BRITs rising star winner Myles Smith hailed for 'legendary' speech

Brits Rising Star winner Myles Smith has slammed the Government for treating the music industry like an 'afterthought' in his acceptance speech.

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Brits Rising Star winner Myles Smith has slammed the Government for treating the music industry like an 'afterthought' in his acceptance speech. 

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. 

The singer, 26, from Luton, Bedfordshire, who already has two top-10 singles in the UK chart, said: 'I was raised by a single mum on free school meals in a state school that only had instruments because of government-backed schemes.

'I grew up in a town that, according to loads of clickbait articles, is the worst town in Luton.

'But yet I'm somehow here, a four-time Brit nominee, a graduate from a Russell Group university.

'But tonight, whilst I have the attention of the nation and this award, which gives me kind of like this really cool speaking power, I want to ask three questions.

Brits Rising Star winner Myles Smith has slammed the Government for treating the music industry like an 'afterthought' in his acceptance speech

Myles Smith after winning the Rising Star award during The BRIT Awards 2025 at London's O2 Arena

Myles Smith performs at The BRIT Awards 2025 at The The O2 Arena on March 1

'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?'

To cheers from the crowd he continued by also targeting companies that own venues, and music executives, calling on them to 'protect' industry foundations and help save grassroots venues. 

'How many more venues need to close? How many more music programmes 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 artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?

'And my third, to the industry, to 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, so please stick with artists past their first viral hit, please stick with artists past their first tour, because it really matters to us, and moments, they fade, but careers last forever.'

To cheers from the crowd he continued by also targeting companies that own venues, and music executives, calling on them to 'protect' industry foundations and help save grassroots venues.

Smith, who rose to prominence on video-sharing app TikTok, performed his songs Nice To Meet You and Stargazing at the awards ceremony on Saturday.

People have reacted to his speech on social media by praising the Stargazing singer speech, calling it 'powerful' and 'incredibly moving'. 

One user wrote: 'Myles Smith taking this time to shout out the government, large venues and music execs, oh yes you absolute legend.'

Another said: 'Myles smith. Take a bow. That was incredible. Keep the small venue open. The amount of small venues I’ve found artists I love in.'

One person added: 'Myles Smith, no notes.' 

A fourth said: 'Myles Smith calling out the government is the best moment of the night���� thank you Myles!' 

While a fifth chimed: 'huge congrats myles smith what a speech #brits2025.' 

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