Ed Sheeran calls for £250 million UK music education fund in open letter backed by Harry Styles, Coldplay, and more

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has urged the UK government to commit £250 million (approximately $323 million) towards music education. He highlighted a decline in opportunities for young musicians, NME reports.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ed Sheeran calls for urgent funding to "repair decades of dismantling music." He has been reportedly backed by Harry Styles, Coldplay, Elton John, Stormzy, and more than 600 industry figures who have signed the open letter.

The singer took to his official Instagram handle to share the letter.

Dear Sir Keir Starmer,

We are writing collectively as artists, civil society and industry, appealing to your personal belief in music and the promise of opportunity for all under Labour.

Learning an instrument and getting up on stage – whether in school or a community club – is now a luxury not every child can afford.

As an industry, we bring in £7.6 billion into 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. Myles Smith and Ezra Collective said it best at the 2025 BRIT Awards:

“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?” – Myles Smith”This moment right here is because of the great youth clubs, and the great teachers and the great schools that support young people playing music.” – Ezra Collective

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 welcome Lisa’s 10-point plan for music raised in the House of Commons on 16th January 2025. Bridget, David, Jonathan and Wes – 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 education is cross-departmental: Culture, Education, Foreign Office, Health & Social Care and Business & Trade.

Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few.

We are up against five fights to protect and grow music education and we need you all:

FUND MUSIC IN SCHOOLS, LIKE SPORT.

Deliver a Music & Arts Pupil Premium to schools (the Sports Premium is currently £324m); fund extra £32m for Music Hubs each year.

CLOSE THE GAPS, MUSICIANS AS MUSIC TEACHERS.

Urgently train 1,000 music teachers to end the 56% fall in recruitment; stop the closures of university music departments, like Cardiff University.

LAUNCH UK-WIDE FUND FOR GRASSROOTS MUSIC COLLABORATION.

1/4 of youth music spaces are considering closing, and over 2/3 are only surviving short-term.

LAUNCH FAIR AND INDUSTRY-FIT MUSIC APPRENTICESHIPS.

Only 0.5% of apprenticeships are in the creative sector; launch 500 music apprenticeships UK-wide, with new festival apprenticeships and industry readiness support for youth at-risk.

DIVERSIFY THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDE INDUSTRY VOICES.

Establish a teacher and industry special task force for a diverse, industry-informed curriculum; remove the Ebacc, include music in the Ofsted report card in England.

We understand that there are many pressures. As artists, civil society and industry, we want to be part of the solution.

We look forward to hearing your reply soon.

Yours faithfully,

Ed Sheeran

The letter mainly highlights five key areas for improvement: funding for music in schools, training for teachers, financial support for grassroots venues, music apprenticeships, and a good music curriculum.

Additionally, Ed Sheeran warns that without government intervention, the UK risks losing its position in the global music scene. He has also pointed to a 21% decline in state school music programs and the absence of a UK artist in the global top 10 charts in 2024, which is the first in over two decades, reports suggest.

The artist also argues that investment in young musicians is essential for economic growth. The call for change follows speeches at the 2025 BRIT Awards, where musicians such as Myles Smith and Ezra Collective emphasized the importance of government-backed music education, NME reports.

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Ed Sheeran's open letter explored

Ed Sheeran's open letter to the UK Prime Minister is co-signed by beloved music artists like Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Harry Styles, and Annie Lennox, among others. It appeals to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government. It reportedly argues that music education should not be a privilege but a right.

The artists claim that state schools, which reportedly educate 93% of UK children, have seen music education funding drop significantly. The letter also states that this decline is limiting access to music for young people, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Ed Sheeran has also proposed solutions, which are as follows:

• Fund music in schools like sport
• Train 1,000 music teachers
• Support grassroots music spaces
• Establish music apprenticeships
• Diversify the curriculum

Ed Sheeran's Instagram post, where he shared the open letter, was captioned:

"My friends, colleagues and I have signed this letter calling for action from the government to save music education. Share this post with your followers (tagging @keirstarmer) and write to your local MP in support of music. Help us protect and grow music education in and out of schools. Full letter is on the @edsheeranfnd website."

It added:

"We are at a critical point: a future of no music in state schools, no music teachers to teach, broken instruments and no grassroots venues. As a young music student and aspiring artist, I benefited from opportunities in and out of school to learn & grow."

"Unfortunately, after decades of defunding and de-prioritising, music is no longer a right for all children - it’s a luxury for only a few. Music is key to the UK economy, wellbeing & mental health, communities and young people’s dreams. Talent is everywhere across the UK - I saw it when I visited cities across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. But not all young people have the same opportunities – and we want to change that."

Ed Sheeran and his supporters are waiting for a response from the UK government as of now.

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