Ed Sheeran says 'listen with ears, not eyes' after backlash against being named ‘most important act in black and urban music’

Fans and musicians were outraged yesterday by BBC 1Xtra’s power list that voted Ed Sheeran number one.

The Lego House singer was voted number one in a list that celebrates the most influential UK artists on the black and urban music scene. Sam Smith followed in second with Disclosure in fourth. The highest ranking black artist was Tinie Tempah in third.

Although the BBC has defended the list saying the company is "committed to supporting new and developing artists" the radio station describes itself as a “new black music network”.

Neither Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith or Diclosure have commented on their high ranking, although Sheeran posted a rather cryptic tweet yesterday afternoon that could be alluding to the controversy, writing: “listen with ears, not eyes.”

Grime MC Wiley – who was ranked 16 out of 20 – was enraged by the news calling the decision backwards. He spurred a Twitter debate with 1Xtra DJ Twin B - who believes that people have misinterpreted the list.

Wiley tweeted: “@edsheeran is a great artist. But he is not the most influential artist in uk black urban music. #Sorry lol.”

Twin B replied: “@WileyUpdates that statement doesn’t exist… But it’s what everyone is reacting to. People just jumping on a bandwagon,” before later tweeting, “@WileyUpdates if I was you & any1 else who does or cares about what we do I'd be pissed if Ed was top of a most influential black urban list”.

Soul singer Laura Mvula – ranked 18 on the list - retweeted an article by the Independent that announced the news. Fans were clearly furious, with one tweeting “b******s” and another getting personal: “And Jay-Z has contributed more than anyone else to Ginger culture.”

Austin Daboh, music manager for BBC Radio 1Xtra said: "Every single day of the week, every single hour of the day we support black artists and other races that make black music sounds.

"I think that anyone who wants to bring race into the discussion is probably a little bit misguided."