£1.6 million touring fund for UK musicians to be allocated in ongoing government scheme

The UK Government has announced a new tranche of funding for touring artists through its Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS). 

Now open for applications, grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are intended to support British talent when they tour internationally.

Past recipients have included Dave, Ezra Collective, Jungle, Nubiyan Twist, Kae Tempest, and Bicep. Many have gone on to win major awards at ceremonies such as the Brits and the Mercury Prize. 

You can find out more details on eligibility and applications here. 

“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,” said 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 continued. 

Overall, more than 400 artists have benefited from £7.9 million in assistance through MEGS, delivered through 23 individual funding rounds across 11 years since 2014. During this time, the scheme has generated £73.5 million in returns, or £14 for every £1 invested from the public purse. 

According to the latest annual report from UK Music, 32% of musicians and performers believe their income has been affected by the UK’s departure from the European Union – a 4% rise compared with the previous year. 95% of those say there has been a long term decrease in earnings since Brexit, up from 87% in 2023.