Former Beautiful South songwriter donated « big money » to help staff with music publication shutdown
Musician Paul Heaton received praise after Q magazine’s final editor revealed the singer’s ‘incredibly kind’ gesture to staff after the music publication closed
Ted Kessler said Heaton, known for his work with the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, donated a « large sum » which was shared among more than 40 workers
“It really was the most incredibly kind, selfless and generous act,” Kessler tweeted “For some it meant a bill could be paid”
Q staff, which closed in July due to financial pressure from the coronavirus pandemic, ordered a final award from Heaton as a thank you
Heaton, 58, shared a video message and said the donation « was just to make sure people weren’t left behind »
He praised the magazine and said he was « upset » by its closure « I wish everyone the best, » he added
Kessler shared the story on Twitter: “We had booked the Roundhouse for two nights for the Q Awards next week We didn’t have any talent sorted when we had to cancel Covid in April, but Nadine Shah was presenting and the two concerts were Liam Gallagher one evening, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott the other
« The only award we knew for sure was Paul Heaton’s, because we had heard he never won one Think about all the brilliant songs he wrote for the Housemartins, Beautiful South , etc Millions of records sold No Q (or Brit) award for his writing So we knew he would be a classical composer «
Kessler said that within days of Q shutting down, Heaton got in touch and said as a thank you for all the support the magazine had given him he was going to donate a large sum. said he had « politely declined » but Heaton insisted
Kessler added, “I accepted the donation and shared it with over 40 staff and freelancers working for Q at the time, all of whose minds – like mine – were blown away.
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« We finally got him this award Britain’s greatest living pop star A true legend »
In March, Heaton and her former Beautiful South bandmate Jacqui Abbott announced a free concert for NHS workers, but the performance was postponed due to the pandemic
Paul Heaton
World News – UK – Paul Heaton thanked by Q magazine staff for his “selfless” donation