Ed Sheeran, along with industry heavyweights like Harry Styles, Coldplay, and Elton John, are urging the U.K. government to allocate £250 million for music education in an open letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The letter – which Sheeran shared on his Instagram on Sunday –  outlines plans to fund music programs in schools, train teachers, establish an industry-informed curriculum, support grassroots music venues, and enhance music apprenticeships. “I launched the Ed Sheeran Foundation because I believe in the importance of music and that music education should be accessible to all,” Sheeran said in a statement. “When I was at school, music gave me purpose, it helped with my mental health, it bought me and many others joy, and it gave me my career.” Sheeran calls for government action to safeguard and nurture the creative industry for future generations, with support from other prominent figures in the music world including Annie Lennox, Paloma Faith, members of Mumford & Sons, Eric Clapton, James Bay, Robert Plant, and many more. (Rolling Stone)