MEGS board and everyone involved in making this happen. We’re looking forward to using the funding to embark on a headline European tour and proudly represent Wales overseas.”

• Lottery Winners: “So grateful that the MEGS board have chosen our little band to get behind, we really appreciate the help as we spread our wings into Europe and beyond! There is such a huge music market, right on our doorstep, but it can be very expensive when trying to make your mark. The funding provided will help us make the best of the opportunities we have this year and hopefully, we'll be megastars before we know it.”

• The Molotovs: “MEGS give the opportunity to up and coming artists like ourselves to cross the boundary between underground and mainstream. Thank you MEGS board!"

• The Vernon Spring: "Thanks to the MEGS board for their support. As an independent artist this comes at a moment in my career that will help me release my upcoming album and tour throughout Europe” 

• The Wellermen: “We are beyond excited to have received MEGS funding! This support is a game-changer for us as we embark on our Northern Sky tour and album release. With this funding, we’ll be able to enhance our live performances, reach more fans across the country, and ensure the release of the album is as impactful as possible. It will help us bring our music to new audiences, create unforgettable experiences on stage, and continue to grow as a band. We're incredibly grateful to the MEGS board for believing in us and helping make this all possible!”

• Tom Speight: “Thrilled to be returning to Brazil for my biggest trip yet—made possible thanks to the incredible support from MEGS funding. This journey wouldn’t be happening without them! A huge thank you to the MEGS board for believing in me and my music. Honored to represent the UK on the global stage!”

• Tunng: "‘We are absolutely over the moon to receive the MEGs funding this year, and want to say a massive thank you to the MEGs board at the BPI. This year marks the 20th anniversary of us becoming Tunng and securing this funding enables us to tour in Europe for the first time in over 6 years, which we cannot wait for”. Becky Jacobs (Tunng)

• Tyler Lewis: “I am so excited and grateful to have received the MEGS funding. It will really help with my journey as a new and upcoming artist. I’m going to put the funding towards focusing internationally, particularly the US, alongside creative aspects of my next project which I wouldn’t have been able to do as well as I will be able to do now I’ve received the fund. I want to say thank you so much to the MEGS board for giving me this opportunity!”

• Wunderhorse: “A huge thanks to the MEGS board for awarding us crucial touring funding. The money will help us fund an international tour which would have been incredibly difficult to do otherwise.”

 

Music Export Growth Scheme details and eligibility:

• Companies will be eligible to apply for the scheme if they meet the Government’s criteria on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Annual turnover of €50m or less and no more than 249 employees.
• Eligible companies can apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 by presenting detailed campaign proposals to a specially appointed Selection Board.  The presentations would need to detail how any grant would be invested in effective marketing and other promotional activity overseas, such as through artist showcases, tour support, social media and publicity. Before agreeing to a grant, the Board members would need to feel persuaded that the plans have a strong chance of succeeding in meeting their objectives.
• Companies must part-fund from their resources, demonstrating their commitment to the proposed activity.  A company will not be able to receive more than two grants per year, while the total sum that it receives over the duration of the scheme may not exceed the state aid limits that apply at the time.
• The scheme is managed by BPI as the Accredited Trade Organisation. This includes marketing the fund and its benefits to the music sector; advising on applications before they are submitted; administering the award of grants; and monitoring the impact of approved campaigns against agreed performance criteria.
• Applications can be made by any UK SME company for an artist’s overseas touring or promotional activity. 
• Anyone with questions should email musicexportscheme@bpi.co.uk or look at the BPI website here. 

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