Eurovision’s Sam Ryder becomes a millionaire two years after his success at the song contest
SCOFF all you want at Eurovision – but it has turned Sam Ryder into a millionaire.
Two years on from his second- place finish for the UK in Turin, the Space Man singer, is rolling in the dosh.
So acts performing this Saturday should take note!
I can reveal he has taken his pop earnings from £400,000 to £1.4million at his music firms Bizwash and Washbiz.
Sam’s latest figures show one firm had £1.3million as of July 2023, while the second had £100,000.
The upturn in his fortunes was shown in accounts signed off by him last week and filed at Companies House.
Since doing the nation proud at Eurovision, he has released an album, been nominated for a Brit Award and had two No2 singles – Space Man and You’re Christmas To Me, which narrowly missed out on the Christmas No1 spot.
Last year’s winner Loreen is also smashing it.
She will release new single Forever tomorrow and perform it at Saturday’s Grand Final, before a mammoth tour.
Loreen has announced her biggest headline tour to date, which includes shows across the UK next March, and tickets are on sale tomorrow.
Don’t Leto go
A ROUND of applause for Jared Leto and Alfie Boe please, after they abseiled down New York’s Empire State Building for charity.
We’re pleased to report Alfie raised way more than, er, a tenor, and helped pull in £2.4million for the Outward Bound network that helps young people.
Alfie and Jared joined 18 others to take on the terrifying feat.
Princess Beatrice is a trustee for the charity and was there to cheer them on.
Streams honour for Amy
AMY WINEHOUSE’s incredible music achievements have been honoured again.
Her parents Mitch and Janis have been handed a Brit Billion Award for Amy, which celebrates her reaching one billion streams in the UK.
Collecting the award on behalf of the Back To Black singer, who died in 2011, Mitch and Janis said: “We of course wish Amy was here accepting this award in person.
“But it’s amazing she is still winning awards for her incredible talent and achievements.
“It’s wonderful her music is being discovered by new audiences of young people who love it just as much as her contemporaries.”
Amy joins a list of more than 25 acts with the accolade, including Queen, Rolling Stones and Lewis Capaldi.
Charli: I did write for Brit
CHARLI XCX has confirmed our story that she wrote songs for a new Britney Spears album.
We told in December how Charli had been part of sessions for a comeback record, which has now been put on hold.
She has finally spoken about it, during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on US TV – after Britney tried to talk down the news.
Charli said: “It leaked to the press.
“Britney then did this post where she was like, ‘I don’t have random people write for me.’ And I was like, ‘Oh. OK. Go off’.
“So I don’t know that she was a part of the process.
“I went to Malibu and I wrote.
“The team were present. But she didn’t record it.”
Festival fun
SOUTH By South-west will launch in London next year, celebrating innovations in creativity, culture and tech.
For decades the festival has been held in Texas, where it showcased artists including Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Stormzy and also Ed Sheeran.
Locations are yet to be revealed but it will in June, with tickets on sale in October.
Win gig tickets
IF you haven’t entered our competition to win a pair of tickets to see seriously cool acts this summer, you’ve got two days left.
Our friends at Live Nation have some amazing tickets to give away.
There are a pair of tickets for Nicki Minaj, Eagles, Pearl Jam, Doja Cat and Moby up for grabs.
Head to thesun.co.uk/concertweek and fill in your details.
You could see Pearl Jam in Manchester or London, Eagles in Manchester or Moby in London.
Nicki is in Glasgow, Birmingham, London and Manchester.
If you prefer Doja, catch her in Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle or London.
Live Nation’s Concert Week is offering fans more than 40,000 tickets from £25 for some of the biggest shows this year, from pop superstars to legendary rock bands, so keep an eye out for promotions.
Stormzy the beer leader
STORMZY got the beers in after his team AFC Croydon Athletic got promoted to the dizzy heights of the eighth tier of English football.
The Heavy Is The Head rapper, along with girlfriend Maya Jama, were seen partying after they beat Knaphill FC 2-1 in the Combined Counties Football League Premier South Division play-off final.
Stormzy, pictured in the changing room, bought the South London club last year in a consortium with Galatasary’s Wilfried Zaha and ex-Crystal Palace kit man Danny Young.
His decision to get involved in the club has meant renewed support for AFC Croydon, which has led to more ticket sales and more pints and pies being bought – in a boost to local business.
There is nothing better in my eyes than a day out at the football, and to see how much Stormzy has helped his local club is brilliant.
We could do with a touch of that magic at Spurs right now.
I am… so moved by Tom
★★★★☆
IF Tom Walker was feeling nervous as he walked on stage for his biggest-ever show, he certainly didn’t show it.
I was crammed in like a sardine among thousands of his fans who loved every second of the gig in Hammersmith, West London, which celebrated songs from upcoming new record I Am.
His latest single Head Underwater was met with huge cheers, while Just You & I was so moving that I got a bit teary as he dedicated the track to his wife Annie, who was in the crowd.
That could have been the beer talking of course.
But there is something about Tom’s soulful voice and masterful lyricism that could make even Danny Dyer go a bit mushy inside.
He finished, as you’d expect, with a killer performance of his breakaway hit Leave A Light On.
Mark my words, Tom will be playing in arenas in years to come.
Ellie Henman
Sydney lightens up
AFTER throwing some pretty epic shade at the film producer who slagged her off at the Met Gala, Sydney Sweeney is back to her blonde best.
She chose to wear a short, dark wig to the event on Monday, which looked an awful lot like Carol Baum’s hair.
The rug, according to my Met mole, was a pointed jab at Carol, who said the Euphoria actress “can’t act” and “isn’t pretty”.
I think a trip to Specsavers is on the cards, Carol.
Sydney looked like she’d swerved a hangover as she headed into the sunshine wearing a bandeau shirt dress.
I’m not sure the same could be said for top caner Rita Ora, spotted coming home from an after-party as the sun came up on Tuesday.
Nurofen for breakfast, Rita?