skip to main content

Chairman of UK Music Diversity Taskforce Reviews Last 12 Months

A recent blog by Ammo Talwar – chairman of the UK Music diversity taskforce – published on Punch’s website, is recommended reading for unpacking diversity in the music industry over the last 12 months.

Published: 10 December 2020 | 9:45 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:32 PM
Photograph of a London skyline on a misty, early morning. The sun has just risen in the sky and the light is quite yellow.
"Now was the time for the music industry to stand up and back a radical, sustainable plan to repair the diversity deficit." Photo credit: Shutterstock

Talwar’s retrospective examines how “The outcry over the murder of George Floyd once again highlighed injustices in the law, amplifying the voices of the Black Lives Matter movement,” and the “difficult debates, decisions and discussions for all of us,” which followed.

He goes on to explain how “questions of privilege (perhaps “white”, perhaps “gender”, perhaps “place”) were being asked. How much of their success in the music industry was down to privilege, family networks, not undiluted raw talent? More importantly, how do we create better opportunities and better representation for the rest of us?”

Members are also encouraged to read the blog in order to find out more about UK Music’s important TEN POINT PLAN for sustainably developing diversity in the music industry, “drawn from the 2020 survey, based on new metrics, fresh evidence and lived experience of diversity in the music industry today, here in the UK.”

We recommend that members read Talwar’s full blog on Punch’s website, to understand the watershed moment that the music industry is at today – as, in the words which he uses to end the blog, “it’s simply time to act.”

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

Three wooden blocks with red icons painted on them.

MU Concerned by New EU Customs Fees for Artists Selling Merchandise

A new EU customs charge on low-value parcels is creating additional costs and administrative challenges for musicians selling merchandise directly to fans in Europe. The MU will work to ensure musicians affected by the new legislation are represented at a stakeholder consultation later this year.

Published: 31 July 2026

Read more about MU Concerned by New EU Customs Fees for Artists Selling Merchandise
A brick wall with the flags of Spain and Gibraltar painted on it, overlapping each other.

Spain-Gibraltar Border Changes: What the New Agreement Means for Musicians

New arrangements between Gibraltar and Spain will remove routine border checks for people crossing by land. While the agreement does not change existing rights to work in Spain or the EU, any time spent in Gibraltar will count towards musicians’ 90-day allowance for the Schengen area.

Published: 30 July 2026

Read more about Spain-Gibraltar Border Changes: What the New Agreement Means for Musicians
A pink sign being held up that says

Music Qualifications Reform Debated in House of Lords

Peers from across the political spectrum raised concerns about the Government’s proposed reforms to level 3 music qualifications, with ministers confirming that existing qualifications will remain in place until at least 2030 and announcing a new creative advisory board to help shape the reforms.

Published: 28 July 2026

Read more about Music Qualifications Reform Debated in House of Lords