Music Export Growth Scheme

MEGS provides match-funding grant support to representatives of UK-based music acts (normally music management companies or record labels who meet SME criteria) to help deliver high-quality marketing and promotion campaigns normally linked to international tours to enable these acts to grow their international business. The scheme is targeted at artists that have achieved reasonable levels of commercial success in the UK and are now looking to break internationally. Successful recipients can claim no more than 50 per cent of eligible expenditure for their projects. No UK activity can be funded. The scheme enables UK-based music SMEs and their artists, through using government match-funding, to deliver higher-quality marketing and promotional campaigns to grow their international business. This includes meeting key music industry contacts such as record labels, publishers, agents, managers, promoters and sync agents which will lead to new business being secured and enhanced media coverage in the countries the artists tour. Funding will be tied to the ambition of the project, 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. Outputs will be key performance indicators such as leads generated and pursued, deals done, and media coverage. Applicants must provide evidence of SME criteria, domestic sales and success levels, experience of the domestic repertoire owner or management team, proven interest from the target market, and a full marketing plan for the targeted territory.