Ed Sheeran Urges UK Government to Allocate Funds for Music Education

Ed Sheeran (Doc.ist)

Secondupdate.com - Ed Sheeran Shows His Concern for the Future of Music in the UK

Through his Instagram account, the Thinking Out Loud singer posted an open letter addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In the letter, Ed urged the government to take music education in schools more seriously by protecting and developing it. The letter was released on behalf of the Ed Sheeran Foundation as a response to the declining access children have to music education.

Ed expressed that it is becoming increasingly difficult for children in the UK to learn music and perform on stage. The UK has long been known for its globally dominant music industry, but this trend is beginning to decline.

In his letter, Ed pointed out that the UK music industry contributes €7.6 billion to the country's economy. Unfortunately, if the next generation doesn’t get the opportunity to learn music, this industry could lose its former glory.

A clear sign of this decline was evident in 2024, when, for the first time in over 20 years, no British artist’s album or song made it into the global top 10 charts.

But Ed Sheeran didn’t just criticize—he also proposed a solution. He urged the government to allocate £250 million (approximately Rp 5 trillion) to support music education in UK schools.

According to him, music education in public schools has declined by 21%, which significantly impacts the future generation of musicians.

"We need you to support music education. Artists and the industry cannot perform on the world stage for the UK without schools, youth clubs, and homegrown performance spaces," he emphasized.

5 Steps Ed Sheeran Proposes to Save Music Education

Ed also outlined five key steps that the government should take to save music education:

1. Fund music education in schools, just like sports – ensuring that all children have the opportunity to learn music.

2. Close the gap by involving musicians as music teachers – encouraging musicians to contribute to the education sector.

3. Fund collaborations between UK and global musicians – helping young musicians thrive on the international stage.

4. Provide industry-relevant apprenticeships – enabling young people to enter the music industry workforce directly.

5. Diversify the music curriculum – incorporating various genres and industry influences into music education.

At the end of his letter, Ed stressed that he and many other figures in the music industry are ready to assist the government in addressing this issue.

"We understand that there are many pressures. As artists, civil society, and industry players, we want to be part of the solution. We look forward to hearing your response soon," he concluded.

With this initiative, Ed Sheeran hopes the UK government will prioritize music education and ensure that future generations continue to have opportunities to build careers in the music industry.