Sam Fender Labels the Music Industry as “Falsified” and “Predominantly 90% Privately Educated Children”

Sam Fender’s Perspective on the Music Industry

Sam Fender has expressed his concerns about the current state of the music industry, describing it as “falsified” and highlighting that “90 percent of children who receive private education” dominate the field.

Guilt and Class Struggles

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the singer-songwriter shared his feelings of guilt over his life changes since entering the music industry, noting his working-class roots in northern Shields while his friends continue to struggle “on the bones of their ass.”

He remarked, “The music industry consists of 80 percent, 90 percent of children who receive private education. There are countless individuals out there writing songs that are ten times better than mine—sharp, poignant narratives about the country—but they won’t be seen because the system is rigged.”

Referring to the song “TV Unned” from his latest album “People Watch,” released on February 21, he criticized the industry for “building up” artists only to bring them down later.

He continued, “It was wild. I wrote this, then Liam Payne passed away. You think about how many times he was dragged through the press, and it didn’t help him at all, did it? I remember watching videos of him and thinking: ‘God, what a sieve.’ But the reality was that he was just a young guy, famous too young, who struggled with addiction—while everyone criticized him from the sidelines.”

When asked about the lyrics “You sell me / you will kill me” and whether he was referring to himself, Fender replied, “Absolutely. It serves as a reminder that I don’t need to be under anyone’s control. At the end of the day, if I want to stop, I will.”

He further addressed the contrast between drug use in the music industry and the experiences of his friends in the North, stating, “I’ve noticed that my friends struggling with addiction often go to rehab, while those from my hometown with similar problems are just dying there.”

Fender elaborated, “People are often unaware of the nuances. We discuss privilege—white, male, or straight privilege—but we rarely talk about class, which is a significant reason why young men are drawn to demagogues like Andrew Tate.”

“They constantly feel ashamed and believe they are the problem. This narrative is told by white boys from nowhere cities. How can we preach to a kid struggling in a tough environment who has nothing, and tell him he is privileged? Then Tate comes in and tells him he has worth? That is seductive.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEP8XRVDAW

Reflecting on his recent album, NME rated it four stars, describing it as “reflective and insightful indie rock from the shining star of North Shields.”

Fender mentioned: “Feeling existentially uprooted and disconnected from his working-class roots due to his rapid rise to fame, the British guitar hero channels all this into his magnificent third album.”

Additionally, Fender announced he is already working on his next project and has revealed upcoming UK stadium tour dates for the summer, including Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on August 16 and Edinburgh Summer Belfast on August 28.

Supporting the first two shows will be Olivia Dean, while CMAT will open in Belfast. Visit here to buy tickets and find a list of tour dates across Great Britain.

The singer-songwriter was also recently announced as an official ambassador for UK Record Store Day 2025 on April 12, and will release two new songs as part of a special EP to celebrate.

He is nominated for two Brit awards at the upcoming ceremony next month: Artist of the Year and Alt/Rock Act.