The trust highlighted how football has a framework in place that helps fund the lower levels of English football in order to help nurture young talent and help emerging players progress, suggesting this approach could be utilised within the music industry to halp grassroots venues.

The post read “As the England team head towards the Euro Quarter-Final, we’re reminded that top-tier football teams in the UK invest a small levy from stadium tickets back into supporting the smaller clubs that feed the talent pipeline.”

The post continued highlighting how the Premier league “nurture young talent at a grassroots level, and support finding it in every corner and community, so that every kid – from every walk of life – has a chance to walk out onto the biggest stage and do what they do best.”

They then asked why the Music industry can’t do the same, saying that “A £1 levy on stadium and arena tickets for concerts would generate millions of pounds of vital income to ensure that the UK keeps creating national heroes.”

As the England team head towards the Euro Quarter-Final, we’re reminded that top-tier football teams in the UK invest a small levy from stadium tickets back into supporting the smaller clubs that feed the talent pipeline.#Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/DvvYiLDv27

— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) July 6, 2024

This came shortly after the news that Lisa Nandy had been appointed as the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport following the 2024 UK General Election where the Labour party won a landslide victory over the Conservative party.

Prior to the General Election the Music Venue Trust published a manifesto for Grassroots music where they set out a series of steps that they say need to be taken in order to stabilise to grassroots music sector and stop the rapid closures of grassroots music venues. The manifesto called for £1 from every ticket sold at stadium or arena level to be invested back into grassroots venues. The manifesto also called for a VAT reduction for ticketing in grassroots music venues as well as calling for the removal of business rates for Grassroots music venues.

Speaking on the manifesto for grassroots music, Music Venue Trust CEO, Mark Davyd said that 38% of Grassroots music venues made a loss in the last year and that overall, the grassroots music sector operated at a profit margin of 0.5%. “We therefore call on all political representatives, from all parties, to seize the moment and drive forward this change. We have a chance to save UK Grassroots Music Venues from the crisis they currently face, and we should not let it slip.” Davyd said.

A report by the Music Venue Trust at the end of 2023 revealed just how dire the state pf the grassroots music venue industry is with 125 venues closing down last year or 16% of all grassroots music venues.

DOWNLOAD and read the full Manifesto for Grassroots Music: https://t.co/auSonGEoNI

SHARE this post to your social media with the hashtag #VoteForMusic.

WRITE to the prospective MPs in your constituency and ask them to commit to the Manifesto for Grassroots Music. pic.twitter.com/MK5TBDmDfv

— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) June 11, 2024

In addition to his music career, he is also a Bafta-nominated actor, having played the lead role in Channel 4’s impactful Aids drama, It’s A Sin. Surprisingly, the announcement of his participation was made during the final of Strictly Come Dancing, months ahead of the usual confirmation of the BBC’s Eurovision plans.

Expressing his excitement, Alexander shared, “I love Eurovision so much, it’s a dream come true. I’m just so, so excited.” He further“I really can’t believe I’m going to be a part of such a special legacy and represent the UK in the most vibrant way possible. I’m determined to give it my all and deliver an outstanding and unforgettable performance for everyone!”

The song that he will perform in Malmö next May is still a secret, but it was co-written by Alexander and Danny L Harle, who has produced successful tracks for Dua Lipa, Chic, and Charli XCX. Alexander told the BBC, “It will have an electronic sound, something that you can groove to. “Unfortunately, I can’t reveal much more than that.”I am just so excited to go out there and meet the fans and everyone else involved,” he added. “It will definitely be the most exhilarating experience of my life.”

As a seasoned performer with a dedicated fanbase, Alexander has achieved great success in the past decade with Years and Years, including five UK top ten singles and two number one albums. The band has also enjoyed popularity in Eurovision countries such as Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Interestingly, Harrogate, Alexander’s hometown, previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1982, following the UK’s victory the year before with Bucks Fizz.

Sweden has been chosen as the host country for Eurovision 2024 following the victory of Swedish icon Loreen, who won this year’s competition with her catchy pop anthem “Tattoo.” This marks Loreen’s second Eurovision win, as she previously triumphed in 2012 with her song “Euphoria.” With this latest victory, Sweden is now tied with Ireland for the most Eurovision victories, with both countries having won the competition seven times. In contrast, the United Kingdom’s performance in Eurovision has been lackluster, with their last win dating back to 1997.

In recent years, Michael Rice and James Newman finished last in 2019 and 2021 respectively, while Mae Muller narrowly avoided the same fate this year thanks to German rock band Lord of the Lost. However, there was a glimmer of hope for the UK when Sam Ryder secured second place in Turin in 2022 with his pop-rock anthem “Spaceman.” Ryder, who is currently vying for the Christmas number one spot with his festive song “You’re Christmas To Me,” sent Alexander, the representative for Sweden, a message of good luck.

While the UK tends to send newer and lesser-known singers to Eurovision, other countries often send their biggest stars to the competition. For example, Italy was represented this year by Marco Mengoni, a highly successful balladeer with 70 platinum records to his name. In 2003, Russia put forward the globally successful pop duo Tatu, and Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw had three number one albums before winning Eurovision in 2015 with his song “Heroes;” However, with Olly Alexander well known for being part of  Years and Years, the UK are in a great position for seeing a winner in Olly.

The video was released on the biggest platform for UK rap and hip hop GRM Daily and has gained nearly 700 thousand views in 2 days.

The rap duo released a documentary with the BBC where they explored Englishness while creating the catchy anthem ’Olé’, the documentary featured the Croydon duo speaking to England manager Gareth Southgate, Players Declan rice, Tyrone Ming, Dominic Calvert Lewin and Eni Aluko, as well as artists Big Zuu and Aitch.

The video was shot outside of Wembley ahead of Englands Group stage game against Scotland and features Krept, Konan and S1lva with the England fans as they prepared to watch their team compete against their neighbours, Scotland.

The song features Morrison, M1llionz and S1lva, the latter being very new in the music scene having only dropped his first single ‘Milli’ in May of 2021. Morrison on the other hand has been rapping for nearly 10 years but in the last year, the East Londoner has upped his work rate releasing 6 songs which have all received well over 1 million views each, with ‘Brothers’ featuring Jordan gaining 10 million views and ‘Bad guys’ featuring Loski sitting on nearly 7 million views. Northwest Birminghams own M1llionz was the last feature on the song and shot his part outside of his local stadium the Hawthorns home to West Bromich Albion FC.

The video for Englands official euro anthem ‘Olé’ is available to watch here:

Southgate’s boys are 10 days away from their first game at the 2020 euros and the 26 players chosen to represent the three lions were officially announced on Tuesday. With one of the most diverse and youthful squads that England have ever taken to a major tournament, It was only right to have the outspoken Wretch 32 as the voice of the official squad announcement.

The announcement video came accompanied with a track in which the Tottenham born rapper spoke on the talents of Phil Foden and England’s young stars as well as the unity and community that comes around when England are in a major tournament with lyrics such as, “on the field, we’re a family hence why we take one knee after we huddle up”.

The video focused on the diversity of the people and characters in England and the England squad, it showcased kids playing football on their estate, amputee players, women’s teams, grassroots referees and more.

It showcased the inclusivity and national pride of the England national football team.

The announcement track was produced by Maestro, featured backing vocals from 0207 Def Jams faceless RnB act Debbie and was directed by Keane Pearce shaw. The art for the squad announcement was created by artist Reuben Dangoor who has created work for artists such as Arlo Parks, Slowthai and DC, his work featured some of the biggest England stars alongside the diverse NHS staff and key workers that make England what it is.

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A post shared by Reuben Dangoor (@reubendangoor)

Wretch 32 was the creative director behind the announcement video and starred in the 1-minute 43-second clip, the release comes just a week after the UK rap legend dropped his latest effort ‘Little BIG man’, an album that focuses on the life and mentality of a young black man growing up in inner-city London. The gifted artist also released a 3-minute freestyle a week before this announcement in which he condemned the government and British empire as well as hailing up England star Marcus Rashford.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)

The artist’s ability to cover such vast topic areas at such a high level of rapping ability is profound and is what makes him one of the best talents out of the UK. The official England squad announcement video starring wretch 32 is available to watch on the artists Instagram:

 

 

 

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A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)