“I really like all types of music made by all types of individuals”

The Lottery Winners have clarified feedback made yesterday (November 29) about BRIT College and privately educated artists.

• READ MORE: UK grassroots venues affected by “the entire collapse of touring” – right here’s how one can assist

Yesterday, the band took to X to voice their considerations about artists who attended the performing arts college or personal faculties making an attempt to talk on behalf of working class musicians.

“I don’t thoughts in the event you went to non-public college and Brit College, that’s cool, I’m comfortable for you. However when did you turn into the spokesperson for the ‘working class musician’. No thanks mate,” they wrote.

“If you wish to speak about how ‘damaged’ the music trade is, ought to we deal with that 8/10 greatest artist nominees on the Brit Awards final yr went to YOUR SCHOOL.”

The feedback adopted Kate Nash‘s latest Butts for Tour Buses marketing campaign, which noticed her be a part of OnlyFans to protest the music trade and assist elevate cash for her UK and European tour which started on November 21.

She then took her “bum on the again of a fireplace truck” protest to the London workplaces of Dwell Nation and Spotify in addition to the Homes of Parliament to spotlight the challenges going through artists and people working within the touring trade.

In an announcement to NME, Nash reasserted that “the price of presenting stay music has gone up by 30.3 per cent over the previous two years. There have been 125 venues that closed final yr within the UK. And, the worth of recorded music is extraordinarily low.” She went on to say: “The trade is in disaster, the music trade has failed artists, and is totally unsustainable, and my arse is shining a light-weight on that.”

Nash, like Adele, Amy Winehouse, FKA Twigs, Loyle Carner, did attend the BRIT college, and gained British Feminine Solo Artist of The Yr on the 2008 BRIT Awards following the discharge of her 2007 debut album ‘Made Of Bricks’.

Nonetheless, opposite to The Lottery Winners’ preliminary feedback, of the 10 nominees for Artist Of The Year in 2024 solely two, Olivia Dean and Raye, attended the BRIT College. In 2023 five artists were nominated: Harry Kinds, Central Cee, Fred Once more.., George Ezra and Stormzy – none of whom attended the varsity.

Now, the band have apologised for the error of their earlier posts and asserted that they weren’t taking goal at Nash, writing on X this morning (November 30): “Alright, I’ve mouthed off, made it into an NME article (which should imply I’m getting fairly well-known) and obtained my details incorrect.

“I’m sorry about that. I do wish to say that I’m not pointing the finger at anyone, and that tweet wasn’t about one individual, just like the article would lead you to consider. I used to be having a very unhealthy morning after having a dialog with any individual about my band and kicked out.”

They go on to make clear their remark about BRIT award winners, writing: “To right my level, greater than half of the nominees for final yr’s Finest Artists on the Brits had been educated in faculties that require charges to attend. But solely 5.9% of the inhabitants attend these faculties. An anomaly!”

It echoes analysis earlier this yr that confirmed solely 16 per cent of the music and performing arts workforce come from working class communities, versus virtually 65 per cent from center or higher class backgrounds.

“I want to add, I’ve no downside with folks which might be privately educated, I feel it’s a tremendous luxurious to be afforded, and if I had the selection, I actually would educate my youngsters that approach.”

They continued: “Nonetheless, if we’re elevating a dialog about ‘working class musicians’ and their struggles, it might be good if it was being represented by working class musicians.

“I’m under no circumstances which means to start out a beef with anyone! I really like all types of music made by all types of individuals. Solely love.”

Additionally they added that they’ve reached out to Nash privately.

Alright, I’ve mouthed off, made it into an NME article (which should imply I’m getting fairly well-known) and obtained my details incorrect.

I’m sorry about that. I do wish to say that I’m not pointing the finger at anyone, and that tweet wasn’t about one individual, just like the article would lead you…

— Lottery Winners (@LotteryWinners) November 30, 2024

In 2023, it was introduced {that a} new department of the BRIT College would open in Bradford in 2026/27.

Lottery Winners have beforehand been vocal concerning the challenges working class artists face within the music trade, opening as much as NME final yr concerning the lack of mainstream consideration they’ve obtained regardless of being a working class success story.

Thom Rylance informed us: “I feel it’s as a result of we’re simply not very cool, and I’ve obtained no intention of pretending to be cool. I’m not bitter, however what music execs assume is cool and what folks actually need? The one approach we’ll get mainstream consideration is by proving that is what folks need, by promoting all of the tickets we do and promoting all of the data we do.

“I at all times knew we’d do it the arduous approach. We’re from a working class mining city within the north west of England. We’re not from London, we don’t have well-known dads. We’re simply attempting our greatest, and if folks connect with our music, that’s genuine.”

Class inequality has been a serious speaking level within the artistic arts within the UK lately, with Rubbish’s Shirley Manson lately telling NME that music is at the moment dominated by artists who’re “independently rich”.

The Lottery Winners lately introduced their new album ‘KOKO’, out on February 21 subsequent yr, together with the only ‘You Once more’ that includes Reverend & The Makers frontman Jon McClure. They’ll even be heading on a UK tour quickly – you’ll be able to see a full checklist of dates beneath and purchase tickets here.

Lottery Winners’ UK headline tour dates are:

DECEMBER 2024
27 – Manchester – Academy 1
28 – Manchester – Academy 1
29 – Manchester – Academy 1

FEBRUARY 2025
20 – Bristol – O2 Academy
21 – Bournemouth – O2 Academy
23 – London – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
26 – Glasgow – St Luke’s
27 – Leeds – O2 Academy
28 – Liverpool – O2 Academy

MARCH 2025
01 – Birmingham – O2 Institute