John Legend is backing the recent UK student protests as they will help produce new musicians.

The singer believes that the rise in tuition fees will help inspire a new breed of artists.

"For students in the UK it directly affects them. School just got a lot more expensive. They have been asked to bear the brunt of the financial crisis and it’s a shock to their system," Legend told The Daily Star.

He added: "With the record industry contracting and so many people worrying about keeping their jobs, fewer artists have been willing to make the kind of statements that could endanger their popularity."

“That might change now. It just goes to show kids will protest and react to the policies when they start to affect them.”

Meanwhile, Kanye West’s collaboration with John Legend, which features on his new album, has leaked online.

(by Holly Frith)