Save UK Music Education: Ed Sheeran & Harry Styles Leads Music Industry’s Plea To PM Starmer For Emergency Funding

New Delhi: English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, along with over 600 prominent artists, penned an open letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the government, urging for immediate, long-term funding for music education in the country. The letter calls for a £250 million investment into the UK music education system.

Sheeran, a globally recognized artist and one of the UK’s most successful music exports, is joined by figures such as Harry Styles, Elton John, Stormzy, Robert Plant, and Eric Clapton in this crucial appeal. 

The group argues that music, an industry worth £7.6 billion to the UK economy, requires urgent support to ensure future generations can continue to contribute to this vibrant sector.

“As an industry, we bring in £7.6bn into the UK economy, yet the next generation is not there to take the reins,” Sheeran said in the letter.

He stressed that learning an instrument and getting involved in live performances has become a privilege, one not every child can afford.  “Learning an instrument and getting up on stage – whether in school or a community club – is now a luxury not every child can afford,” he added.

The Steep Decline in Music Provision 

The letter shows the steep decline in music provision in state schools, which educate 93% of the UK’s children. 

According to Sheeran, there has been a 21% decrease in music education in these institutions. Sheeran, known for his advocacy in the arts, is particularly concerned about the implications for the future of the UK’s music scene.

“The time to act is now,” Sheeran wrote, stressing the need for an overhaul of how music education is funded and structured. He referenced the recent Brit Award speeches by Ezra Collective and Myles Smith, both of whom have been outspoken about the need for more funding and support for music education. 

"How many more venues need to close, how many music programs need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success, we have to protect the foundations that make it?" Smith said during his acceptance speech at the 2025 ceremony.

Sheeran’s letter also touches on the importance of protecting grassroots venues and spaces, vital for nurturing emerging talent. He echoed the words of culture secretary Lisa Nandy, who recently outlined a 10-point plan to support the music industry, which included equipping young people with the skills and passion for music from school through to live performances. 

Sheeran hopes this plan can be replicated across the UK to create an environment where music education flourishes.

Additionally, Sheeran has called on key political figures, including Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, to take a stand for music education and help implement a sustainable funding model for the future of the arts.

The letter’s signatories also include influential figures like Coldplay, Annie Lennox, director Richard Curtis, and Sony Music UK CEO Jason Iley. It also comes on the heels of Sheeran launching the Ed Sheeran Foundation in January 2025, which aims to provide inclusive and high-quality music education nationwide. 

Sheeran has a long history of charity work, having founded the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and contributed significantly to his former school in Framlingham, Suffolk.

“Artists and industry can’t deliver on the world stage for the UK without schools, youth clubs and stages at home,” Sheeran wrote, urging the government to take swift action.