Sheeran has written an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer and other government officials, asking for immediate, long-term funding for UK music education.
This comes after the launch of the Ed Sheeran Foundation in January 2025, which aims to provide inclusive, high-quality music education across the country.
The letter, which has been signed by more than 500 musicians, including Styles, Central Cee, Coldplay, Stormzy, Elton John, Dave, Yolanda Brown, Myles Smith, Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Sleaford Mods, asks the government to commit £250 million to music education.
This funding would support and focus on five key areas of growth: music funding in schools, training for music teachers, funding for grassroots venues and spaces, music apprenticeships, and a diverse music curriculum.
Sheeran said: “As an industry, we bring in £7.6 billion into the UK economy, yet the next generation is not there to take the reins.
“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.”
He added: “Learning an instrument and getting up on stage – whether in school or a community club – is now a luxury not every child can afford.
“The time to act is now. State schools – which educate 93 per cent of the country’s children – have seen a 21 per cent decrease in music provision.”
The letter also calls for a cross-departmental task force to provide the attention, focus, and funding that music education requires.
Sheeran and the other signatories believe that these responsibilities should be shared across government departments to ensure that music education does not continue to fall through the cracks.
The letter follows two speeches at last month’s BRIT Awards, where Myles Smith and Enfield’s Ezra Collective urged the UK government to address the decline of grassroots venues, music funding, and music education.
Sheeran said: “Artists and industry can’t deliver on the world stage for the UK without schools, youth clubs and stages at home.
“Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few.”
