skip to main content

PRS for Music Launches Membership Emergency Relief Fund

The new fund, which will open for applications at 9:00 am on Thursday 26 March, offers money to support songwriters and composers during unprecedented times of hardship.

Published: 25 March 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 06 July 2021 | 5:08 PM
piggy bank
PRS Emergency Relief Fund to support its members during the Coronavirus pandemic. Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

PRS for Music today announced an immediate PRS Emergency Relief Fund to support its members during the Coronavirus pandemic. In partnership with the PRS Members’ Fund and PRS Foundation, the money will be available to PRS members around the world who are facing significant financial pressure as we battle the virus.

The new fund is open to all PRS members around the world who have earnt over £500 in the last two years. Grants will be awarded based on assessment of individual need and applicants will receive support up to a value of £1000.

Establishing this new PRS Fund is part of a wider plan to support members during the coming weeks, with further measures being explored.

Grant applications will be live from 9:00 am on Thursday 26 March.

PRS members wishing to apply for an Emergency Relief Fund grant can apply and find more details on the PRS For Music website.

The MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund

In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have opened a hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to.

Find out more about how it works, eligibility and how to apply.

Are you able to provide immediate support for musicians in real financial hardship? Join our crowdfunding effort.

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

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

A black placard being held high in a crowd. The design is of a fist being raised powerfully in solidarity holding a piece of paper in bright blue and pink. The text says

MU to Join Together Alliance Northern Summit on the Role of Arts and Culture in Challenging the Far Right

The MU will be represented at a major anti-racism and community organising event in Manchester on 17 October. The Together Alliance North Summit will bring together trade unionists, activists and community leaders to develop practical strategies to challenge the growth of the far right.

Published: 08 October 2026

Read more about MU to Join Together Alliance Northern Summit on the Role of Arts and Culture in Challenging the Far Right
A woman sat on the floor playing acoustic guitar while a baby reaches out to her and the instrument.

New MU Survey Explores Free Childcare for Working Musicians

The MU is surveying musicians who are parents or carers of children under 18 to understand how current free childcare provision works for those in the industry and to explore alternative models better suited to their working patterns.

Published: 07 October 2026

Read more about New MU Survey Explores Free Childcare for Working Musicians
A musician sitting at a desk in a studio at a digital-audio workstation.

Music Growth Package: What Scotland-Based Applicants Need to Know

New guidance from the Scottish Music Industry Association clarifies how Scotland-based musicians, music creators and music businesses can access funding through the UK Government’s Music Growth Package, including support for international activity.

Published: 07 October 2026

Read more about Music Growth Package: What Scotland-Based Applicants Need to Know