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Newcastle’s Beth Jeans Houghton among musicians to receive export funding

Newcastle songwriter Beth Jeans Houghton is among a group of UK musicians that will receive funding to help export their products abroad, the Government has announced.

The pop artist, whose 2012 album reached number 83 in the UK Album Chart, will get grant funding to help market her music around the world.

Beth is among 14 UK unsigned acts who will get the financial support via the Music Export Growth Scheme, devised by UKTI and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The successful signed acts and music companies were selected from a pool of 118 applications received in the first round of the programme.

The decision to allocate funding to a specific campaign was taken by a panel of music industry experts, independently chaired by John Kennedy OBE, with advice and guidance provided by BPI, UKTI, the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and representatives from some of the UK’s leading independent record labels.

John Kennedy, Music Export Growth Scheme Board chairman, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for emerging artists and growing independently-owned music businesses.

“The number and variety of the applications for the first round of funding was very impressive and it is now important that the successful applicants maximise the return from the funding they receive in order to justify the belief shown in their project and the commitment made.”

BPI chief executive, Geoff Taylor said: “The very strong response we’ve had to the Music Export Growth Scheme clearly demonstrates the demand from independent labels for support in boosting their exports.

“The quality of the applications was encouraging and I’m delighted that BPI can play a role in helping UK indie labels to grow their businesses overseas.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .