EMDG Overview

The Australian Government's Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme helps over 3200 businesses enter into export and become sustainable exporters by reimbursing up to 50 per cent of their eligible export promotional expenses above a $15,000 threshold. The scheme supports a wide range of industry sectors and products, including inbound tourism and the export of intellectual property and know-how.

EMDG can help eligible businesses in the music industry meet some of the cost of overseas marketing visits, overseas representation and marketing consultants, participation in trade fairs, communications, free samples, promotional literature and advertising, and visits to Australia by overseas buyers. Grants of up to $150,000 are available. For more details on the scheme, eligibility and how to apply, please read our information brochure EMDG In Brief.

In 2005-06, 61 existing and potential music industry exporters received a total of $1.4 million in Export Market Development Grants, and generated $5.6 million in exports. Recent music industry recipients of Export Market Development Grants include Australian band John Butler Trio, music manufacturer and distributor Stomp and the Australian Youth Orchestra.

"Our first EMDG grant assisted in meeting some of the costs involved in visiting overseas markets, sending samples of our products to potential overseas buyers and promoting Music Made Easy products at overseas trade fairs."

- Drew and Jasmine Burns, Music Made Easy

To qualify for an EMDG grant, you must:

• be an eligible business carrying on business in Australia, with annual income of not more than $30 million
• be seeking to export an eligible product (goods, services, intellectual property and know-how) have incurred expenses on an eligible promotional activity (overseas marketing visits, overseas representation, marketing consultants, participation in trade fairs, communications, free samples, promotional literature and advertising, and visits to Australia by overseas buyers).

  Businesses in the music industry have received EMDG grants for promoting the export of recorded music on CDs and DVDs, for providing services such as live music and theatre performances, and for the promotion of intellectual property such as sound recordings and trademark rights. In some cases EMDG may reimburse part of the costs of overseas tours made for export promotion purposes – but please contact Austrade before you tour to check whether the tour would be eligible for EMDG support.