Latest news with #MusicExportGrowthScheme
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This young band openly loathe Britain. So why is Labour giving them our money?
It's 'embarrassing to be from England', because the English are 'extremely racist' and 'I don't understand why anyone would be proud of that.' So says Phoebe Lunny, singer with a young Brighton band named Lambrini Girls. They released a song, sarcastically entitled God's Country, declaring that Britain is full of 'racist uncles' and 'flag-sha---rs'. You may be wondering why I'm wasting your time telling you about these nitwits. Don't worry, there is a reason. It's because the Government has just awarded them a big fat chunk of your money. To be specific: it's a share of a £1.6 million grant from the Music Export Growth Scheme. Labour's Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, hailed all the grant's recipients, including Lambrini Girls, as 'the best of British culture'. No doubt some taxpayers will be thinking: 'This young band openly loathe our country. So why should we be forced to fund them? In fact, come to think of it: why should we be forced to fund them even if they hadn't called our country racist and embarrassing? If they want money, how about they try earning it, by writing songs that lots of people would enjoy listening to, and playing gigs that lots of people would be willing to pay to see?' All perfectly reasonable questions. Personally, though, I think there's a question that's even more important. Which is: do the members of this band really have no idea how pathetically stale, clichéd and boring they are? I mean, for pity's sake. This sort of routine isn't remotely fresh or original. The Sex Pistols were doing it half a century ago, with their songs trashing the monarchy and calling Britain a 'fascist regime'. And at least when the Pistols did it, it was bold and rebellious. Not any more. Nowadays, practically the entire ruling elite holds the exact same views as the Lambrini Girls. Let's face it: they all think Britain is racist and embarrassing and nothing to be proud of. Parroting the consensus view of the current establishment, therefore, is not rebellious. Quite the opposite. It's rigidly conformist. So, if Lambrini Girls really wanted to be shocking and outrageous, they'd say they were proud to be British. In fact, they'd say they were proud of the British Empire. They'd open every gig by performing an absolutely sincere cover of Rule, Britannia! – and end by singing God Save the King. Not only that, they'd write songs with titles like Hooray for Israel, Women Don't Have Testicles, Perhaps Net Immigration of One Million People a Year is a Little on the High Side, and Deport Foreign Nonces Now No Matter What Excuses They Feed Some Gullible Lefty Judge. All those songs would horrify today's ruling class, and almost certainly get them banned from radio and TV. Which is, surely, the whole point of punk. In fact, if by some miracle they were permitted to perform such songs on the BBC, it would probably be the biggest scandal in British broadcasting since the Sex Pistols taught some very naughty words to Bill Grundy. Then again, if Lambrini Girls did write songs like that, Labour ministers might be a bit less keen to give them free money. So perhaps it pays to be conformist, after all. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
This young band openly loathe Britain. So why is Labour giving them our money?
It's 'embarrassing to be from England', because the English are 'extremely racist' and 'I don't understand why anyone would be proud of that.' So says Phoebe Lunny, singer with a young Brighton band named Lambrini Girls. They released a song, sarcastically entitled God's Country, declaring that Britain is full of 'racist uncles' and 'flag-sha---rs'. You may be wondering why I'm wasting your time telling you about these nitwits. Don't worry, there is a reason. It's because the Government has just awarded them a big fat chunk of your money. To be specific: it's a share of a £1.6 million grant from the Music Export Growth Scheme. Labour's Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, hailed all the grant's recipients, including Lambrini Girls, as 'the best of British culture'. No doubt some taxpayers will be thinking: 'This young band openly loathe our country. So why should we be forced to fund them? In fact, come to think of it: why should we be forced to fund them even if they hadn't called our country racist and embarrassing? If they want money, how about they try earning it, by writing songs that lots of people would enjoy listening to, and playing gigs that lots of people would be willing to pay to see?' All perfectly reasonable questions. Personally, though, I think there's a question that's even more important. Which is: do the members of this band really have no idea how pathetically stale, clichéd and boring they are? I mean, for pity's sake. This sort of routine isn't remotely fresh or original. The Sex Pistols were doing it half a century ago, with their songs trashing the monarchy and calling Britain a 'fascist regime'. And at least when the Pistols did it, it was bold and rebellious. Not any more. Nowadays, practically the entire ruling elite holds the exact same views as the Lambrini Girls. Let's face it: they all think Britain is racist and embarrassing and nothing to be proud of. Parroting the consensus view of the current establishment, therefore, is not rebellious. Quite the opposite. It's rigidly conformist. So, if Lambrini Girls really wanted to be shocking and outrageous, they'd say they were proud to be British. In fact, they'd say they were proud of the British Empire. They'd open every gig by performing an absolutely sincere cover of Rule, Britannia! – and end by singing God Save the King. Not only that, they'd write songs with titles like Hooray for Israel, Women Don't Have Testicles, Perhaps Net Immigration of One Million People a Year is a Little on the High Side, and Deport Foreign Nonces Now No Matter What Excuses They Feed Some Gullible Lefty Judge. All those songs would horrify today's ruling class, and almost certainly get them banned from radio and TV. Which is, surely, the whole point of punk. In fact, if by some miracle they were permitted to perform such songs on the BBC, it would probably be the biggest scandal in British broadcasting since the Sex Pistols taught some very naughty words to Bill Grundy. Then again, if Lambrini Girls did write songs like that, Labour ministers might be a bit less keen to give them free money. So perhaps it pays to be conformist, after all.
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Indie rockers Blossoms and Panic Over among those benefitting from £1.6m fund
Indie rockers Blossoms and Panic Over will be among the music artists to benefit from a pot of £1.6 million. The Music Export Growth Scheme (Megs), from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), allocated support to 58 UK acts. The scheme, run in partnership between industry and the Government, supports small to medium-sized music companies looking to grow their artists' profiles internationally. Over the last decade, the Megs has helped more than 450 artists, including rapper Dave, dance act Jungle, singer Rina Sawayama, hip-hop poet Kae Tempest and 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective. This year, companies representing Greater Manchester-formed Blossoms, Hertfordshire's electronic music act Maribou State, and Newcastle's singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, have been awarded the money. 2017 Mercury Prize nominees Blossoms broke into the charts with their debut self-titled album in August 2016, which peaked at number one, and their catchy indie pop single Charlemagne. The Stockport-based five-piece were listed on the BBC's Sound Of 2016 list, coming in fourth place. Northern Ireland rockers Panic Over, from Bangor, are among those named along with The X Factor star Grace Davies, London Contemporary Orchestra, who performed a 24-hour concert live in 2022, London-based female rock duo Nova Twins, Cornwall's Wunderhorse, and Manchester's pop act The Lottery Winners and hip hop artist Antony Szmierek. The Isle Of Wight's Coach Party, Glasgow's who were 2024's Mercury Prize nominees, London-based Electric Enemy and poet and actor Dan Whitlam, Nottingham band Divorce, three-piece Hastings rockers HotWax and Merseyside's Red Rum Club, were also on the list. Gareth Thomas, minister for exports and small businesses, said: 'Often bands and their labels are smaller firms who don't have access to the funding needed to support their plans to go global and this scheme can provide that crucial shot in the arm to help those acts on their way to stardom. 'With past recipients including UK companies representing acts like Nova Twins, shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2022, and Ezra Collective who went on to win the prestigious prize in 2023, this scheme is a proven success with hundreds of artists now benefitting as a result. 'As a key growth sector, bringing almost £125 billion to the UK economy in 2023, the government will continue to support the Creative Industries through schemes like Megs to showcase British talent, build on the success of our industrial strategy and achieve our mission for faster growth.' Since the government began providing support in 2014, around £7.9 million has been given out in grants. Panic Over said: 'We are delighted to be able to use this amazing opportunity to play shows and gigs all across the Republic of Ireland over the rest of the year. 'This support means the world to us, and we can't thank everyone involved enough for believing in our music and the journey ahead.' Alt-pop duo and recipient Dolores Forever called it a 'complete game changer for us', which will help them get out a second album, and reach 'audiences which we haven't had the resources to do so before'. According to UK Music, British music exports revenue in 2023 was £4.6 billion, a 15% increase compared with 2022. Last year, Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap won their discrimination court battle against UK leader of the Opposition and former business secretary Kemi Badenoch after the UK Government conceded it was 'unlawful' to refuse them a £14,250 Megs funding award. Their Kneecap film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer at this year's ceremony.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Indie rockers Blossoms and Panic Over among those benefitting from £1.6m fund
Indie rockers Blossoms and Panic Over will be among the music artists to benefit from a pot of £1.6 million. The Music Export Growth Scheme (Megs), from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), allocated support to 58 UK acts. The scheme, run in partnership between industry and the Government, supports small to medium-sized music companies looking to grow their artists' profiles internationally. Over the last decade, the Megs has helped more than 450 artists, including rapper Dave, dance act Jungle, singer Rina Sawayama, hip-hop poet Kae Tempest and 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective. This year, companies representing Greater Manchester-formed Blossoms, Hertfordshire's electronic music act Maribou State, and Newcastle's singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, have been awarded the money. 2017 Mercury Prize nominees Blossoms broke into the charts with their debut self-titled album in August 2016, which peaked at number one, and their catchy indie pop single Charlemagne. The Stockport-based five-piece were listed on the BBC's Sound Of 2016 list, coming in fourth place. Northern Ireland rockers Panic Over, from Bangor, are among those named along with The X Factor star Grace Davies, London Contemporary Orchestra, who performed a 24-hour concert live in 2022, London-based female rock duo Nova Twins, Cornwall's Wunderhorse, and Manchester's pop act The Lottery Winners and hip hop artist Antony Szmierek. The Isle Of Wight's Coach Party, Glasgow's who were 2024's Mercury Prize nominees, London-based Electric Enemy and poet and actor Dan Whitlam, Nottingham band Divorce, three-piece Hastings rockers HotWax and Merseyside's Red Rum Club, were also on the list. Gareth Thomas, minister for exports and small businesses, said: 'Often bands and their labels are smaller firms who don't have access to the funding needed to support their plans to go global and this scheme can provide that crucial shot in the arm to help those acts on their way to stardom. 'With past recipients including UK companies representing acts like Nova Twins, shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2022, and Ezra Collective who went on to win the prestigious prize in 2023, this scheme is a proven success with hundreds of artists now benefitting as a result. 'As a key growth sector, bringing almost £125 billion to the UK economy in 2023, the government will continue to support the Creative Industries through schemes like Megs to showcase British talent, build on the success of our industrial strategy and achieve our mission for faster growth.' Since the government began providing support in 2014, around £7.9 million has been given out in grants. Panic Over said: 'We are delighted to be able to use this amazing opportunity to play shows and gigs all across the Republic of Ireland over the rest of the year. 'This support means the world to us, and we can't thank everyone involved enough for believing in our music and the journey ahead.' Alt-pop duo and recipient Dolores Forever called it a 'complete game changer for us', which will help them get out a second album, and reach 'audiences which we haven't had the resources to do so before'. According to UK Music, British music exports revenue in 2023 was £4.6 billion, a 15% increase compared with 2022. Last year, Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap won their discrimination court battle against UK leader of the Opposition and former business secretary Kemi Badenoch after the UK Government conceded it was 'unlawful' to refuse them a £14,250 Megs funding award. Their Kneecap film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer at this year's ceremony.
