£1.6 million touring fund to be distributed to UK musicians in government scheme 

The UK government has launched a new round of funding to support independent musicians as part of the Music Export Growth Scheme.

First piloted in 2020, the scheme aims to “support UK artists to go global”, with previous recipients including the likes of Wolf Alice, Dave and Ezra Collective.

The latest round of funding will see £1.6 million distributed in grants of £5,000 to £50,000, which hopes to help alleviate the costs of touring for UK musicians.

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The scheme is open for applications now and will close on December 15. UK-based music companies are able to apply, with grants going toward “international marketing, touring, and promotional campaigns”.

“Our first-class music industry is already the envy of the world, but we are pushing to make it even bigger, giving artists the tools to go global and export to all corners of the globe,” says Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.

“By helping artists break into new markets, we’re amplifying British creativity and driving growth for the entire music industry,” he adds.

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The UK government notes that UK music exports are “worth billions” to the economy, with nearly £14 returned for every £1 invested. It also explains that £7.6 million in funding has been distributed through the scheme so far, generating £73.5 million in returns.

Last year, a report found that the UK music industry contributed a “record high” £7.6 billion to the economy in 2023, noting that the industry grew by just under £1 billion in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) between 2022 and 2023, up 13%.

Apply for funding through the Music Export Growth Scheme here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter