Ed Sheeran Accuses Band Aid of Using His Vocals Without Permission on New Mix.
Ed Sheeran Alleges Band Aid Used His Vocals Without Consent for New Mix: ‘I Would Have Respectfully Declined’. The 40th anniversary “ultimate mix” will showcase performances from various versions of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Ed Sheeran has stated that Band Aid did not obtain his permission to include his vocals in a new mix. Recently, the supergroup, led by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure of Ultravox, announced the release of an “ultimate mix” of the classic charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to celebrate its 40th anniversary, as reported by Billboard.
This new version is expected to incorporate vocals from four different recordings made in 1984, 1989, 2004, and 2014, featuring artists like Bono, Harry Styles (with One Direction), George Michael, and others. The 33-year-old “Perfect” singer, who contributed to the 2014 rendition alongside Coldplay, Sam Smith, and Rita Ora, expressed on Instagram Stories that his vocals were included without his consent.
On Sunday, November 17, he shared his thoughts. “My approval wasn’t sought for this new Band Aid 40 release,” he stated. “If I had the choice, I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.” Sheeran continued: “A decade later, my perspective on this narrative has evolved, as @fuseodg has articulated so well. This is simply my personal view, and I hope it’s a positive one. Much love to everyone x.”
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The singer of “Shape of You” was commenting on an Instagram Stories post by Ghanaian-English afrobeats artist Fuse ODG, who explained his reasons for not taking part in Band Aid’s 2014 rendition of the song. “I chose not to join Band Aid because I saw the negative impact such initiatives can have on Africa,” he stated.
Fuse, who is 35, elaborated: “While these efforts might raise sympathy and funds, they also reinforce harmful stereotypes that hinder Africa’s economic development, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and undermining its dignity, pride, and identity.” “By presenting dehumanizing images, these campaigns promote pity instead of partnership, which discourages genuine engagement.
My goal has been to take back the narrative, empowering Africans to share their own stories, redefine their identity, and position Africa as a vibrant center for investment and tourism,” Fuse continued. “Today, it’s the diaspora that channels the largest funds back to the continent, not Band Aid or foreign aid, proving that Africa’s solutions and progress are in its own hands,” he concluded. As reported by Billboard, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was first released in 1984 after a BBC report highlighted the famine in Ethiopia. However, it has faced criticism for its condescending approach to African issues, according to The Guardian.