Live Advisory Board

About the Live Advisory Board

The Live Advisory Board is a consultative body within the MU’s Live, Theatre & Music Writers’ department, made up of performers working across the live sector and in wider workplaces.

The role of the Board is to represent and support live performance, across all genres and levels, and to help inform the Union’s work around gigging and touring. 

Board members can be:

• Featured artists (including DJs) or live session players;
• Performing at any level, from grassroots to arena;
• At any career stage from emerging to experienced/professional;
• Full-time dedicated live performers, or using live performance as part of a more varied/portfolio career.

Role

• Assisting the Union in its response to sector trends and developments that impact live performers.
• Working with Union Officials in relation to their activities and relationships across the live sector.
• To influence and feed into the Union’s work on equality, diversity & inclusion, to continually improve the live sector for all involved. 
• Bringing relevant issues to the attention of the Union, and for discussion with the Board.
• To feed into discussions around the MU’s advice and resources for live performers, e.g., live rates, contracts and online guidance.

Areas of focus

• Ongoing issues within the sector, such as the cost-of-touring crisis, and how the Union can better support members in relation to this.
• Live performance fees and contracts.
• PRS for Music royalties, and the processes and administration around them.
• Other revenue streams such as merchandise.
• The Union’s Fair Play work initiative, database of venues, and festival code of practice.
• The role of promotion for live performers.
• Work opportunities within the sector.

Recent achievements and ongoing work

• Increases to the MU’s live rates to ensure they remain viable for live performers, but without becoming unaffordable and leading to a decrease in opportunities
• Ongoing work in relation to PRS royalties, and specific issues faced by performers regarding contracts and the reporting of set lists.

Standing for the Live Advisory Board

Seats: The Advisory Board comprises 20 elected members serving a two-year term, with broad representation across genres.

Meetings: The Advisory Board meets three times per year, primarily online, but with occasional in-person/hybrid meetings. Where required, consultation is carried out via email in between meetings.

Eligibility: To stand for election, you must be a a live performer and a member of the MU’s Live Sector (you can join this with immediate effect if you are not already signed up).You must be nominated by a fellow Live Sector member. The Board aims for broad geographical and sector representation, with reserved seats to support diversity.

Co-option: The Board may co-opt additional members to address gaps in representation or expertise, with full voting rights.

Why join?

As a member of the Live Advisory Board, you will have the opportunity to:

• Influence MU policy with a view to improving and supporting the UK’s live sector, and the performers working within it
• Develop your expertise of both the live sector and the wider music industry
• Take a more active role in the Union in collaboration with other performers.

Responsibilities

Board members are expected to: 

• Attend meetings and contribute to discussions
• Uphold the MU’s values of equality, diversity and inclusion
• Act as a conduit between live performers and the MU.

Contact

Contact the Advisory Board with issues or feedback via live@themu.org.

Learn more about the MU Live Performance Sector.