Job Contracts and Business Agreements

Most musicians will sign a music contract at some stage of their career. The MU is here to make sure that when you do, you get the best possible deal.

Advice and resources

MU Standard contracts

Job Contracts for Freelance Work

Get your work in writing using the MU Standard Contracts for various types of engagements and work.

Music business

Specimen Agreements

Before you seek business contract advice, browse our range of example agreements for doing music business.

Specimen Sync Licences

Templates to help you negotiate synchronisation deals and agree appropriate terms for the use of your music

Contracts and Income Loss

Advice for musicians on affected contracts and income loss due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Employment Contracts

Use our UK employment contract advice resource to find out more about employment contracts and the conditions you should be wary of.

Employment Advice & Assistance

We can arrange for a specialist employment lawyer to review your contract and provide you with appropriate advice.

Member services

Contract Advisory Service

For advice on music business contracts MU members can get expert advice at no extra cost.

Unpaid Fee Recovery

The MU can help when you haven’t been paid properly for your work.

Partnership Advisory Service

Legal Advice & Assistance

Once you start contracting other musicians and bringing other people in the studio you realise there’s paperwork that needs to be done.
Fiona BriceArranger, composer and violinist

All business relationships that you enter into should be clearly and carefully set out in agreements that are fair to all concerned.
Horace TrubridgeMU General Secretary

Upcoming events

Last chance to book

A laptop is propped open against a large stack on books in a bright and sunny space.

05 Dec 2023

1-2-1 Advice Sessions Aberdeen

Book a 30-minute advice session relating to your music career with MU Regional Officer Louise Stanners Pow, available only to members in Scotland.

TBC (city centre location)

See all events

#WorkNotPlayMU

This is not a hobby - it's our profession

No-one should feel guilty about turning down unpaid “opportunities". Have you been asked to work for no fee?

Tell us about it See all Campaigns

This is not a hobby - it's our profession

Latest news and features

The Royal Opera House orchestra wearing yellow FairPay t-shirts outside of the entrance to the building from their leafleting campaign in September..

Royal Opera House Orchestra Have Voted to Accept a New Pay Offer From Management

Following an MU-supported campaign to have their pay restored to pre-pandemic levels, musicians in the Royal Opera House Orchestra (OROH) have accepted a significantly improved pay and conditions offer from the company’s management to settle this year’s dispute.

Published: 21 November 2023

Brightly coloured purple and yellow megaphone facing outwards against a bright pink background.

MU Action on the Climate Emergency

The MU’s new Climate Emergency Action Group have now met twice, and are looking inwardly and outwardly at ways the Union, the wider music industry and the Government can address the climate emergency.

Published: 16 November 2023

A crowd march with union banners, including placards that read

Over 100 Letters Urge ENO Management to Save ENO as a Full-Time Company with a Full-Time Orchestra

Add your voice to the call, by writing to English National Opera’s management urging them to reconsider proposals to axe 19 jobs and go part-time.