KNEECAP have accused the UK government of attempting to “silence” them after a last-minute funding block.The accusation against the UK government comes after they blocked the group from receiving British Phonographic Industry (BPI) funding award – issued under the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS) to support the expansion of bands in global markets.According to the group, the decision may have been due to their provocative 2019 tour poster, which they allege “pissed off the Tories”.“We’ve just been informed that our application to the ‘Music Export Growth Scheme’ (MEGS) was independently approved and signed off by the selection board.
It was then blocked directly by the British Government who overruled the independent selection board,” KNEECAP shared on X/Twitter.“We’re told that our 2019 Farewell to the Union poster pissed off the Tories.
Once again the British government is trying to silence voices from West Belfast – once again it will fail!”KNEECAP STATEMENTWe’ve been blocked from receiving significant music funding because a Tory Minister doesn’t like our art.
F*ck the Tories pic.twitter.com/xWWUdGNj5l— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) February 8, 2024The scheme is funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), with investment from the UK recorded music industry.
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