UK government expands applicant criteria for overseas music fund after KNEECAP grant lawsuit

The UK government has expanded the applicant criteria for a scheme providing funding to promote artists overseas "to lower the risk of the Scheme being brought into disrepute" following controversy over grants awarded to KNEECAP.

As originally reported by Arts Professional, the new process for the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) requires applicants to self-declare any activities "which may be deemed to bring the Scheme into disrepute" within three years before and after an award is made.

The new MEGS guidance, published on December 3 by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), lists several such activities including conviction for crimes such as terrorism, violence or corruption.

The Department for Business and Trade will also conduct verification checks, including reviews of social media and news content related to applicants.

The guidance also said applicants found by a court to have breached the UK Equality Act 2010 or Human Rights Act 1998, or are subject to "relevant" investigations, may have their application rejected or their award suspended.

KNEECAP applied for a grant from MEGS in 2023. Though their application was initially approved by the BPI, the £14,250 (€17,125) in funding was rescinded by then UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch. A government spokesperson insisted that it did not want to give taxpayers’ money to "people that oppose the United Kingdom itself."

KNEECAP later won a discrimination lawsuit in which a Belfast high court ruled the British government acted illegally in withholding the funding, as the statutory time limit for prosecution had expired. The court awarded the band £14,250 — the same amount they were initially granted.

The band donated the money to two Belfast-based groups: Irish language organisation Glór na Móna in Ballymurphy and cross-community youth initiative RCity Belfast on the Shankill Road.

Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, ordered a review into MEGS in April after footage of 2023 concert surfaced in which a member of KNEECAP allegedly said, "Kill your local MP. The only good Tory is a dead Tory." The footage prompted the Metropolitan Police to bring two terrorism charges against the band, which were later dropped.

At the time of writing, KNEECAP have not commented on the updated application guidelines.

The previous round of MEGS funding distributed £1.6 million (€1.8 million) to 58 UK acts, including Wunderhorse, Nova Twins, Lambrini Girls, Matt Maltese, SOFT PLAY and Somebody's Child.