Singer Myles Smith took aim at the government as he issued a heartfelt plea while accepting the Rising Star award at the BRITs
Myles Smith issued a powerful messageBrits Rising Star award winner Myles Smith took aim at the government in a powerful speech.
The singer addressed issued surrounding the music industry while accepting the award on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena. Myles insisted funding must stay in the arts industry otherwise we are at risk of not having successful British artists in the future. He explained how he attended a state school where instruments were provided through a government scheme.
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Myles asked: “Are we building careers or creating moments? Moments they fade but careers last forever.” He started: “Whilst I have the attention of the nation, I want to ask three questions. My first is to the government, if British music is one of the most powerful exports we have, why have you treated it as an after thought for so many years?
Myles issued a plea to the government, music bosses and arenas ( Image:
ITV) “How many more venues need to close and how many more music programmes need to be cut before we realise we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it.” Myles added: “My second is to the biggest venues around the country and the world. If artists are selling out your arenas and stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?
“My third, to the industry, the execs in the room and to the people behind the scenes, are we building careers or are we just chasing moments? Because moments fade and careers take time. Please stick with artists from their first tour because it really matters to us. Moments they fade but careers they last forever. Thank you to everyone.”
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s ceremony, he told the PA news agency: “It feels incredible, for me, such a new artist, being able to have the recognition so early on, it’s been really reassuring. But also just a nice feeling to know you’re going in the right direction. So for me, it’s like a big tick to go OK, we’re moving the right way.”
He added: “I definitely think it’s such a difficult time for artists, especially ones discovering themselves, because everything’s so fast-paced, and the expectation put on artists to know who they are, what they want to sound like and where they want to go, is incredibly difficult.
“And so just slowing things down, putting in the right infrastructure, and helping support growth and development behind the scenes is what I think needs to happen more for sure.”
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