Myles Smith delivers a powerful message to the government at the BRIT Awards
“If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years?”
By Nick Reilly
As the BRIT Awards continues at full pace, Myles Smith has delivered one of the best speeches of the night so far.
The ‘Stargazing’ singer picked the Rising Star gong and used the moment to highlight the existential threat faced by grassroots music venues across the UK.
“Tonight while I have the attention of the nation and this award, I want to ask three questions. My first is to the government. If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years,” he said.
“How many more venues need to close and how many more music programs need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it. My second is to the biggest venues in the country and around the world. If the artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?
“My third is to the industry, the execs in the room and the people behind the scenes. Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments because moments fade and careers take time so please stick with artists past their first viral hit, past their first tour. It really matters.”
Last year saw the government back a levy on stadium and arena tickets to help grassroots venues
You can check out all the winners here.