I wish someone had picked up on me at 17

I'm sorry? Kate didn't release her first solo album until she was 24, and then on her own label, doing all the work with her family.

Billy Bragg got the same treatment

Really? What about all his time in the punk band 'Riff Raff', working in a record shop, a spell in the army and time spent as a busker. He was 25 when he made his first album.

At the very least get some facts straight.