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Keep Northern Ballet Music Live

Musicians in Northern Ballet Sinfonia are campaigning to protect their touring work

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Take Action to Save ENO as a Full-Time Company With a Full-Time Orchestra

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News and features

Some of the musicians and supporters from the demo at Newcastle Theatre Royal on 10 November, holding MU banners and signs saying “Keep Northern Ballet Live”.

Keep Northern Ballet Live Petition Surges Past 10,000 Signatures

Over 10,000 people have signed the petition urging Arts Council England to keep Northern Ballet music live.

Published: 27 November 2023

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Musicians Census Finds That Three in Ten Musicians Report Having Poor Mental Wellbeing

Further report findings from the first ever UK Musicians’ Census show that almost a third of professional musicians in the UK are experiencing poor mental wellbeing, due to factors such as low pay, career barriers and witnessing or experiencing discrimination.

Published: 24 November 2023

A group of diverse people of differing ages surrounding a piano singing while two play. Representing community music groups.

Elizabeth J. Birch: Inclusive Music Making For a Fuller Landscape of the Human Experience

MU member and winner of this year’s Youth Music's Inspirational Music Leader award, Elizabeth J. Birch shares how the community music space saw her potential, and how she integrates inclusivity into her work.

Published: 24 November 2023

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl with ENO Music Staff and Orchestra Members after delivering letters outside the building.

Musicians at ENO Deliver Over 150 Letters Urging ENO Management to Reconsider Proposals to Axe Jobs and Go Part-Time

Musicians delivered 153 letters to English National Opera management, urging them to save ENO as a full-time company with a full-time orchestra and music staff on full-time pay.

Published: 24 November 2023

MU Responds to Government Consultation on Beijing Treaty Regarding Audiovisual Performances

The Beijing Treaty will bring additional rights for audiovisual performances and is now set to become UK law, with the MU advising government that musicians would be best served by Equitable Remuneration.

Published: 23 November 2023

Royal Opera House Orchestra Have Voted to Accept a New Pay Offer From Management

Following an MU-supported campaign to have their pay restored to pre-pandemic levels, musicians in the Royal Opera House Orchestra (OROH) have accepted a significantly improved pay and conditions offer from the company’s management to settle this year’s dispute.

Published: 21 November 2023

Disability History Month: Exploring the AutismAble and Future Collaborations Project

In this blog Andrew Forster discusses the Future Collaborations Project, an accessible music outreach program for people aged 14-25, promoting neurodivergent and neurotypical collaborations within the music industry. We also hear from one of the project’s participants and a Learning Mentor.

Published: 20 November 2023

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Upcoming events

Last chance to book

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28 Nov 2023

RSM Social Networking

Meet colleagues from across the music profession for an informal gathering over Zoom.

Online

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29 Nov 2023

Music Cafe

An MU sponsored networking event and drinks night for musicians, composers and songwriters.

Corsham

Last chance to book

01 Dec 2023

Feldenkrais: Move Better, Feel Better, Perform Better

Free up your playing and singing using the Feldenkrais method.

Online Member only

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04 Dec 2023

PRS Members’ Fund Advice Session

This one hour webinar will explain the different types of support the PRS Members’ Fund can provide. It is aimed at those who are members of both the MU and PRS for Music.

Online Member only

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04 Dec 2023

Guided Meditation

An extremely efficient and powerful meditation practice, based on Ascension meditation techniques.

Online Member only

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05 Dec 2023

1-2-1 Advice Sessions Aberdeen

Book a 30-minute advice session relating to your music career with MU Regional Officer Louise Stanners Pow, available only to members in Scotland.

TBC (city centre location)

Upcoming

06 Dec 2023

Bands and Brands: Legal Webinar

A one-hour webinar with leading Scottish Law Firm Harper Macleod, providing an overview of the law relating to names and brands in the context of music.

Online

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Help make the music industry a better place for every musician

At the MU we stand for equal opportunities and inclusion for musicians, and aim for the industry to be more diverse and representative.

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#ProtectFreelancersToo

End sexual harassment at work

Government committed to introducing a mandatory duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment at work. Now we need action to protect all freelancers too.

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We Are Behind Every Musician

Keep Northern Ballet Music Live