Artists demand £250m to fund music education

Elton John, Coldplay, Harry Styles, Stormzy and Central Cee are among the artists backing a call from Ed Sheeran for Keir Starmer to commit £250m for music education.

- Laura Snapes

As part of his newly launched Ed Sheeran Foundation, the Suffolk songwriter is campaigning for music funding in schools, training for music teachers, funding for grassroots venues and spaces, apprenticeships and a more diverse music curriculum.

Sheeran wrote: "As an industry, we bring in £7.6bn to the UK economy, yet the next generation is not there to take the reins. Last year was the first in over 20 years without a UK global top 10 single or album in the charts."

The letter continued: "The time to act is now. State schools - which educate 93% of the country's children - have seen a 21% decrease in music provision. We also need you standing up for music education. Artists and industry can't deliver on the world stage for the UK without schools, youth clubs and stages at home.

"We collectively ask for a £250m UK music education package this spring to repair decades of dismantling music. Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few."