Recording and Broadcasting The MU looks after music recording and broadcasting rights when you do any recording work – from regular sessions to home recording. Guidance Working as a Recording Session Musician Advice for musicians who are employed to record music for media projects and who are paid by the session. Read more about Working as a Recording Session Musician Working as a Recording Artist What you need to know while working as a recording artist. Read more about Working as a Recording Artist Royalties from Recordings Guidance on earning revenue from sound recordings, including MU distributed royalties. Read more about Royalties from Recordings Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Everything you need to know about copyright and performers' rights when recording your work. Read more about Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Recording Work during Covid-19 Everything you need to know when recording music during Coronavirus pandemic. Read more about Recording Work during Covid-19 Rate guidance Remote Recording Session Work Read more about Remote Recording Session Work Resources Rates of pay Collective Agreements and Rates Look up rates, terms and conditions from with the BBC, ITV, IPA, PACT and BPI and other agreements negotiated for recording session musicians. Read more about Collective Agreements and Rates MU standard templates Contracts for Session Recording Work Use a template that suits you best. Read more about Contracts for Session Recording Work Specimen Sync Licences MU template licences for TV, film and advertising Read more about Specimen Sync Licences Approved Contractors Approved Contractors/Fixers who have entered into an agreement with the MU. Read more about Approved Contractors [The MU] is my first port of call for advice as a fixer, and I’m a registered contractor with the MU so I have a safety net. If there’s anything I’m unsure about I can run it past the MU. Fiona BriceArranger, composer and violinist The music industry can be a tough place, so it’s a great comfort to know that the MU is always backing us. Ellie DaymondSession drummer When arranging TV work, the MU’s collective bargaining agreements have ensured I’ve not missed out on decent pay and conditions. Andy PayneDrummer, percussion teacher Career as a recording musician Quick tips 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Essential tips on how to protect your rights and make money from your music from the very beginning. Read more about 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Member-only event How to be Release Ready with PRS Learn how record labels and music publishers make their money and how independent artists can do the same. Read more about How to be Release Ready with PRS Career advice Starting Out as a Session Musician Explore the world of the session musician, from starting out to getting paid. Read more about Starting Out as a Session Musician Member benefits and services Royalty Distribution for Recordings The MU Royalties department collects between £1.5 million to £2 million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings. Read more about Royalty Distribution for Recordings Collective Bargaining The MU negotiates collective bargaining agreements with broadcasters and umbrella organisations for other regular employers of session musicians. Read more about Collective Bargaining Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Our aim is to maximise the pay and employment of UK session musicians, and to collect every secondary use fee they are due. Read more about Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Contract Advisory Service If you're a member, the MU can help you make sure the contract you sign is fair and includes all necessary clauses. Read more about Contract Advisory Service Unpaid Fee Recovery We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work. Read more about Unpaid Fee Recovery Personal Injury Claims Legal benefits package for you and your family via Morrish Solicitors. Read more about Personal Injury Claims Latest news and features Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections Parliament has passed the Data Bill without an amendment aimed to protect musicians and creators from generative artificial intelligence (AI). Published: 13 June 2025 Read more about Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections New Research Shows Urgent Action is Needed to Protect Creative Workers in the Age of Generative AI Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already having profound impacts on the UK’s creative economy, according to new research backed by the MU. Published: 05 June 2025 Read more about New Research Shows Urgent Action is Needed to Protect Creative Workers in the Age of Generative AI Lila Launches First Survey on South Asian Experiences in UK Music Industry South Asian music creators, managers, executives, and behind-the-scenes professionals are encouraged to contribute their experiences to the new survey - and be in with a chance of winning AKG K271 headphones or free studio time! Published: 15 May 2025 Read more about Lila Launches First Survey on South Asian Experiences in UK Music Industry MU Raises Concerns Over Potential Impact of US Film Tariffs on UK Musicians Although deals are yet to be agreed, the imposition of tariffs on films produced outside of the US could severely impact the UK’s film and television industry, which currently invests around £80m in musicians. Published: 13 May 2025 Read more about MU Raises Concerns Over Potential Impact of US Film Tariffs on UK Musicians MU Joins Demo to Highlight Creators’ AI Concerns Ahead of Parliament Debate The MU took part in a demo outside parliament today, organised by UK Music, to highlight creator and performer concerns about the potential impact of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) on their rights and future careers. Published: 07 May 2025 Read more about MU Joins Demo to Highlight Creators’ AI Concerns Ahead of Parliament Debate Read all recording & broadcasting news #FixStreaming Take urgent action to fix streaming Ask your MP to put the value of music back where it belongs – in your hands Email your MP now See all Campaigns
Working as a Recording Session Musician Advice for musicians who are employed to record music for media projects and who are paid by the session. Read more about Working as a Recording Session Musician
Working as a Recording Artist What you need to know while working as a recording artist. Read more about Working as a Recording Artist
Royalties from Recordings Guidance on earning revenue from sound recordings, including MU distributed royalties. Read more about Royalties from Recordings
Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Everything you need to know about copyright and performers' rights when recording your work. Read more about Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording
Recording Work during Covid-19 Everything you need to know when recording music during Coronavirus pandemic. Read more about Recording Work during Covid-19
Rates of pay Collective Agreements and Rates Look up rates, terms and conditions from with the BBC, ITV, IPA, PACT and BPI and other agreements negotiated for recording session musicians. Read more about Collective Agreements and Rates
MU standard templates Contracts for Session Recording Work Use a template that suits you best. Read more about Contracts for Session Recording Work
Specimen Sync Licences MU template licences for TV, film and advertising Read more about Specimen Sync Licences
Approved Contractors Approved Contractors/Fixers who have entered into an agreement with the MU. Read more about Approved Contractors
Quick tips 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Essential tips on how to protect your rights and make money from your music from the very beginning. Read more about 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release
Member-only event How to be Release Ready with PRS Learn how record labels and music publishers make their money and how independent artists can do the same. Read more about How to be Release Ready with PRS
Career advice Starting Out as a Session Musician Explore the world of the session musician, from starting out to getting paid. Read more about Starting Out as a Session Musician
Royalty Distribution for Recordings The MU Royalties department collects between £1.5 million to £2 million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings. Read more about Royalty Distribution for Recordings
Collective Bargaining The MU negotiates collective bargaining agreements with broadcasters and umbrella organisations for other regular employers of session musicians. Read more about Collective Bargaining
Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Our aim is to maximise the pay and employment of UK session musicians, and to collect every secondary use fee they are due. Read more about Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians
Contract Advisory Service If you're a member, the MU can help you make sure the contract you sign is fair and includes all necessary clauses. Read more about Contract Advisory Service
Unpaid Fee Recovery We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work. Read more about Unpaid Fee Recovery
Personal Injury Claims Legal benefits package for you and your family via Morrish Solicitors. Read more about Personal Injury Claims
Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections Parliament has passed the Data Bill without an amendment aimed to protect musicians and creators from generative artificial intelligence (AI). Published: 13 June 2025 Read more about Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections
New Research Shows Urgent Action is Needed to Protect Creative Workers in the Age of Generative AI Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already having profound impacts on the UK’s creative economy, according to new research backed by the MU. Published: 05 June 2025 Read more about New Research Shows Urgent Action is Needed to Protect Creative Workers in the Age of Generative AI
Lila Launches First Survey on South Asian Experiences in UK Music Industry South Asian music creators, managers, executives, and behind-the-scenes professionals are encouraged to contribute their experiences to the new survey - and be in with a chance of winning AKG K271 headphones or free studio time! Published: 15 May 2025 Read more about Lila Launches First Survey on South Asian Experiences in UK Music Industry
MU Raises Concerns Over Potential Impact of US Film Tariffs on UK Musicians Although deals are yet to be agreed, the imposition of tariffs on films produced outside of the US could severely impact the UK’s film and television industry, which currently invests around £80m in musicians. Published: 13 May 2025 Read more about MU Raises Concerns Over Potential Impact of US Film Tariffs on UK Musicians
MU Joins Demo to Highlight Creators’ AI Concerns Ahead of Parliament Debate The MU took part in a demo outside parliament today, organised by UK Music, to highlight creator and performer concerns about the potential impact of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) on their rights and future careers. Published: 07 May 2025 Read more about MU Joins Demo to Highlight Creators’ AI Concerns Ahead of Parliament Debate