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last mo.

Ed Sheeran Leads Push for £250 Million UK Music Education Reform

The campaign, backed by over 600 artists, calls on the UK government to address decades of cuts and ensure equitable access to music education.

Ed Sheeran lamented the fact that last year was the first in more than 20 that there were no UK acts in the global Top Ten singles or albums chart
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Overview

  • Ed Sheeran and co-signatories, including Elton John, Harry Styles, and Coldplay, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging immediate action on music education funding.
  • The campaign demands a £250 million funding package to reverse a 21% decline in state school music provision reported between 2014 and 2019.
  • Proposed reforms include training 1,000 music teachers, supporting grassroots projects, and diversifying the music curriculum to make it accessible to all children.
  • The UK music industry, contributing £7.6 billion annually to the economy, has seen its global influence wane, with no UK artist in the 2024 global top 10 charts for the first time in over two decades.
  • Sheeran's efforts build on his history of supporting music education through the Ed Sheeran Foundation and donations to local schools.