Music Finland’s export grants support the exports and business development of Finnish artists, songwriters, composers, and music industry companies. The Ministry of Education and Culture funds the export grants distributed by Music Finland.

Music Finland’s export support consists of two types of grants — project support and strategy support — which are intended to promote professional, well-planned, and long-term export activities.

Please read the application guidelines below before submitting your application. A link to the application form can be found at the end of this article.

Music Finland’s export grants for projects in 2025 are no longer available.

Project Support

Project support may be applied for by companies, organizations, and individuals, regardless of their stage in export activities.

Project support is granted for a specific project, but multiple projects can be combined into a single application. You can read more about what types of activities are eligible for support in the section Eligible Activities for Export Support. The support may only be used for the purposes and expenses specified in the application.

Project support may range from €500 to €10,000 per project. The grant can cover up to 50% of the project’s total costs, but not more than the project’s loss-making portion.

Example 1:
The costs of a concert abroad are €3,000, and income from the event is €1,000. The project therefore shows a loss of €2,000. The maximum support available is €1,500, which equals 50% of the total project costs.

Example 2:
The costs of a tour are €3,000, and income is €2,000. The project shows a loss of €1,000. The maximum support available is €1,000 — the amount of the loss.

Strategy Support

Strategy support is intended for companies and organizations with established export activities. It is suitable for strategic export programs involving multiple measures or initiatives. The support may be granted for a broad export plan, which can consist of either one large export project or several smaller ones.

Strategy support can be used freely for the activities described in the application, or, if necessary, for other actions that support the stated objectives. If plans change, the purpose of the support can be adjusted upon agreement.

Support may range from €3,000 to €20,000 per project, covering up to 50% of the approved costs, but not exceeding the project’s loss-making portion.

Example 1:
Project costs amount to €10,000, and income is €3,000. The project shows a loss of €7,000. The maximum support available is €5,000, which equals 50% of the project’s total costs.

Example 2:
Project costs amount to €10,000, and income is €7,000. The project shows a loss of €3,000. The maximum support available is €3,000 — the amount of the loss.

Eligible Activities for Export Support

Below you will find the eligibility criteria for applicants, as well as guidelines on which activities and expenses are eligible for support.

Support may be applied for the following activities:

• Individual performances abroad (including showcase performances)

• International tours

• International marketing activities for releases and/or works

• Inviting international industry professionals to Finland

• Participation in international songwriting camps

• Organizing international songwriting camps

• Co-writing trips abroad

• Composers participating in premieres or other significant performances of their works abroad

• Business trips or meetings that promote the applicant’s international career

• Broader internationalization projects combining several of the above activities

Support can only be applied for eligible costs, including:

• Travel expenses (economy class tickets, airport transfers, freight and excess baggage, visas, travel and equipment insurance, vehicle rental, fuel and charging costs, flight compensation)

• Accommodation costs

• Production costs for performances (technical production, equipment and instrument rental, tour staff fees)

• Purchased services from foreign PR agencies or marketing communication providers

• Marketing materials, printing costs, proofreading, and translation

• Advertising (social media, digital media, print media)

• Travel and accommodation costs for foreign professional guests

• Production costs of a company’s own songwriting camp (studio and equipment rental, external technical staff fees, catering)

• Participation fees for workshops, songwriting camps, or similar events

Note: Support cannot be used for musicians’ salaries or fees, nor for daily allowances. However, these costs can be listed separately in the application form so that the selection committee can see the project’s total budget.

Activities Not Eligible for Support

Support cannot be granted if the applicant lacks clear evidence of international demand or does not meet the applicant criteria (see above). In addition, the following activities are not eligible for export support:

• Production trips (e.g., artists’ or bands’ own recording or writing sessions abroad)

• Competition trips

• Study trips

• Conference or trade fair trips

• Performances and co-writing sessions taking place in Finland

• Domestic marketing activities

• Musicians’ salaries, fees, or daily allowances (though they can be shown as part of the overall project costs)

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant is a company or organization registered in Finland (for both project and strategy support).

• The applicant may also be an individual who is a Finnish citizen or a permanent resident of Finland (for project support).

• The company or organization must be listed in the prepayment register for the entire duration of the project (from the time of application submission until reporting) and must have no tax debt.

• The applicant must demonstrate international demand, for example, through completed international concerts or tours, international releases, listener data, or partnerships.

• The applicant is expected to have a long-term internationalization strategy and the ability to invest.

• Applications that consider climate-friendly travel and other sustainability principles are viewed favorably by the selection committees.

How to Apply for Music Finland Export Support

1. Make sure you have read and understood the instructions on this page and that you are applying for the appropriate type of support (project or strategy support).
   

2. Applicants are encouraged to contact Music Finland before submitting their application if they have questions regarding eligibility, project suitability, or the application process. Contact details can be found at the top of this page.
   

3. Prepare a thorough and well-structured application.

   • Incomplete applications may affect the decision-making process.

   • Above, you can find the eligibility criteria and the list of activities and expenses that qualify for support.

4. If you receive a positive funding decision, ensure timely reporting.

   • Applicants will be informed via email as soon as possible after the application period closes whether support has been granted.

   • The report must be submitted no later than 60 days after the project’s completion or the funding decision, unless otherwise agreed.

Selection Criteria

Recipients are chosen by selection committees appointed by the Music Finland Board, consisting of music industry experts. There are four committees: Pop & Rock Committee,

Jazz & Folk Committee, Classical and Contemporary Music Committee, and Songwriting Export Committee. Music Finland reserves the right to reassign applications between committees or forms of support as necessary.

The following factors influence the evaluation of applications:

• The project’s significance for the applicant’s international career

• The project’s relevance to the applicant’s internationalization strategy

• The professionalism of the project and plan

• The professionalism of the applicant’s organization and partners

• The applicant’s international experience, demand, and domestic success

• The applicant’s funding history

• The project’s domestic contribution

• Compliance with the de minimis regulation

Please note that meeting the criteria does not automatically guarantee funding. The selection committees assess the project’s significance for the applicant’s international career and compare applications with one another. The total available funding may also influence the decisions.

Reporting and Payment of the Grant

Recipients of a positive funding decision will sign an agreement with Music Finland in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Culture. This agreement specifies the terms of use for the grant.

All expenses must be verifiably paid by the grant recipient, and the grant will only be paid to the recipient to whom it was awarded.

The project must be reported using the reporting form provided by Music Finland via email after the funding decision. Reporting must be completed no later than 60 days after the project’s completion or after the funding decision, unless otherwise agreed in special circumstances.

Conditions for Payment

The grant will be paid once the following conditions are met:

• The project has been carried out as described in the application.

• The project’s content and outcomes have been reported by the deadline.

• The state grant agreement has been signed.

• The final budget realization has been verified either:

  • through a project-specific profit and loss statement and general ledger where all expenses are clearly identifiable (applies to companies), or

  • through receipts and payment confirmations clearly showing what the expense relates to and who made the payment (applies to individuals and companies unable to provide a project-specific accounting report).

Music Finland reserves the right to adjust the grant amount if the project plan or budget changes significantly during the project. If the above-mentioned payment conditions are not met, the grant may be revoked in full.

Application Deadlines for This Year

Music Finland’s export grants for projects taking place in 2025 are no longer available.
The application period for projects in 2026 will open at the beginning of 2026.

Contact Information for Application-Related Inquiries

• General inquiries:
  Visa-Matti Uimonen — +358 (0)40 704 8631

• Song and publishing export:
  Anna Reponen — +358 (0)44 706 1201

• Artist export (pop and rock):
  Niko Kangas — +358 (0)50 544 3312

• Contemporary and Classical music:
  Heli Lampi — +358 (0)50 382 8934

• Folk and jazz:
  Tuuli Elo — +358 (0)40 562 4459