Public Liability Insurance for Musicians Public liability insurance is vital while teaching, performing or touring. This cover protects musicians against liability for damages following injury to a third-party person or damage to property while performing or teaching. We support our members with cover for every type of music career. Last updated: 15 September 2025 What is Public Liability Insurance? Public liability insurance (PLI) is a type of cover that protects professionals and businesses from potential claims made against them. Claims could be made by contractors, clients or members of the public and might concern anything from accidental injury to damage to their property as a direct consequence of work. If you're a musician, public liability insurance provides the peace of mind to perform in any public space or venue. When it's combined with other specialist insurances, musicians' public liability insurance enhances opportunities for networking, performing and recording music. Is Public Liability Insurance necessary for musicians? Employers, local authorities and performing venues increasingly require written evidence that performing musicians have public liability insurance before they can play. Obtaining public liability insurance as a musician means that you will be protected against the financial consequences of: Claims against you for the bodily injury of any person who is not your employee Damage to property while performing either solo or as part of a group, band or orchestra Damage to property while teaching in a public or private place, including at home Do music teachers need Public Liability Insurance? Likewise, it might be written in a contract that a music teacher needs public liability insurance cover before working in a school or public building. This is frequently paired with a requirement for professional indemnity insurance, especially for employed music teachers. We provide the right policies and further guidance on Public Liability Insurance for music teachers. Music teachers make up an integral part of the MU. We're keeping track of the latest music education news to keep at the forefront of issues faced by music teachers across the UK. Secure your career with our Public Liability Insurance for musicians today We offer public liability insurance to all MU members with a limit of indemnity of £10 million per individual member. Public liability insurance is always included in your Musicians' Union membership. When you're signed into your online account, you can access your PLI certificate online at any time. You can get a personalised certificate and download as many extra copies as you need, free and directly from our website. Download or print your PLI certificate How to make a claim on a Musicians' Union Public Liability Insurance policy Our music public liability insurance policies are provided by our legal partner, Hencilla Canworth GI. If you want to make a claim, you should get in touch with Hencilla directly via email or by calling 020 8686 5050. To increase your chances of making a successful claim on your musicians' public liability insurance policy, you need to meet certain terms and conditions. You must: Contact the insurer immediately after any event which may result in a claim. Notify the police if you've suffered any loss, destruction or damage caused by malicious persons or thieves. Within 30 days, provide your insurer with a written claim containing as much information as possible about the loss, liability, destruction, damage, accident or injury, and the total amount you'd like to claim. Immediately send to your insurer, unanswered, all communications from third parties in relation to any event which may result in a music public liability insurance claim. Not admit or repudiate liability, nor offer to settle, compromise or make payment which may result in a claim or pay any claim under this policy without our written agreement. Allow your insurer to take over and conduct the defence or settlement of any claim in your name. You will also allow us to prosecute any claim for indemnity or compensation against any other person, at the insurer's expense, and you must provide any information or assistance required. If you fail to fulfil any of these conditions in relation to any claim, you will lose your right to indemnity or payment for that claim. We both needed public liability and instrument insurance as gigging musicians so that has been really useful and gives us peace of mind knowing we are protected. The EvesScottish duo By providing public liability, instrument insurance and PAT testing, the MU has given that much needed support to enable me to run these [community group singing] sessions with confidence. Lisa RedfordSinger-songwriter The instrument insurance and Public Liability Insurance give me peace of mind when I’m out gigging or running events. Scott BowleyCo-founder of the pop duo 13XL Musicians' Public Liability Insurance FAQs When is Public Liability Insurance for musicians valid? Read answer Collapse answer Your policy is valid anywhere in the world provided that you are a permanent resident in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. Each Musicians' Union public liability insurance policy runs for 12 months from 1 January and is annually renewable by the MU. For definitive information on our public liability insurance cover for musicians, including the terms and exclusions, please refer to the policy wording. This policy is only operative while at least one of the following situations applies: The individual member of the MU is performing, rehearsing, auditioning or composing, either solo or as part of a group, band or orchestra. Teaching or mentoring in the field of music. This can be either at the musician's own home or while in transit for work purposes, including the setting up and dismantling of equipment. Setting up, operating and dismantling sound or lighting equipment at ground level only. When do you need Employers' Liability Insurance? Read answer Collapse answer Band leaders engaging other musicians, performers, technicians and other contractors or freelance workers may require employers' liability insurance. This applies when there is a master/servant relationship and not a collaboration between equal parties. They should also obtain additional public liability insurance. If required, our legal partner Hencilla Canworth GI can provide this cover. What do I need to know about my musicians' PLI contract? Read answer Collapse answer You will not receive any advice or recommendations in connection with these insurances. Our musicians' public liability insurance cover is provided to qualifying members of the MU as a benefit of membership. Each insurance product has been negotiated by Hencilla on behalf of the MU with the insurer selected being the sole provider of each policy. Hencilla Canworth GI Ltd receives a commission from the insurers for arranging this cover. In sourcing and placing your policy, Hencilla acts as the agent of the insurer. How does Hencilla Canworth GI handle my personal data? Read answer Collapse answer How Hencilla processes the personal data of Musicians' Union members is detailed within the Hencilla Privacy Notice, which is available on request or via Hencilla's website. Need to contact customer service or make a complaint? Read answer Collapse answer If you have a question about your musicians' public liability insurance or wish to make a complaint, please contact Hencilla directly. You can do this via email or by calling 020 8686 5050. If you'd like to write a letter, use the following address: Hencilla Canworth GI Ltd, Simpson House, 6 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon CR9 6AZ Related resources Last updated: 18 December 2023 PLI Policy and Schedule policy Member only Read more about PLI Policy and Schedule Join the MU Join the MU for £1, get six months free Read more about Join the MU for £1, get six months free Reduced membership rate for disabled musicians Read more about Reduced membership rate for disabled musicians Partner rates for EIS, Ivors Academy, NEU, RCO, UCU members Read more about Partner rates for EIS, Ivors Academy, NEU, RCO, UCU members Just £24 per year for student members Read more about Just £24 per year for student members Explore all membership rates Insurances for MU members Public Liability Insurance Essential musician insurance to protect against legal liability for damages while performing or teaching Read more about Public Liability Insurance Professional Indemnity Insurance Essential cover for music teachers and those working in private music education Read more about Professional Indemnity Insurance Musical Instrument and Equipment Insurance MU members can access up to £3,000 worth of musical instrument and related equipment cover Read more about Musical Instrument and Equipment Insurance Personal Accident Cover Claim financial benefits in the event of an accident at work through Hencilla Canworth GI Read more about Personal Accident Cover Tax Investigation Insurance Fee reimbursement in the event of a HMRC investigation or dispute through Markel Read more about Tax Investigation Insurance Travel Insurance MU members can get travel insurance for as little as £20 for single-trip cover Read more about Travel Insurance Get MU membership today From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers. Explore our member services Get public liability insurance for musicians Access expert legal support Be represented in your profession Access expert career advice, resources, and training events Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians Learn about all membership benefits
Last updated: 18 December 2023 PLI Policy and Schedule policy Member only Read more about PLI Policy and Schedule
Reduced membership rate for disabled musicians Read more about Reduced membership rate for disabled musicians
Partner rates for EIS, Ivors Academy, NEU, RCO, UCU members Read more about Partner rates for EIS, Ivors Academy, NEU, RCO, UCU members
Public Liability Insurance Essential musician insurance to protect against legal liability for damages while performing or teaching Read more about Public Liability Insurance
Professional Indemnity Insurance Essential cover for music teachers and those working in private music education Read more about Professional Indemnity Insurance
Musical Instrument and Equipment Insurance MU members can access up to £3,000 worth of musical instrument and related equipment cover Read more about Musical Instrument and Equipment Insurance
Personal Accident Cover Claim financial benefits in the event of an accident at work through Hencilla Canworth GI Read more about Personal Accident Cover
Tax Investigation Insurance Fee reimbursement in the event of a HMRC investigation or dispute through Markel Read more about Tax Investigation Insurance
Travel Insurance MU members can get travel insurance for as little as £20 for single-trip cover Read more about Travel Insurance