Ed Sheeran inspires government-backed 'music in libraries' scheme
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Ed Sheeran championed a music-in-libraries scheme to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy after co-visiting Brighten The Corners in Ipswich, leading to a government-backed initiative.
- UK government will invest at least £12.5 million in the Music in Libraries initiative, funding recording booths, mixing desks, and performance spaces in public libraries.
- Lisa Nandy described Ipswich as a 'model' for music talent development and framed the new plan as a way to make the £8bn music industry more accessible to underprivileged youth.
- Guvna B, co-chair of Youth Music, emphasized that library-based music access helps young people express themselves and supports mental health, especially in safe, familiar spaces.
- LIVE Trust announced a £1 million funding boost for grassroots music, raised via a £1 levy on stadium concert tickets by artists including Harry Styles and Sam Fender.
- Jim Ghedi, a Sheffield folk singer, said LIVE Trust funding enabled his 2025 Wasteland album tour to expand, covering travel and accommodation costs for a four-piece band.
Why it matters: The £12.5 million public investment and £1 million artist-funded grassroots support directly address financial barriers for emerging musicians, with libraries and small venues gaining critical infrastructure and funding. This dual approach targets the widening gap between elite arena acts and struggling local scenes, where over half of small music venues operate at a loss.
