The Press Association reports that Midge Ure has stated that musicians are finding it more difficult to get their political protest songs heard than in the days of Band Aid. I take Midge’s point in some respects, but surely social networking via sites such as Facebook and YouTube have liberated to a very significant extent anyone wanting to promote political songs or songs of social justice. No longer are activist singer/songwriters constrained by the whims of the big media and record industry companies.

The way songs have been used across the Arab World to stimulate and sustain uprisings and revolutions is surely proof enough (for examples go to the Arab World Uprisings category on this blog). Mitch has been taking part in the Festival of Politics at the Scottish Parliament. He also very interestingly stated that “Maybe in this day and age we need a Britain’s got political talent television show.”

Whilst it is not a television show the Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust (of which I am proud to be a Trustee) has recently launched a Political Songwriting Competition, and is also collaborating with the STUC in a Songs of Social Justice Festival specifically aimed at secondary schools students. Both these initiatives seek to promote the creation and promotion of political songs and songs of social justice.