Join for a Pound Scheme FAQs

Can I join the MU for £1?

The offer is open to anyone joining online who has never been a member of the MU before, was paying a student rate last time they were a member, or has not been a member for at least five years. Once you have signed up, our membership services team will need to verify your application. This can take up to 24 hours on working weekdays, and up to 72 hours on weekends and bank holidays.

Why do I have to enter my direct debit details to join for £1?

MU membership is charged on an annual basis. This offer allows you to pay £1 for the first six-months of an annual membership. After your first six months, you will be charged by direct debit at the regular monthly cost for your remaining six-months.

Does this offer apply to students or members of partner Trades Unions?

The full cost of an annual student membership is less than the cost of using the six-months for £1 offer to purchase a regular membership. 

Full-paying members of certain Trades Unions ((EIS/NEU/UCU) can access a 50 percent partnership discount on annual membership to the MU, this is roughly equivalent to the cost of using the six-months for £1 offer to signup to a regular annual membership.

Visit our Joint Membership page to find out more. 

Why is the MU doing this?

We know that there are many musicians out there who are not members of the MU. Research tells us that a large number of these musicians feel that the membership is expensive and are unsure of whether the benefits are worth the cost.

We feel strongly that the extensive benefits of membership are well worth the money, so we are giving people the chance to ‘trial’ membership for a significant discount.

How much will I have to pay once my six months is up?

Once your six-months are up, you will be charged the remaining balance for six-months of a regular annual membership. This will be paid through direct debit, in six monthly or two quarterly installments. 

What benefits will I get during the six months?

You will have access to all MU benefits and services as soon as your membership has been validated. However, we may not be able to offer legal help for past or ongoing issues that started before you joined.

Can I join for £1 if I am a lapsed MU member?

Yes, if you were paying a student rate last time you were a member, or if you were last a member over five years ago.

I am a current, paying MU member. How does this scheme benefit me?

The MU has had approximately 30,000 members for a very long time. Increasing costs of benefits such as legal services and insurance, and dwindling licensing income, have put significant financial pressure on the union.

We have tried to keep fee increases as low as possible over the past few years, but long term the current position is untenable. We hope that this scheme will increase membership numbers so that we do not have to substantially increase the cost of an MU subscription in future.

The savings to be made from the full range of benefits and services that a membership offers still vastly outweighs the cost of a full subscription.