S Poddar
Ed Sheeran has written an impassioned open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, appealing to the UK government to commit immediately and in the long-term to music education. The Grammy-winning singer is backed by over 600 other high-profile voices from the music industry, including Harry Styles, Stormzy, Robert Plant, and Eric Clapton, all demanding a £250m investment in music education this spring in response to the “decades of dismantling music” in schools.
Sheeran’s letter underlines the unprecedented decline in the provision of music education within schools in the UK, specifically those state schools educating the vast majority of children. He noted how music provision had decreased by 21% across these schools so that music education is now only available to be a privilege which not every child can enjoy anymore. “The time to act is now,” Sheeran said, accentuating the crisis. “Learning a musical instrument and stepping out onto a stage – at school or a community club – is a luxury available to too few children now,” he went on.
Even though the UK music industry contributes a staggering £7.6bn to the economy, Sheeran was worried about the industry’s future, sounding the warning that the future of musicians threatens to be sidelined. As an industry, we contribute £7.6bn to the UK economy, but the next generation is absent to take its place,” he said, emphasizing the necessity for improved support and investment in music education among youth to preserve the UK’s worldwide cultural reputation.
Sheeran’s appeal is made following serious shifts in the UK music scene. Following a record year in 2017, when Sheeran’s album Divide was the world’s biggest-selling album and helped with a seven percent increase in British music exports, the UK has experienced a steep drop in the world music market. Last year marked the first time in over two decades that the UK did not produce a global top 10 single or album, underlining the importance of investing in the next generation of musicians to maintain the industry’s success.
In his letter, Sheeran appealed directly to Sir Keir Starmer, referencing a recent report that highlights the detrimental impact of reduced funding for music education. We are writing as artists, civil society and industry, on behalf of your own personal commitment to music and the Labour promise of a fair chance for everyone,” Sheeran said, urging the Labour leader to take action in favour of music education. In addition to school music funding, the letter also identifies other areas requiring focus, including music teacher training, grassroots venue funding, and increasing music apprenticeships.
The appeal for action is backed by a wide range of musicians and industry figures, including rappers Stormzy, Dave, and Central Cee, pop group Coldplay, and singer Annie Lennox. They are calling for the government to acknowledge the contribution that music education is making towards defining the future of the UK’s cultural and economic scene. “Artists and industry can’t deliver on the world stage for the UK without schools, youth clubs and stages at home,” Sheeran stressed in his letter.
Apart from his open letter, Sheeran has also started the Ed Sheeran Foundation, a national program that seeks to deliver inclusive, high-quality music education to young people. The foundation seeks to address the gap in access to music education so that children from diverse backgrounds can hone their musical abilities. The mission of the foundation directly corresponds to goals presented in Sheeran’s letter to provide more funds for schools, greater training for teachers of music, and preserving grass-roots music clubs.
Sheeran has been an advocate for music education for many years and has shown his support through numerous charity initiatives. He founded the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation (ESSMF) to make music education accessible to young people in his home town of Framlingham. He also donated a large amount of money to his old school, Thomas Mills High School and Sixth Form, to assist with future generations of musicians.
The £250m funding in music education is regarded as a crucial move in making the UK continue to deliver world-class musical talent. The joint action from Sheeran and other industry leaders signifies the significance of music education in defining the future of the UK music industry. In the absence of this intervention, the nation would lose its status as a world leader in music. As Sheeran’s letter clearly states, the moment to act is now—before the UK’s rich musical heritage is lost to generations to come.
